Hazmat through history – Sulfuric acid
By Daniel Hammel, North America Marketing Lead Chemical Industrial
After sulfuric acid was first discovered in the , it was dubbed “oil of vitriol.” Vitriol is a sulfate of various metals, such as copper and iron. The newly discovered acid was produced by roasting iron vitriol in an iron retort. The ancient term “vitriol” lends itself to the literary term of the same name, meaning “.”
The use of sulfuric acid was limited in its early history. Advancements in the production of sulfuric acid helped make it more popular and expanded its use in various applications. In the heated a combination of sulfur and potassium nitrate with steam to produce sulfuric acid. At this time, sulfuric acid was mainly used as a cleaning agent. By the developed the lead chamber process, which allowed sulfuric acid to be produced more easily and less expensively. Production increased in the 1760s as its usage as a fabric dye was popularized. Sulfuric acid could be used as both a bleaching agent and as a way to dissolve indigo to produce a blue dye. In developed his patented contact process for producing sulfuric acid, which is still used today.
While there have been and continue to be many virtuous uses of sulfuric acid across the globe, some individuals with nefarious intentions have taken advantage of sulfuric acid’s properties. murdered at least six people between 1944 and 1949. Not wanting to pay for his crimes and believing that the absence of bodies would clear him of any murder charges, Haigh dissolved his victims’ bodies in vats of concentrated sulfuric acid. This earned Haigh the nickname the “Acid Bath Murderer.” Haigh’s plan didn’t work. A jury convicted him of the six murders, and he was executed by hanging in 1949.
Today, sulfuric acid is one of the most commonly used chemicals in the world. Sulfuric acid is used to produce a vast array of products. It is most commonly used in the production of fertilizers, but it is also used to produce pharmaceuticals, detergents, pigments, fabrics and paper, to name a few. It remains such an important commodity that a nation’s production of sulfuric acid is used as an indicator of that nation’s industrial strength.
The advises that exposure to sulfuric acid can be destructive to the skin, eyes, lungs and teeth. Severe exposure can even result in death. For k8 Personal Protection solutions that provide protection against sulfuric acid, please visit ڱʷ™.
Better safe than sorry
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M. Eng., EP, P.Eng., Senior Environmental Engineer, Thurber Engineering Ltd.
As an environmental engineer, my life deals with looking for things that many clients hope I don’t find. Although my job involves soil and groundwater a majority of the time, I am also involved in [...]
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North America Marketing Lead – Chemical Industrial
In our first installment of “Hazmat through history” back in The Glow Worm Spring 2016 issue, we took a look at plague doctors during the bubonic plague of the 17th century. These medics from yesteryear wore prominent birdlike masks to ward off “bad air,” which was thought to be a cause of [...]
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Senior Marketing Analyst
Handling and transporting hazardous materials are the reality of a modern and dynamic supply chain. Whether the hazardous cargo is a final product destined for market or a byproduct of the production process that must be disposed of, [...]
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Better safe than sorry
By Michael Halliwell
M. Eng., EP, P.Eng., Senior Environmental Engineer, Thurber Engineering Ltd.
As an environmental engineer, my life deals with looking for things that many clients hope I don’t find. Although my job involves soil and groundwater a majority of the time, I am also involved in [...]
Hazmat through history – Gas masks
By Daniel Hammel
North America Marketing Lead – Chemical Industrial
In our first installment of “Hazmat through history” back in The Glow Worm Spring 2016 issue, we took a look at plague doctors during the bubonic plague of the 17th century. These medics from yesteryear wore prominent birdlike masks to ward off “bad air,” which was thought to be a cause of [...]
Hazmat on the go – Transportation regulations: Gases
By Kathryn Novelli
Senior Marketing Analyst
Handling and transporting hazardous materials are the reality of a modern and dynamic supply chain. Whether the hazardous cargo is a final product destined for market or a byproduct of the production process that must be disposed of, [...]
What can a CIH do for me?
By the k8 Personal Protection CIH Team: Mark Tartaglia, CIH; Damien Hammond, CIH, CSP; and Kay Dietrich, CIH, CSP
Industrial hygiene is the anticipation, recognition, evaluation and control of workplace hazards. It’s an interdisciplinary practice blending the sciences of chemistry, biology, physics, toxicology, math and engineering, and their application to solve [...]
HAZWOPER course at University of Rhode Island prepares students for the environmental sciences and services workforce
By Corey Briggs, CIH, CIT, FAIHA & Distinguished Lecturer of the American Industrial Hygiene Association; Senior Consultant,
– Boston Regional Office
briggs@colden.com617-259-0172
The comprehensive course helps prepare students interested in pursuing careers in environmental and/or occupational health and safety by providing them with extensive knowledge in EHS hazards, risks and controls in addition to [...]
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Hazmat through history – Sulfuric acid
By Daniel Hammel, North America Marketing Lead Chemical Industrial
After sulfuric acid was first discovered in the eighth century by alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan, it was dubbed “oil of vitriol.” Vitriol is a sulfate of various metals, such as copper and iron. The newly discovered acid was produced by roasting iron vitriol in an iron retort. The ancient term “vitriol” lends itself to the literary term of the same name, meaning [...]