Operation Operation of a liquid phase nanoparticle synthesis reactor

Potential Risk Liquid phase synthesis reactors have the potential to generate new nanoparticles with a high concentration. Since the nanoparticles are generated in a precipitation reaction, risk may be due to the chemicals or potential exothermic reactions. The potential for dermal or eye exposure would be in extracting the material from the reactor. Depending on the type of system, there is a potential for exposure to high concentrations of chemicals and nanoparticles during reactor maintenance and cleaning.

Controls

• All nanomaterial generators must have sufficient operating controls to prevent employee exposures to nanomaterials during operating and maintenance procedures
• PPE may need to be employed when extracting the dispersion from the reactor to minimize dermal and eye exposure
• All nanomaterial generators and R&D research tools shall be reviewed by the EHS organization prior to operation.
• All operating and maintenance procedures must be in accordance with the manufacturers instructions/specifications and PPE must be used to minimize dermal and eye exposure.

Depending on the chemicals used, maintenance may require use of more stringent PPE to minimize respiratory, dermal and eye exposure to the chemicals.

Alternatively, Control Banding may be employed when more is known about material reactivity, exposure duration and material state.

Material Specific Protocols

• Carbon Nanotubes

Additional Resources

• Using nanomaterials at work – HSE