Xylene handling question

[cooh bries]

Hello, sorry if this has been answered already but I couldn't find any info on the search.

Anyway, my question has to do with safety precautions when using xylene as a solvent. I've read a lot of teks that mention using it, and no one seems to give any warning about it besides the general flammability hazard like with naphtha. But I've been reading the msds for xylene and lab procedures for handling it, and it says that it can accumulate a static charge and ignite itself if not handled properly.

What's more is that the likelihood of this increases when the xylene is layered with another solvent and when there are particles present, such as during an extraction. It is recommended that one grounds and bonds their containers before transferring xylene.

I'm not sure if people neglect to mention this because their unaware, it's common knowledge if you read the msds, or if because in reality it's not really much of an issue. From the way people talk about using it I assume it's safe but I really don't want to blow myself up.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated, thanks!

 

[DreaMTripper]

Xylene is extremelyt flammable yes so keep away from any bare flames and use a mask and gloves as with any other solvent.
These volatile compounds generally all require the same safety measures are toxic if breathed in and all are flammable.

 

[cooh bries]

Thank you!

So I take this to mean that static ignition is not much of a danger with these substances as long as you avoid violent shaking or splashing?

 

[DreaMTripper]

Someone please correct me if Im wrong but it means to keep it away from sparks or naked flames so as to not ignite it. I highly doubt the motion of shaking it in a container would create a spark, that needs a source of ignition such as friction or electricity, or a spark.

 

[cooh bries]

If you read the handling instructions for working with xylene it says to ground all containers because this material can accumulate static charge by flow, splashing, or agitation. grounding is necessary to assure that this electricity does not build up to such a degree that it creates a spark large and hot enough to ignite the xylene. When in contact with a container, another solvent, or particles the chance of xylene accumulating static electricity increases.

However, if many people have not been grounding their containers, and have experienced no problems there's probably only a minute chance of this happening.

 

[DreaMTripper]

I stand corrected! (Said the man in the orphopaedic shoes).I never knew that , you learn something new every day.

Just did a quick search

www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/prevention/flammable_static.html

The amount of charge that develops depends, in part, on how much liquid is involved and how fast is it flowing or is being agitated or stirred.

 

[frobot]

I believe all flammable liquids have this risk. A lot of gas station pumps have this static electricity warning on them.
I'm pretty sure the risk is very small but I would certainly rather be safe than sorry when it comes to something in my hands exploding!

 

[cooh bries]

cool, some thin metal wire probably isn't too expensive or hard to manage