- Author
-
DeRosa, M. I.
- Title
- Correlations of Hydrogen Chloride and Hydrogen Cyanide Concentrations Evolved During Combustion of Chlorine- and Nitrogen-Containing Materials. Report of Investigations.
- Coporate
- Pittsburgh Research Center, PA
- Report
-
RI 9521
April 26, 1994
14 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
-
hydrogen chloride
|
hydrogen cyanide
|
combustion
|
chlorine
|
nitrogen
|
correlation
|
thermal decomposition
|
experiments
|
weight loss
- Abstract
- The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a study to determine if correlations exist between the chlorine or nitrogen contents of materials and the hydrogen chloride (HCl) or hydrogen cyanide (HCN) concentrations evolved during the thermal decomposition of these materials. HCl, HCN, and carbon monoxide (CO) were found to be the primary toxic gases evolved during the combustion process. The experiments were carried out in a 20-L furnace with 1-g samples. The furnace temperature, rising from ambient, was set at 1,000 deg C with an airflow of 10-L/min. The variables measured were the total gas concentrations of HCl, HCN, and mass of particulates; the concentrations were treated as load values because they evolved during the complete thermal decomposition of the samples. Other variables included CO and carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas concentrations and loads, the average diameter and concentration of submicrometer smoke particules, sample and furnace temperatures, and sample weight loss. The data indicate that there are significant correlations between the percentage of chlorine or nitrogen contained in the original samples and the HCl or HCN concentrations evolved during the combustion of the materials. These correlations may be used to predict and evaluate a material's toxic hazard during combustion. The measurements of CO, CO₂, submicrometer smoke particles, and mass of particulate concentrations also may be used during the evaluation.