Raw Chemicals Storage

Hello, all!


Being the worried guy that I am, when I built my darkroom, I built [what I thought to be] enough cabinets for chemicals storage. Now, looking back, I think I should have built some more.

I've been following [almost strictly] these guidelines for hazardous chemicals storage. I have everything done kind of right: one cabinet for bases, one for acids, one for oxidizers, one for flammables and, finally, one for "everything else". Maybe this is wrong, but acids are all in the same cabinet — organic and inorganic are separated by "secondary containment" (polyethylene trays).

I don't have that many acids: nitric, sulphuric, citric and acetic in 1-liter bottles. The same goes for strong bases, which are even less in quantity and some are in solid form.

Now, I'm lacking space for other things, like equipment... Which begs some questions:

1. If I was to use the same cabinet for some of these classes of chemicals, which ones could I "combine" and still be safe enough?

2. Using a polyethylene tray or box as secondary containment is enough to consider some chemicals to be segregated or do I really need to keep a good distance?

Important: we don't have earthquakes here and the cabinets I am talking about are low ones (under my dry bench). I mean, it's almost impossible for bottles to break by themselves here, except the remote chance that a formaldehyde or ethyl ether bottle produces enough peroxide (?) to become an explosion risk.

I don't feel that I really need to follow all those strict protocols, as though I feel safer by doing so. I am just worried that I might be overlooking something, so I ask you guys for help before I change anything here.


Cheers,
Flavio

The answer to your question is: It depends.

There are good reasons for the safety rules you are quoting, yet some might be "over-the-top" for a home-darkroom.

When organizing, you should ask yourself:

1.) What will react with each other? So keeping sulphuric acid (which might eat through a plastic container) on the top shelf and NaOH in an open container just below is just a bad idea anywhere. The same with strong oxidizers near flammables. Keep enough distance in between that they never get in touch.
2.) Fumes? Which of the chemicals will generate fumes due to evaporation or degradation? With what and how will the fumes react?
3.) How much quantity are you storing?
4.) How often do you inspect your storage?
5.) Under which scenario, a mayor accident might happen?

I personally prefer storing solids (in plastic containers) over liquids, and I neither have the space to keep everything neatly apart as recommended. As there is everything in the same three cabinets, including fixer, standard developer, etc., I open and review all cabinets at least one a week. So any leakage or problem would be noted rather quickly.
With regards to the unavoidable liquids (e.g. sulphuric and glacial acid) I keep the glass bottles in a protective container (against bumps / dropping) and a PE tray. That is sufficient to me, the bases I have are all solids. I am not too worried about fumes, the bottles are sealed well. If this becomes a problem one day, I might have to reorganize.

In my particular setup (and with my choice of chemistry), I keep all developing agents in the freezer/fridge, all liquid chemistry at the bottom of the cabinets in PE trays, and all solids in plastic containers - organized in accordance to usage (sufilte, bromide, carbonate, hydroxide - easy to reach, the toning stuff is in the back).
The ready to use mixtures are stored in glass bottles above the sink, so any accident there will go into the drain directly.

fdonadio said:

I have everything done kind of right: one cabinet for bases, one for acids, one for oxidizers, one for flammables and, finally, one for "everything else". Maybe this is wrong, but acids are all in the same cabinet — organic and inorganic are separated by "secondary containment" (polyethylene trays).

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I worked in a lab for 15 years and we didn't keep things as separate as that. Flammables had their own cabinet. Picric acid was stored in the fume hood. Things that would react or make a mess were kept separate (two cabinets under the fume hoods). Like RauschenOderKorn, we kept powders above liquids. The most important thing was that everything was well-labeled.

RauschenOderKorn and winger,


That's pretty much what I think: I am sure being way too much careful.

I don't have that much stuff and [I think] I can take care of everything, since I am the only one allowed to be alone in the darkroom. I have no kids and I won't let my cats and dogs in at all. I can take the extra care to lock the door and keep the key on me whenever I have guests at home.

I'm still gonna keep the acids and bases in different cabinets (in the lower part). Now I just need a plan for everything else.

Time for an inventory and some [more] MSDS reading.


Cheers,
Flavio

I've had several pieces of equipment ruined by leaking fumes from bottle of acid - Hydrochloric acid fumes makes a real mess of tool steels... I now store all acids in a cupboard well away from anything of value. The cupboard is located in an unheated room attached to the garage and is fairly well ventilated.

I do not know any commercial lab that seperates chemicals that stringent.

It's very simple, film, paper, and chemicals should not be stored in the darkroom. This should be fairly obvious as a darkroom is usually a small confined space where harmful fumes can accumulate.

Chemicals should be stored in a coo area ways from light, heat and open flames.

Gerald C Koch said:

It's very simple, film, paper, and chemicals should not be stored in the darkroom. This should be fairly obvious as a darkroom is usually a small confined space where harmful fumes can accumulate.

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Gerald,


You're are very correct, sir! This would be the Really Right Way To Do It™.

But, in fact, my darkroom pretty big (for a home darkroom, I mean): roughly 13 x 13 feet (3.9 x 3.9 meters) or 170 sq. ft (15.2 square meters).

I have a ventilation system in place with exhausts that suck air from over my wet bench, so I can get the fumes away from my nose when working. Yea, I know it's kind of fancy, but I told you guys I take care, trust me! For extra care, I could have a timer set for running the ventilation system everyday for a couple minutes when I'm not using the darkroom. Still, I keep the bottles well stoppered...

And, if I ever decide to develop RA-4 in open trays (unnecessary, as I have a Termaphot ACP505), I can rest assured that my lungs will be OK for a long time. Oh, and did I mention I wear a mask with filters for acid fumes and vapors too when handling nasty stuff?

It was hard to negotiate with my wife to convert a full room into a darkroom. There are no suitable rooms left for chemicals storage. And, even if there was any, I'd have to negotiate again, which I'm really not in the mood (and don't believe I'll ever be willing to do again).

So, the darkroom cabinets will have to do for now, until: (a) I remodel the house, (b) move to a new one or (c) get single again! Given the current economic situation, "c" is the most probable option.


Cheers,
Flavio

AgX said:

I do not know any commercial lab that seperates chemicals that stringent.

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I wish there was a money prize for "most stringent hazardous chemicals storage in a lab"... Bummer!

Jokes aside, it's good to know I am above the average. I was worried before but feel really safe now.


Cheers,
Flavio

paul_c5x4 said:

I've had several pieces of equipment ruined by leaking fumes from bottle of acid - Hydrochloric acid fumes makes a real mess of tool steels... I now store all acids in a cupboard well away from anything of value. The cupboard is located in an unheated room attached to the garage and is fairly well ventilated.

Click to expand...

That's why I have the equipment (scales, reels, tanks, etc.) in a different cabinet.

Still, as pointed out by Gerald, you're doing the right thing.


Cheers,
Flavio

I once had a gallon of Dektol concentrate burn through a plastic milk jug. Learned my lesson about containers. Pretty epic burn-in on the linoleum. I tell people it's from a dead hooker though.

I only have one strong acid as a liquid, 40-some percent sulfuric - it's in the plastic bottle it shipped in, and that's in a glass bottle. I have sodium hydroxide as a powder, and that is only mixed very dilute. But I keep mixed bleaches in photo-purpose containers (and I save rinsed-out drain cleaner bottles, those are pretty tough). All those containers sit in 8x10 photo trays.