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Avoiding Spontaneous Combustion Hazards in Absorbents, Rags and Wipers June 2012

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This training is intended to be educational and should not be construed as legal guidance. It is provided as a courtesy to our customers and others who may benefit from the information contained herein. New Pig Corporation assumes no responsibility for misuse or mishandling of our information or products.

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Fire and Spontaneous Combustion

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Heat, oxygen and fuel must all be present in order to start a fire

•   If any one of these three elements is not present, a fire cannot occur

•   In the case of spontaneous combustion, instead of an external heat or ignition source, heat is generated through an exothermic reaction called “oxidation”

Fire: a brief review

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Spontaneous combustion

Spontaneous combustion is the ability of certain materials to ignite without an external flame, spark, heat or other ignition source.

•   For spontaneous combustion to occur, the rate of heat being generated through oxidation must exceed the rate of heat being removed by conduction, convection or radiation

What is spontaneous combustion?

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Spontaneous combustion

A single rag laid out flat to dry does not spontaneously combust, but a loosely packed pile of rags will. •   The single cloth has sufficient air supply to accommodate oxidation, and any

heat generated will be carried off more quickly than it is formed •   A pile of absorbents or rags allows heat to build up because the surface area

of the oil and the exposure to oxygen are maximized, so reaction occurs faster than heat is dissipated

•   A tightly packed pile of absorbents or rags does not typically have enough oxygen to start the oxidation process

Spontaneous Combustion

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Spontaneous combustion

As the ambient temperature of the

material begins to rise, the rate of

heat generation (oxidation) will

often increase as well.

Ambient Heat

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Spontaneous combustion

It does not matter what brand or type of absorbent is used.

•   Spontaneous combustion can occur in a pile of vegetable oil-soaked clay just as easily as with a pile of saturated mat pads

•   Avoiding absorbents and wipers with cellulose content will not prevent spontaneous combustion

Important Notes

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Biodiesel

•   Alkyd enamel resins

•   Drying Oils

•   Stand Oil

•   Safflower Oil

•   Sesame Oil

•   Nut Oils

Some common liquids that can spontaneously combust when absorbed by sorbent materials:

Spontaneously Combustible Liquids

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Castor Oil •   Coconut Oil •   Corn Oil •   Cottonseed Oil •   Fish Oil •   Lard Oil •   Linseed Oil •   Oleo Oil

•   Olive Oil •   Palm Oil •   Peanut Oil •   Pine Oil •   Sesame Oil •   Soybean Oil •   Tung Oil

Spontaneously Combustible Liquids

Source: NFPA Handbook Nineteenth Edition

The National Fire Protection Handbook lists over 70 common materials which are subject to spontaneous combustion, including:

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Sawdust •   Hay •   Wastepaper •   Coal

•   Charcoal •   Manure •   Pyrophoric Materials •   Oxidizing Agents

Spontaneously Combustible Materials

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Absorbent Basics

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Spontaneous combustion

Absorbents, wipers and rags are used every day to clean up leaks and spills and are generally nonhazardous.

Absorbent Basics

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Spontaneous combustion

Mats, socks, pillows, loose absorbents and wipers are made from many different types of materials such as polypropylene, cotton, corn cob and earthen minerals like vermiculite and clay.

Absorbent Basics

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Spontaneous combustion

Absorbents take on the characteristics of the liquids they have absorbed, and should be handled with the same precautions as the liquid.

•   Corrosives remain corrosive

•   Flammable solvents remain flammable, etc.

Selecting the correct absorbent for the job helps keep employees and facilities safer.

Absorbent Basics

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Because absorbents take on the characteristics of the liquids absorbed, care should be taken when selecting absorbents to make sure they are safe for the application

•   Information about chemicals can be obtained from Safety Data Sheets (SDSs), suppliers, chemical indexes and many online resources

•   Understanding how a chemical behaves in different circumstances helps the user know how to properly use, store, handle, recycle and dispose of it

Absorbent Basics

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Oil Characteristics

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Spontaneous combustion

Oils are traditionally petroleum, plant or animal-based, but some are derived from synthetic sources.

Knowing the base of the oil being absorbed helps determine its likelihood for spontaneous combustion.

Oil Characteristics

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Petroleum-based oils are not prone to spontaneous combustion when absorbed into mats, socks, pillows, wipers or rags.

•   Care should still be taken to handle, store and recycle or dispose of them properly.

Petroleum-Based Oils

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Spontaneous combustion

When vegetable oils are exposed to air, the oxygen in the air combines with the oxygen in the oil and polymerizes, releasing heat. This process is called “oxidation.”

Because heat is released, oxidation is an exothermic reaction.

•   The more unsaturated the oil, the more energy (or heat) is released when the carbon bonds are broken

Vegetable Oils

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Spontaneous combustion

The tendency of an oil to spontaneously combust is related to its Iodine Number.

•   The higher the Iodine Number, the greater the tendency

•   Another way to identify oils with this hazard is to look for words like “drying oil,” “semi-drying oil,” or “self-heating substance” on labels or SDSs

Vegetable Oils

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Chinese text written before 290AD described spontaneous combustion of a stored oiled cloth

•   The “auto-oxidation phenomenon” was observed by the Swiss chemist Nicholas-Theodore de Saussure (1767 – 1845)

•   The first western account was made by J.P.F. Dunhamel in 1757. He described the burning of a stack of oil-soaked canvas sails that were “drying” in the July sun.

Fun Facts

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Housekeeping

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Keep spontaneously combustible materials in a cool environment

•   Use SDS and other resources to identify any materials that may potentially self-heat

•   Keep appropriate fire extinguishing equipment near potential areas of ignition

•   Don’t allow piles of absorbents, wipers or rags to accumulate

Housekeeping

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Keep used materials in a closed container that limits oxygen

•   Some facilities even choose to cover used materials with water to further minimize hazards

•   Empty oily waste cans and other collection containers daily

Housekeeping

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Spontaneous combustion

•   Do not store containers of saturated absorbents, wipers or rags in hot areas or near combustible materials

•   Do not put items that have been spotted or soaked with vegetable or other drying oils in a clothes or commercial dryer

Housekeeping

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Spontaneous combustion

Spontaneous combustion hazards can be managed by:

•   Training and awareness

•   Good housekeeping practices

•   Keeping used absorbent materials in closed containers with limited oxygen

Quick Review

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Thank You

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