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Date of Issue : Jan 2002 1. IDENTIFICATION
General Product Name : SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLID Other Names : CAUSTIC SODA ; ANHYDROUS SODIUM HYDROXIDE SODIUM HYDRATE ; WHITE CAUSTIC ; SODA LYE UN No. : 1823 Dangerous Goods Class : 8 Subsidiary Risk : None Allocated Hazchem Code : 2X Pack Group : II EPG : 37 Poisons Schedule : 6 Uses : NAOH solutions are used to neutralise acids and make sodium salts, eg. in petroleum refining to remove sulphuric and organic acids; to treat cellulose in making viscose rayon and cellophane; in reclaiming rubber to dissolve out the fabric; in making plastics to dissolve casein. NaOH solutions hydrolyse fats and form soaps; they precipitate alkaloids and most metals from water solutions
1.1 Physical Description / Properties
Appearance : White delquescent solid, can be in the form of flakes, pellets or sticks. Formula : NaOH Boiling Point : 1390 deg C Melting Point : 318 deg C Vapour Pressure : N/A Specific Gravity : 2.13 (water = 1) Flash Point : N/A pH : 14 (100 g/L water) Solubility in water : Solub g/l (25 deg C) Flammability Limits (as percentage volume in air) Lower Explosion Limit : N/A Upper Explosion Limit : N/A 1.2 Other Properties
Solubility in water = soluble with evolution of heat. Also soluble in alcohols and glycerol. Bulk density = 1.175 g/ml 1.3 Ingredients
2. HEALTH HAZARD INFORMATION
2.1 Health Effects - Acute Swallowed
Ingestion of caustic soda will severely damage the mucous membranes of the throat and deeper tissue. Do not induce vomiting. If the patient is conscious, wash out mouth with water and give 200 - 300 ml of water to drink. Lethal dose for man is approximately 5 grams. Eye
Contact with eyes for more than a few seconds will destroy the tissues resulting in loss of eye or impaired vision due to scaring. Skin
Contact with skin for more than a few seconds will destroy the skin causing a serious chemical burn that will take a long time to heal, and may even leave a permanent scar. Inhaled
Inhalation of dusts may cause pulmonary congestion with subsequent compromission of respiratory functionality followed by loss of consciousness. Extremely irritative to respiratory tract (including mucous membranes, throat and lungs). Slightly toxic. 2.2 Health Effects - Chronic
Prolonged and reiterated inhalations of the dusts may cause chronic disturbance of the respiratory routes. May cause dermatitis.
2.3 First Aid
Swallowed
Contact a Doctor or the immediately. Give patient 1 - 3 cups of water. DO NOT induce vomiting. Immediately transport to a hospital or doctor.
Eye
Flood eyes with clean water for 15 minutes - retract eyelids often Immediately transport to a hospital or doctor
Skin
Remove all contaminated clothing including footwear. Wash affected areas thoroughly with mild soap and water. Seek medical advice.
Inhaled
Remove from contaminated area immeidately; avoid becoming casualty. If NOT breathing apply artificial resuscitation. Experienced person may administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Immediately transport to a hospital or doctor
First Aid Facilities
Ensure an eye bath and safety shower are available and ready for use.
2.5 Advice to Doctor
Wash skin until soapiness feeling disappears. Treat symptomatically based on judgement of doctor and individual reactions of patient.
2.6 Toxicity Data
No information available.
3. PRECAUTIONS FOR USE
3.1 Exposure Standards
Worksafe recommends - TWA 2 mg/m3 peak limitation
3.2 Engineering Controls
Provide general exhaust ventilation in order to maintain exposure levels below standards.
3.3 Personal Protection
Respiratory protection - wear suitable respiratory protective equipment if exposure to levels above the occupational exposure limit is likely. Eye protection - wear close fitting goggles or full face shield. Skin protection - wear suitable rubber or PVC gloves and acid proof overalls for operations in which there is a risk of splashes. Do not eat, drink or smoke in storage areas or during handling. Wash hands and face thoroughly after handling and before work breaks, eating, drinking, smoking and using the toilet facilities.
3.4 Flammability
Material is non-flammable SAFE HANDLING INFORMATION
4.1 Storage / Transport
For caustic soda bags; keep the palleted caustic bags at all times under full airtight conditions in a cool and dry warehouse, to ensure the product remains stable. If outdoor storage is unavoidable, cover the shrink wrapped pallets with black polyethylene or tarpaulin to protect from moisture and sunlight. Avoid direct exposure to air in order to prevent absoprtion of moisture and carbon dioxide. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight in order to prevent ultra violet degradation of polyethylene. Prevent rupture and other damages of packages containing caustic prills. For caustic soda drums; keep the drums upright, preferably indoor, to avoid corrosion of metal by surface water. Ensure the drum lids remain tightly closed during storage. If stored outdorr, protect drums by covering with waterproof sheeting. Keep the stock alway dry. Moist atmosphere can lead to product contamination. Turnover from the stock should be on the basis of first in - first out. Causitc soda is highly corrosive and a strong irritant, therefore workers should wear full protective clothing at all times, particularly goggles and gloves, while handling caustic soda.
4.2 Packaging / Labelling UN No. 1823 Class 8 Sub Risk None Allocated Hazchem Code 2X Pack Group II EPG No. 37 Shipping Name SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SOLID Hazard CORROSIVE
Risk Phrases R35 Causes severe burns. R41 Risk of serious damage to eyes.
Safety Phrases S1/2 Keep locked up and out of the reach of children. S26 In case of contact with eyes, rinse immediately with plenty of water and seek medical advice. S37/39 Wear suitable gloves and eye/face protection. S45 In case of accident or if you feel unwell, seek medical advice immediately (show the label whenever possible).
4.3 Spills and Disposal
Spills
Clean up personnel should wear full protective clothing. Prevent product from entering water courses, drains or sewers. Spillages or uncontrolled discharges must be immediately alerted to the appropriate authorities.
Absorb with sand or soil, scoop up and place in suitable containers for later treatment/disposal.
Disposal
Use very dilute acid for neutralisation. Dispose of in accordance with Local, State and Federal regulations at an approved waste disposal facility. Neutralise aqueous solutions by diluting with very diluted hydrochloric acid. Drain effluent with plenty of water, keeping pH under control. Beware of heat and splashes caused by water reactions (dissolution heat) or neutralisation.
4.4 FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD Fire / Explosion
Product is non-combustible. Can react with some metals generating hydrogen gas with its associated hazards. Reaction with moisture may generate sufficient heat to ignite combustible material. Avoid contact with incompatible materials such as strong oxidising agents and strong acids, organic materials, aluminium, tin, zinc, leat and alloys of these metals producing flammable hydrogen gas. May start fires in contact with fuels.
Extinguishing Media
Evacuate area - move upwind of fire. Summon Fire Brigade immediately, DIAL 000 DO NOT USE WATER. Use extinguishing media appropriate to surrounding fire conditions. Remove containers not involved in the fire from the vicinity. Fire- fighters should wear full protective clothing including self-contained breathing apparatus. 5 OTHER INFORMATION
Other Information
Solutions react with air to form sodium carbonate. Hazardous to living organisms in high concentrations. Corrosive and alkaline. Environmental fate and distribution - high tonnage material used in partially contained systems. Solid with low volatility. The substance is soluble in water. The substance does not bioaccumulate. Persistence and degradation - sodium hydroxide degrades readily by reaction with the natural carbon dioxide in the air. Toxicity - concentrations greater than 10 ppm, especially in fresh water, or a pH value equal to or greater than 10.5 may be fatal to fish and other aquatic organisms. Can cause damage to aquatic plants. Can cause damage to vegetation. Effect on effluent treatment - concentrations to render effluent alkaline may cause damage to effluent treatment organisms.
5.1 Contact Points
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The information above is believed to be accurate and represents the best information currently available to us. However, we make no warranty of merchantability or any other warranty, express or implied, with respect to such information, and we assume no liability resulting from its use.
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