ENVR Hydrofluoric acid spills into DeSoto County creek after fire (Tennessee)

Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB

Hydrofluoric acid spills into DeSoto County creek after fire​

by: Autumn Scott, Stuart Rucker ​

Posted: Feb 25, 2023 / 07:38 PM CST
Updated: Feb 26, 2023 / 02:45 PM CST

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A chemical spill was reported in DeSoto County Saturday. Crews worked through the night to clean up the affected areas.

The DeSoto County Government provided an update on Sunday. They stated that action has been taken to neutralize PH levels of the creek water and it has returned to normal parameters.

The DeSoto County Government provided the following along with their update:

“The Mississippi Department of Environmental Equality (MSDEQ) is satisfied with the progress, so the dam is currently being removed to allow the creek flow to return.

Consensus among the environmental companies and MSDEQ state there is no indications of any contamination of drinking water both for the city water system or any private water wells in the areas along creek.

As a precaution, community air quality survey testing was completed with no measurable detection obtained. Air monitoring will continue on site throughout the cleanup. Cleanup efforts will continue on site at SXP for several more days and crews will continue to assess nearby creeks and waterways for any impacts from the spill and mitigation efforts and protective measures will remain in place to prevent any future contamination.”

The DeSoto County government said the spill was caused by a fire at Schultz Xtruded Products located on McCracken Road in Hernando, Mississippi.

The fire caused a container that held Hydrofluoric Acid to leak, resulting in the chemical leaking into Mussacuna Creek.

Officials say the Hernando Fire Department quickly responded to the fire.
Crews at the scene said there is no danger to drinking water or residents who live downstream or upstream. Residents are being asked to avoid the creek in the area as crews work to remediate the area.

The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality, DeSoto County EMA, and environmental remediation are working to clean the spill and any damage.

The CDC says hydrofluoric acid is created when hydrogen fluoride is dissolved in water.

Hydrogen fluoride is a compound used to make refrigerants, herbicides, pharmaceuticals, high-octane gasoline, aluminum, plastics, electrical components, and fluorescent light bulbs.

Symptoms of hydrogen fluoride exposure include irritation of the eyes, nose, and respiratory tract. At high levels or in combination with skin contact, it can cause death from an irregular heartbeat or fluid buildup in the lungs, according to the CDC.

Hydrofluoric acid spills into DeSoto County creek after fire
 
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W

Walrus

Veteran Member
HF acid was used as an activating agent in a refinery I worked in. It is some seriously dangerous and nasty stuff, but apparently can be neutralized. That acid will eat away flesh in a millisecond in its pure form.
 
Meadowlark

Meadowlark

Has No Life - Lives on TB
HF is not a super strong acid, though it will eat through glass. It causes slow delayed burns that you dont even feel at first. The big problem is that it is toxic. I will cross the blood barrier forming calcium fluoride, causing your heart to stop. Think of it as the ultimate calcium channel blocker.

Unlike most acids, when it spills it will aerosolize and spread like a toxic cloud.

It is used in refining for catalytic cracking for higher octanes. You can substitute sulfuric but it requires ten times as much.
 
W

Walrus

Veteran Member
In our refinery, it was used in the powerformer unit, which came into being when the tetraethyl lead was being phased out and molecules began to be put back together instead of splitting them and then blending the various napthas and distillates. We had a couple of instrument techs who were missing digits when there was a quick spurt when they opened a gauge which hadn't been bled and blocked properly.

Come to think of it, I never thought of asking those two techs if they felt it.
 
Seeker22

Seeker22

Has No Life - Lives on TB
Meadowlark said:
HF is not a super strong acid, though it will eat through glass. It causes slow delayed burns that you dont even feel at first. The big problem is that it is toxic. I will cross the blood barrier forming calcium fluoride, causing your heart to stop. Think of it as the ultimate calcium channel blocker.

Unlike most acids, when it spills it will aerosolize and spread like a toxic cloud.

It is used in refining for catalytic cracking for higher octanes. You can substitute sulfuric but it requires ten times as much.
Click to expand...

All these little (un)happy accidents keep piling up. I wonder how many cases of "suddenly" they can pull out of this little disaster? Lots of heart problems going around. Add this method to the list.

Not feeling too warm and fuzzy for the fish, or animals, either.
 
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