Methanol: Chemical Saftey data, things to know before mixing your own

[booya620]

OK, here's the info from my Hazmat book that we carry on the truck in case we get a spill. Most stuff is common sense, but most people don't deal with chemicals on a daily basis. This is some really basic info that will keep you and your house safe if you decide you want to mix your own.

Chemical: CH3OH

Synonyms & Trade Names: Carbinol, Columbian spirits, Methanol, Pyroligneous spirit, Wood alcohol, Wood naphtha, Wood spirit
Physical Description
Colorless liquid with a characteristic pungent odor.

Boiling point 147*F, Solubility: Miscible Specific Gravity@ 68*F: 0.79
Flash point 52*F (i.e., the temperature at which the liquid phase gives off enough vapor to flash when exposed to an external ignition source), closed cup (unless annotated "(oc)" for open cup)
UEL: 36% Upper explosive (flammable) limit in air, % by volume (at room temperature unless otherwise noted)
LEL: 6% Lower explosive (flammable) limit in air, % by volume (at room temperature unless otherwise noted)
Class IB Flammable Liquid: Fl.P. below 73°F and BP at or above 100°F.

Exposure Limits: OSHA recommends no more than 250ppm(part per million) for 15 minutes.

IDLH: 6000 ppm (immediately dangerous to life or health)

Incompatibilities & Reactivities: Strong oxidizers (this means bad things will happen if mixed)

Personal Protection & Sanitation Skin: Prevent skin contact, Eyes: Prevent eye contact, Wash skin: When contaminated, Remove: When wet (flammable)

First Aid Eye: Irrigate immediately, Skin: Water flush promptly, Breathing: Respiratory support, Swallow: Medical attention immediately

Respirator Recommendations
NIOSH/OSHA
Up to 2000 ppm:
(APF = 10) Any supplied-air respirator
Up to 5000 ppm:
(APF = 25) Any supplied-air respirator operated in a continuous-flow mode
Up to 6000 ppm:
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator that has a tight-fitting facepiece and is operated in a continuous-flow mode
(APF = 50) Any self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece
(APF = 50) Any supplied-air respirator with a full facepiece
Emergency or planned entry into unknown concentrations or IDLH conditions:
(APF = 10,000) Any self-contained breathing apparatus that has a full facepiece and is operated in a pressure-demand or other positive-pressure mode

Exposure Routes: inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Symptoms Irritation eyes, skin, upper respiratory system; headache, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, vomiting; visual disturbance, optic nerve damage (blindness); dermatitis

Target Organs
Eyes, skin, respiratory system, central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract

[booya620]

what does all that mean?
here's some things to keep you safe.
Principal hazards: Methanol is very flammable. The pure liquid catches fire easily and aqueous solutions containing a significant amount of methanol can also catch fire.
*** The flame above burning methanol is virtually invisible, so it is not always easy to tell whether a methanol flame is still alight.
*** The explosion limits for methanol (the lower and upper percentage limits of methanol in an air-methanol mixture giving a vapour that can explode) are unusually wide.

Safe handling
Always wear safety glasses.
Remove any source of ignition from the working area. Don't forget that a hot air gun, a hot plate or even a radiator may be sufficiently hot to ignite the vapour.
You should not breathe in the vapour, so use a fume cupboard if available. If this is not possible, ensure that the area in which you work is very well ventilated.

Emergency
Eye contact: Immediately flush the eye with plenty of water. Continue for several minutes and call for medical help.
Skin contact: A person whose clothes are soaked in methanol will be at serious risk from fire, so immediately remove any contaminated clothing and store well away from a source of ignition (preferably outside). Wash exposed skin with soap and water. If the skin reddens or appears damaged, or if methanol may have been swallowed, call for medical aid.
If swallowed: Call for immediate medical help; if the quantity swallowed is significant urgent medical action is vital.

Disposal
Trace amounts of methanol can be flushed down a sink with a large quantity of water, unless local rules prohibit this. Larger amounts should be collected in a non-chlorinated waste solvent container for disposal.

Protective equipment
Safety glasses. If you need gloves, butyl rubber is a suitable material.

I recommend getting 2 fire extinguishers a class ABC extinguisher (at last a 10lb but 20lb+would be better) for the mixing area and a class abc automotive extinguisher for your car. Also keep the meth away from heat sources, your catalytic converter could be hot enough to ignite vapors is mixing in your garage, also be mindful of pilot lights on stoves, oil burner, hot water heaters, high heat blow dryers( the kind used to install tint/ shrink tubing).
Oh yeah and keep a bottle of water near by in a marked container and possibly a beer a two. Meth isn't for drinking, it has been used in bootleg ops, but is reported to cause severe liver damage.

[superskaterxes]

thanks!!!