Prevention reference manual: chemical specific. Volume 10. Control of accidental releases of hydrogen cyanide. Final report, November 1986-June 1987

Technical Report · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5859121

Davis, D S; DeWolf, G B; Quass, J D

The report discusses the control of accidental releases of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to the atmosphere. HCN has an IDLH (immediately dangerous to life and health) concentration of 50 ppm, making it an acute toxic hazard. Reducing the risk associated with an accidental release of HCN involves identifying some of the potential causes of accidental releases that apply to the process facilities that use HCN. The manual identifies examples of potential causes and measures that may be taken to reduce the accidental release risk. Such measures include recommendations on: plant design practices; prevention, protection, and mitigation technologies; and operation and maintenance practices. Conceptual cost estimates of example prevention, protection, and mitigation measures are provided. The accidental release of a toxic chemical at Bhopal, India, in 1984 was a milestone in creating an increased public awareness of toxic release problems. As a result of other, perhaps less dramatic, incidents in the past, portions of the chemical industry were aware of this problem long before Bhopal.

• Research Organization: Radian Corp., Austin, TX (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5859121
• Report Number(s): PB-88-107032/XAB; DCN-87-203-024-98-35
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ACCIDENTS
AIR POLLUTION CONTROL
CONTROL
CYANIDES
HYDROCYANIC ACID
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
INORGANIC ACIDS
MAINTENANCE
MATERIALS
MATERIALS HANDLING
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORS
PACKAGING
POLLUTION CONTROL
TOXIC MATERIALS