RE: Thanks and Further info on the Picric Acid

[Bruce Bugg <BRUCEB@psc.state.ga.us>]

I have only an anecdotal story. I saw a video of a bomb squad disposing
of old lab chemicals. They used small blasting caps and put the bottles
down inside a 55 gal open head drum to direct the blast upward. At one
point, they detonate one of the smallest bottles they had. Instead of
the "boom" and whoosh of gases and smoke out of the top of the drum, the
explosion is unexpectedly large, the drum disappears in a cloud of
smoke.

The audio track at that point is peppered with expletives, mainly the
"s" word. A couple of seconds later, a smoking remnant of the 55 gal
drum comes sailing down about halfway between "ground zero" and teh
video camera.

It's funny now, and no one was hurt, but it pays to be VERY careful.

Sounds like you handled yours fine.

The only dumb question is the one you don't ask.

Bruce Bugg
> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Vernig, Peter G. [SMTP:Peter.Vernig@med.va.gov]
> Sent:	Tuesday, May 11, 1999 16:46
> To:	Multiple recipients of list
> Subject:	Thanks and Further info on the Picric Acid
> 
> Group,
> First thanks to all that responded.  Consensus seems to be that 20
> grams
> would have cleaned out that lab room but not caused structural damage
> to the
> building.
> 
> I did not go into detail but I will elaborate a little now.  I had not
> dealt
> with picric acid myself but have discussed it on occasion.  We have an
> expert in spill response on contract and he was contacted prior to
> doing
> more than evacuation of the room, that is by our procedure.  By expert
> I
> mean he has degrees in chemistry and industrial hygiene and has been
> doing
> this type of work for over 10 year and has all of his fingers!
> Seriously he
> is an expert.  I was unpleasantly surprised at the size of the
> explosion
> likely, when I read responses from the group.  But after talking with
> our
> consultant, I realize that picric acid is unstable in crystalline form
> when
> it has lost it's water of hydration.  For those not fluent in chemical
> terminology, water molecules that are incorporated in the crystalline
> structure.  The material was a powder, it had not grown the crystals
> that
> are characteristic of the non hydrated crystal which is very shock
> sensitive.  This was discussed out of my hearing at the time.  So the
> main
> spill responder felt comfortable in carefully adding cold water.  Our
> consultant said when there is any evidence of crystal growth, he won't
> touch
> it but calls the bomb squad.
> 
> I was assisting, mostly by observing.  Our procedure calls for two
> people on
> any response and I was number 2.  I positioned myself to be out of the
> line
> of a blast but realize now if there had been one I still would have
> been at
> risk for serious injury.  One of our other responders said she still
> wouldn't have touched it and would have requested the consultant
> respond to
> add the water.  That I suppose is a judgement call.
> 
> Thanks again.  I guess my take home lesson is ask questions until you
> REALLY
> UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION.
> 
> Peter G. Vernig
> Radiation Safety Officer
> VA Medical Center, Denver
> 
> 1055 Clermont Street, Denver, CO 80220
> ATTN:  RSO, Mail Stop 115
> peter.vernig@med.va.gov
> 303-399-8020 ex 2447
> FAX 303-393-5026
> 
> Any opinions expressed in this message are solely my own and do not
> necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of the Denver VA Medical
> Center,
> The Dept. of Veterans Affairs, or the U.S. Government.
> 
> "You win some.  You lose some.  And some get rained out."  Y. Berra
> 
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