Preliminary Requirements

Safety Requirements

WARNING

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OPERATOR TO OBTAIN AND OBSERVE THE MANUFACTURER'S MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEETS FOR CONSUMABLE MATERIALS. THESE CONTAIN INFORMATION SUCH AS, HAZARDOUS INGREDIENTS, PHYSICAL/CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS, FIRE, EXPLOSION, REACTIVITY, HEALTH HAZARD DATA, PRECAUTIONS FOR SAFE HANDLING AND USE, AND CONTROL MEASURES, AND ALSO TO TAKE LOCAL REGULATIONS INTO CONSIDERATION.

WARNING

THIS PROCEDURE INCLUDES THE USE OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE, SODIUM CYANIDE, OR POTASSIUM CYANIDE. CYANIDE SALTS AND/OR SOLUTIONS ARE VERY POISONOUS AND WORK VERY QUICKLY. THEY GIVE OFF HYDROGEN CYANIDE GAS, WHEN MIXED WITH ACID, WHICH CAN CAUSE DEATH. THE PRECAUTIONS THAT FOLLOW MUST ALWAYS BE OBEYED.

WARNING

CYANIDE SOLUTION SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

OPERATORS MUST ALWAYS USE THE APPROVED PROTECTIVE CLOTHING SUPPLIED.

ALWAYS KEEP FINGERNAILS CUT SHORT. BE SURE FINGERNAILS ARE ALWAYS FULLY CLEAN BEFORE YOU EAT, DRINK, OR SMOKE.

DO NOT KEEP ITEMS THAT ARE USED TO EAT OR DRINK WITH IN THE SAME LOCATION WITH CYANIDE. ALSO, YOU MUST NOT EAT, DRINK, OR SMOKE AT SUCH LOCATIONS.

ALWAYS KEEP CYANIDE IN A SAFE LOCATION, WHERE ACCESS IS ONLY AVAILABLE TO APPROVED PERSONS.

A SUPPLY OF CYANIDE ANTIDOTE MUST ALWAYS BE EASILY AVAILABLE.

CYANIDE SALTS AND SOLUTIONS MUST ALWAYS BE KEPT AWAY FROM ACIDS BECAUSE THE CYANIDE AND ACIDS WILL REACT TO GIVE OFF HYDROGEN CYANIDE GAS.

ALWAYS OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS OF QUALIFIED SAFETY PERSONNEL.

POISONING WILL OCCUR IF YOU SWALLOW CYANIDE, IF YOU BREATHE HYDROGEN CYANIDE GAS, OR IF CYANIDE OR HYDROGEN CYANIDE GAS ABSORBS THROUGH YOUR SKIN.

WARNING INDICATIONS OF POISONING ARE: DIZZINESS, NAUSEA, GENERAL WEAKNESS, HEADACHE, PALPITATIONS, FEELING OF SUFFOCATION AND TIGHTNESS IN THE THROAT. PALLOR, DEEP BREATHING, AND UNCONSCIOUSNESS.

WARNING

SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTION SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

SODIUM HYDROXIDE SOLUTIONS CAN BURN. ALWAYS KEEP THESE SOLUTIONS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES AND SKIN. YOU MUST USE THE PROTECTIVE CLOTHING SUPPLIED, TOGETHER WITH RUBBER GLOVES AND EYE PROTECTION. IF YOU GET SODIUM HYDROXIDE IN YOUR EYES, FULLY FLUSH WITH CLEAN WATER; THEN SEEK MEDICAL TREATMENT IMMEDIATELY.

A SUPPLY OF BUFFERED PHOSPHATE SOLUTION MUST ALWAYS BE EASILY AVAILABLE, TO APPLY TO BURNS.

BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU ADD COMPOUNDS, WHICH CONTAIN SOLID SODIUM HYDROXIDE, TO WATER, BECAUSE HEAT IS GIVEN OFF WHEN THE COMPOUND DISSOLVES. MAKE MUCH MOVEMENT OF THE SOLUTION, WITH AIR OR MECHANICAL METHODS, AS YOU ADD THE COMPOUND TO THE SURFACE OF THE SOLUTION. DO NOT ADD LARGE QUANTITIES OF THE COMPOUND TO ONE SMALL AREA OF THE TANK BECAUSE THE SOLUTION WILL BOIL.

ALWAYS OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS OF QUALIFIED SAFETY PERSONNEL.

Procedure

1. SUBTASK 70-33-86-200-001 Test and Control the Solutions A and B

   1. Always obey the instructions given in Safety Precautions.

   2. NOTE

      The solutions should be analyzed at regular times to estimate the sodium hydroxide and cyanide contents, which should be maintained.

      The solution must be in amild steel tank or appropriate alternative.

   3. 1. Solution A (refer to the SPM TASK 70-33-86-100-501) should be between the limits that follow:

         1. CoMat 01-022 SODIUM HYDROXIDE NaOH (SOLID) (NaOH) at 10.5 to 16 oz.wt/gal (78.8 to 120 g/l).

         2. CoMat 01-063 SODIUM CYANIDE NaCN (NaCN) at 1 to 1.6 oz.wt/gal (7.5 to 12 g/l).

         3. CoMat 01-107 POTASSIUM CYANIDE KCN95% MIN (KCN) at 1.4 to 2 oz.wt/gal (10.5 to 15 g/l).

      2. Solution B (refer to the SPM TASK 70-33-86-100-501) should be between the limits that follow:

         1. CoMat 01-022 SODIUM HYDROXIDE NaOH (SOLID) sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at 24 to 29.5 oz.wt/gal (180 to 221.3 g/l).

         2. CoMat 01-063 SODIUM CYANIDE NaCN sodium cyanide (NaCN) at 1 to 1.6 oz.wt/gal (7.5 to 12 g/l).

         3. CoMat 01-107 POTASSIUM CYANIDE KCN95% MIN potassium cyanide (KCN) at 1.4 to 2 oz.wt/gal (10.5 to 15 g/l).

   4. To analyze for sodium hydroxide, use the procedure in Step.

   5. The analyses for sodium cyanide are in the procedure in Step.

2. SUBTASK 70-33-86-200-004 Test and Control of Solution C (Solution Code 58)

   1. Test and control Solution Code 58 as instructed by the solution manufacturer. (Refer also to the SPM TASK 70-11-47-110-501, SUBTASK 70-11-47-180-035.).

3. SUBTASK 70-33-86-200-005 Test and Control of Solution D

   1. Always obey the instructions given in the Safety Precautions.

   2. The solutions must be in a mild steel tank or appropriate alternative.

   3. NOTE

      It is important that the ratio of sodium hydroxide to sodium gluconate is maintained at 5:1. In use, the amount of sodium thiocyanate in the solution does not need adjustment.

      Solution D should be between the limits that follow:

      1. CoMat 01-022 SODIUM HYDROXIDE NaOH (SOLID) at 130 to 170 g/l.

      2. CoMat 01-391 SODIUM THIOCYANATE (NaSCN) at 0.9 to 1.1 g/l.

      3. CoMat 01-548 SODIUM GLUCONATE at 26 to 34 g/l.

      4. (Refer also to the SPM TASK 70-33-86-100-501).

   4. To analyze for sodium hydroxide, use the procedure in Step.

4. SUBTASK 70-33-86-200-002 Analyze for Sodium Hydroxide

   1. NOTE

      Do the analysis in a fume cupboard.

      Always obey the instructions given in the Safety Precautions.

   2. Use a pipet to put a 10 ml sample of solution into a 100 ml beaker.

   3. Dilute with CoMat 01-201 DISTILLED, DEIONIZED, DEMINERALIZED, OR REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) WATER to approximately 50 ml.

   4. Add five drops of CoMat 01-011 INDICATOR.

   5. Titrate with N HCl (prepared from CoMat 01-006 HYDROCHLORIC ACID (HCl)), until the red color of the indicator is not visible. The calculations that follow will then apply:

      1 ml of N HCl = 0,04 g of NaOH, therefore:

      ml of N HCl x 0,04 x 100 = g/l of NaOH.

5. SUBTASK 70-33-86-200-003 Analyze for Sodium Cyanide or Potassium Cyanide

   1. NOTE

      Do the analysis in a fume cupboard suitable for the cyanide analysis.

      Always obey the instructions given in the Safety Precautions.

   2. Use a pipet to put a 5 ml sample of solution into a 100 ml beaker.

   3. Dilute with CoMat 01-201 DISTILLED, DEIONIZED, DEMINERALIZED, OR REVERSE OSMOSIS (RO) WATER to approximately 30 ml.

   4. Add a crystal of CoMat 01-097 POTASSIUM IODIDE KI potassium iodide (KI).

   5. Titrate with N/10 silver nitrate (prepared from CoMat 01-059 SILVER NITRATE AgNO3 (AgNO3)) to a faint yellowish turbidity. The calculations that follow will then apply:

      1 ml of N/10 AgNO3 = 0.0098 g of NaCN.

      or:

      1 ml of N/10 AgNO3 = 0.0129 g of KCN.

      Therefore:

      ml of N/10 AgNO3 x 0.0098 x 200 = g/l of NaCN.

      or:

      ml of N/10 AgNO3 x 0.0129 x 200 = g/l of KCN.