petroguard use with chlorosilanes

8/8/2019 PetroGuard Use with Chlorosilanes

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CK Witco

OrganoSilicones Group

Process R&D

3500 S. State Route 2

Friendly, WV 26146

Phone: (304) 652-8381

Fax: (304) 652-1175

March 7, 2000

To: William S. Litwin, President, Guardian Environmental Technologies, Inc.

CC: R. A Kayser,J. S. Ritscher,

S. Gonzalez

From: T. L. Simandan

SUBJECT: PetroGuard®

Use with Chlorosilanes

PetroGuard was tested in the Process R&D Laboratory in Sistersville, WV, starting in

1997. We have concluded that it absorbs and encapsulates chlorosilanes very efficiently. It was

also successfully tested for oil-sheen removal. Blankets, booms and other devices filled with

PetroGuard are currently used in the Environmental Protection Department for oil-sheen removal

and control, and plant-wide in restricting the access of organic materials to the process sewer.

PetroGuard is also the only material recommended for use in the Silanes Department’s

maintenance operations for disposal of liquid drains from lines.

In a typical application, PetroGuard is used in equal weight with the chlorosilane. About

two thirds of the absorbent is placed in a proper vessel and the chlorosilane is added in one

portion. Additional absorbent is then added to the container. The absorption may take from

minutes to up to one hour, depending on conditions, nature of the chlorosilane, temperature,

humidity, etc. An initial fuming to some extent is always observed, because of the inherent



contact of the cholosilane with air and ambient humidity conditions. Once the solidification

process is completed, if it has occurred in a closed vessel, fumes of HCl, which may still be

present, dissipate quickly, upon opening of the container. The amount of fumes generated, which

might still be present in the container, depends very much on the environmental conditions at the

time of absorption. On a cold and humid day, more fumes can be seen than on a warm and dry

day. The solid formed during this process appears to be almost chemically inert. It does not

visibly react with water. Once allowed to solidify completely, the chlorosilane appears to be

irreversibly encapsulated. We have observed no subsequent release of chlorosilane or HCL.

This company has also successfully used PetroGuard in after-spill clean-up operations, which has

allowed us simplified methods of treatment as well disposal of the spilled product Our preferred

disposal method of the encapsulated material is by incineration.

The compounds that were tested and which have been demonstrated to be efficiently absorbed

and effectively immobilized by PetroGuard are:

Silicon Tetrachloride

Trichlorosilane

Methyltrichlorosilane

Dimethyldichlorosilane

Trimethylchlorosilane

Methylhydrogendichlorosilane

Vinyltrichlorosilane

Tetrahydrofuran

The rate of absorption and immobilization varied from instantaneous to more slowly (several

hours).

Certain chemicals were absorbed and immobilized, but did not completely suppress vapors:

Trimethyloxysilane

Tetramethyloxysilane

In addition, the following more common compounds were completely absorbed to form a solid

solution:

Octene-1

Tolouene

Hexanes

Xylenes



These experiments were done in controlled laboratory conditions, with no excess humidity

present. The amount of fuming was minimal in these conditions. The main goal was to study the

dependence between the chlorosilane structure and its absorption abilities in PetroGuard. The

findings are considered to apply to original PetroGuard and chlorosilanes only. It should be

pointed out also that PetroGuard’s absorption properties with chlorosilanes are unique

and useful, and were discovered within CK Witco’s OrganoSilicones Group Process R&D.

No warranty is made for the use of these materials by other parties; this information is

shared only with the intent of fostering communication of advances in safety and

environmental protection.

We hope that the experiments outlined in this memo will help those responsible for

environmental safety to better understand the absorption properties of PetroGuard and will

advance its use with chlorosilanes and other hazardous chemicals where appropriate.

petroguard use with chlorosilanes

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