SULFUR, MOLTEN

A pale yellow crystalline solid with a faint odor of rotten eggs. Insoluble in water. A fire and explosion risk above 450° F. Transported as a yellow to red liquid. Handled at elevated temperature (typically 290°F) to prevent solidification and makes transfers easier. Hot enough that plastic or rubber may melt or lose strength. Causes thermal burns to skin on contact. Cools rapidly and solidifies if released. Equipment designed to protect against ordinary chemical exposure is ineffective against the thermal hazard. Exercise caution walking on the surface of a spill to avoid breakthrough into pockets of molten sulfur below the crust. Do not attempt to remove sulfur impregnated clothing because of the danger of tearing flesh if a burn has resulted. May be irritatin to skin, eyes and mucous membranes. Used in sulfuric acid production, petroleum refining, and pulp and paper manufacturing.

• Highly Flammable
• Strong Reducing Agent

Flammable. Insoluble in water.

Special Hazards of Combustion Products: Produces toxic sulfur dioxide gas.

Behavior in Fire: Burns with a pale blue flame that may be difficult to see in daylight. (USCG, 1999)

Can cause eye irritation; may rarely irritate skin. If recovered sulfur, refer to hydrogen sulfide.* (USCG, 1999)

SULFUR reacts violently with strong oxidizing agents causing fire and explosion hazards [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980 p. 871]. Reacts with iron to give pyrophoric compounds. Attacks copper, silver and mercury. Reacts with bromine trifluoride, even at 10°C [Mellor 2:113. 1946-47]. Ignites in fluorine gas at ordinary temperatures [Mellor 2:11-13 1946-47]. Reacts to incandescence with heated with thorium [Mellor 7:208 1946-47]. Can react with ammonia to form explosive sulfur nitride. Reacts with calcium phosphide incandescently at about 300°C. Reacts violently with phosphorus trioxide [Chem. Eng. News 27:2144 1949]. Mixtures with ammonium nitrate or with metal powders can be exploded by shock [Kirk and Othmer 8:644]. Combinations of finely divided sulfur with finely divided bromates, chlorates, or iodates of barium, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, or zinc can explode with heat, friction, percussion, and sometimes light [Mellor 2 Supp.1:763. 1956]. A mixture with barium carbide heated to 150°C becomes incandescent. Reacts incandescently with calcium carbide or strontium carbide at 500°C. Attacks heated lithium, or heated selenium carbide with incandescence [Mellor 5:862 1946-47]. Reacts explosively if warmed with powdered zinc [Mellor 4:476. 1946-47]. Reacts vigorously with tin [Mellor 7:328. 1946-47]. A mixture with potassium nitrate and arsenic trisulfide is a known pyrotechnic formulation [Ellern 1968 p. 135]. Mixtures with any perchlorate can explode on impact [ACS 146:211-212]. A mixture of damp sulfur and calcium hypochlorite produces a brilliant crimson flash with scatter of molten sulfur [Chem. Eng. News 46(28):9 1968]. Takes fire spontaneously in chlorine dioxide and may produce an explosion [Mellor 2:289 (1946-47)]. Ignites if heated with chromic anhydride ignite and can explode, [Mellor 10:102 (1946-47)]. Even small percentages of hydrocarbons in contact with molten sulfur generate hydrogen sulfide and carbon disulfide, which may accumulate in explosive concentrations. Sulfur reacts with Group I metal nitrides to form flammable mixtures, evolving flammable and toxic NH3 and H2S gasses if water is present. (Mellor, 1940, Vol. 8, 99).

• Inorganic Reducing Agents

Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. (AAR, 2003)

Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Build dikes to contain flow as necessary. Land spill: Dig a pit, pond, lagoon, holding area to contain liquid or solid material. Cover solids with a plastic sheet to prevent dissolving in rain or fire fighting water. Dike surface flow using soil, sand bags, foamed polyurethane, or foamed concrete. Water spill: Use natural barriers or oil spill control booms to limit spill travel. Use natural deep water pockets, excavated lagoons, or sand bag barriers to trap material at bottom. Remove trapped material with suction hoses. (AAR, 2003)

Safety goggles with side shields; approved respirator; heat-resistant gloves; leather heat-resistant clothing. If recovered sulfur, refer to hydrogen sulfide.* (USCG, 1999)

EYES: wash eyes carefully for at least 15 min.

SKIN: Treat molten sulfur burns with petroleum jelly or mineral oil. If recovered sulfur, treat as for hydrogen sulfide.* (USCG, 1999)

• AZUFRE (DOT SPANISH)
• AZUFRE, FUNDIDO (DOT SPANISH)
• BRIMSTONE
• SOUFRE (DOT FRENCH)
• SOUFRE, FONDU (DOT FRENCH)
• SULFUR
• SULFUR, DRY
• SULFUR, [MOLTEN]
• SULFUR, [SOLID]
• SULPHUR
• SULPHUR, MOLTEN