hydrochloric acid leak, consequences, industrial uses

[4x4Tyke]

We had a huge chemical leak at Hull Docks on Monday and Tuesday. 500 cubic metres of hydrochloric acid leaked into a retaining bund and formed a noxious cloud. http://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/news/hull-east-york...

I live three miles away and was very much aware of a strong noxious and very unpleasant chemical pollution smell. The best description I can provide is that it reminded me of bonfire night. Presumable the HCl reacted with something in the bund.

Can anybody answer any of these questions.

- What stops HCI reacting with the steel tank?

- What purpose does hydrochloric acid serve in processing molasses?

- What is the likely composition of the noxious cloud?

Edited by 4x4Tyke on Thursday 21st September 12:32

[beerexpressman]

HCl may have been used for inversion of sucrose in molasses.

Steel tank would probably have been lined...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg235.pdf suggests rubber.

[mike_knott]

4x4Tyke said:

...
- I live three miles and was very much aware of a strong and very unpleasant chemical pollution smell. The best description I can provide is it reminded me of bonfire night. Presumable the HCl reacted with something in the bund, what is the likely composition of the noxious cloud?

The bund should be made of a compatible material so would probably be tiled, concrete or rubber lined. There shouldn't be any further reaction in the bund unless there was something lying around in it, but this is unlikely as bunds fill with rain water all the time and so are periodically emptied. If the concentration of acid were high enough (which makes sense for reducing transportation & storage costs) the acid would give off hydrogen chloride gas which turns back into hydrochloric acid when it touches the moisture in your lungs.

They used to make concentrated HCl storage tanks out of plastic as they were cheaper than steel and didn't need lining. A few years ago a Japanese worker fell into a tank after its roof collapsed. The plastic had been weakened by the UV from the sun and he fell through. What a way to go...

Mike...

[Beati Dogu]

Hydrochloric acid is also the main ingredient in stomach acid.

[Einion Yrth]

Beati Dogu said:

Hydrochloric acid is also the main ingredient in stomach acid.

The stomach lining has evolved to cope with this; reflux is a bd</old man>

[Monty Python]

beerexpressman said:

HCl may have been used for inversion of sucrose in molasses.

Steel tank would probably have been lined...

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pUbns/priced/hsg235.pdf suggests rubber.

Quite correct - treat sucrose with hydrochloric acid to generate glucose and fructose.