Standard Operating Procedure

Settlement Class: Water Reactive Chemicals & Pyrophoric

Diethyl Zinc

This is an SOP template and is not complete until: 1) lab specific information is entered into the box below 2) lab specific protocol/procedure is added to the protocol/procedure section and
3) SOP has been signed and dated by the PI and relevant lab personnel.

Print a copy and insert into your
Laboratory Safety Manual and Chemical Hygiene Plan

Department: / Chemistry /
Date SOP was written: / 11/26/2012 /
Date SOP was approved by PI/lab supervisor: / 11/27/2012 /
Principal Investigator: / Richmond Sarpong /
Internal Lab Safety Coordinator/Lab Manager: / Rebecca Murphy /
Lab Phone: / 510-643-2485 /
Office Phone: / 510-643-6312 /
Emergency Contact: / Richmond Sarpong 626-644-2407 /
(Name and Phone Number)
Location(s) covered by this SOP: / Latimer 834, 836, 837, 838, 842, 844, 847, 849, 907 /
(Building/Room Number)

Type of SOP: ☐Process ☒Hazardous Chemical ☐Hazardous Class

Purpose

Diethyl Zinc is pyrophoric (air reactive), hygroscopic (moisture sensitive), heat sensitive and a highly water reactive chemical. It should therefore be handled under inert atmosphere. If not handled properly, this can pose a serious threat to the health and safety of laboratory personnel, emergency responders and chemical waste handlers. This SOP helps to understand how to properly store, handle and dispose of Diethyl Zinc.

Diethyl Zinc is used in organic synthesis as a source of the ethyl synthon in addition reactions to carbonyl groups. Because of its high reactivity toward air, it was used in small quantities as a hypergolic or "self igniting" liquid rocket fuel -- it ignites on contact with oxidizer, so the rocket motor need only contain a pump, without a spark source for ignition. In microelectronics, diethyl zinc is used as a doping agent.

Physical & Chemical Properties/Definition of Chemical Group

CAS#: 557-20-0

Class: Pyrophoric , Water Reactive

Molecular Formula: C4H10Zn

Form (physical state): Liquid

Color: Colorless

Boiling point: 117 °C (243 °F) - lit.

Potential Hazards/Toxicity

Emergency Overview

  • Pyrophoric liquid that decomposes violently in water
  • Fumes may cause Zinc Fume Fever (ZnFF)and a hypothermic reaction

OSHA Hazards

Flammable liquid, Pyrophoric, Corrosive

Pictogram

Potential Health Effects

Inhalation May be harmful if inhaled. Material is extremely destructive to the tissue of the mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract.

Skin May be harmful if absorbed through skin. Causes skin burns.

Eyes Causes eye burns.

Ingestion May be harmful if swallowed.

Signs and Symptoms of Exposure

Cough, Shortness of breath, Headache and Nausea

Engineering Controls

Diethyl Zinc should be used in a glove box filled with inert gas, or in a closed system in a certified fume hood.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

NOTE: Lab-specific information on PPE selection may be included in the Protocol/Procedure section.

Respiratory protection

NOTE: Lab personnel intending to use/wear a respirator mask must be trained and fit-tested by EH&S. This is a regulatory requirement.

Respirators should be used only under any of the following circumstances:

  • As a last line of defense (i.e., after engineering and administrative controls have been exhausted).
  • When Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) has exceeded or when there is a possibility that PEL will be exceeded.
  • Regulations require the use of a respirator.
  • An employer requires the use of a respirator.
  • There is potential for harmful exposure due to an atmospheric contaminant (in the absence of PEL)
  • As PPE in the event of a chemical spill clean-up process

Hand Protection

Please use the glove box gloves and sleeves or if this chemical is handled in a closed system in a certified fume hood use appropriate chemical resistant gloves.

Hand Protection

Handle with gloves. Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.

NOTE:Lab-specific and chemical-specific information on glove selection may be included in the Protocol/Procedure section. Refer to glove selection from the link below:

For glove selection, go to:

NOTE: Nomex-and-leather flight gloves over chemically resistant gloves are recommended in the UC Berkeley Office of Environmental Health and Safety document “Safe Use of Pyrophoric and Water Reactive Reagents”.

Eye Protection

Tightly fitting safety goggles. Use face shield (8-inch minimum) when appropriate (not protected by fume hood sash for example). Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU) or ANSI Z87.1.

Skin and Body Protection

Long pants, closed-toed and closed-heeled shoes, cotton-based clothing/attire, and flame resistant lab coat must be worn for protecting against chemical hazards.

NOTE: A Nomex lab coat is recommended in the UC Berkeley Office of Environmental Health and Safety document “Safe Use of Pyrophoric and Water Reactive Reagents”.

Hygiene Measures

Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing. Wash hands before breaks and immediately after handling Diethyl zinc.

First Aid Procedures

Note: Prompt medical attention is required in all cases of exposure to Diethyl zinc and its by-products.

If Inhaled

May cause Zinc Fume Fever (ZnFF). Move exposed personnel to an uncontaminatedarea quickly using Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus - SCBA. If breathingis difficult, give oxygen. If breathing has stopped, apply artificialrespiration. Medical assistance should be sought immediately.Keep victim warm and quiet.

In Case of Skin Contact

Contact may cause severe burns. Fumes may cause irritation.

Immediately flush affected areas with large quantities of water for 15 minutes.

Remove contaminated clothing as rapidly as possible only if not stuck to skin.Take victim immediately to hospital. Consult a physician.

In Case of Eye Contact

Contact may cause severe burns. Fumes may cause irritation.

Persons with potential exposure to Diethyl zinc should not wearcontact lenses. Flushcontaminated eyes with large quantities ofwater for at least 15 minutes,occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Get medical aid immediately

If Swallowed

Do NOT induce vomiting. Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person. Rinse mouth with water. Consult a physician.

Special Handling and Storage Requirements

NOTE:Lab-specific information on handling and storagemay be included in the Protocol/Procedure section.

Working Alone

Certain extremely hazardous operations should not be performed if the PI or Lab Safety Contact(s) are not present. Never work alone with extremely hazardous materials/operations. See the Protocol/Procedure section below for specific prohibitions (if any) on working alone.

NOTE: TheUC Berkeley Office of Environmental Health and Safety document “Safe Use of Pyrophoric and Water Reactive Reagents” specifies not to work alone or during off hours, when there are few people around to help.

Precautions For Safe Handling

  • Unless it is known otherwise, assume the material is pyrophoric.
  • To be handled always in a glove box or under inert atmosphere.
  • Design a quenching scheme for residual materials prior to using water reactive materials.
  • Never use water to quench the material itself or a reaction where a water-reactive reagent is used.
  • Begin quenching with a low reactivity quenching agent and slowly add more reactive quenching agents. For example, first quench residual sodium metal with isopropanol and then add ethanol to the mixture.
  • Design your experiment to use the least amount of material possible to achieve the desired result.
  • It is better to do multiple transfers of small volumes than attempt to handle larger quantities. Before transferring, make sure that the material is at room temperature.
  • Avoid formation of dusts and aerosols
  • Avoid inhalation of vapor or mist.
  • Provide appropriate exhaust ventilation at places where dust is formed.
  • Take measures to prevent the build-up of electrostatic charge.
  • Keep away from sources of ignition – Open flames (e.g., Bunsen Burner)
  • Eliminate or substitute a less hazardous material when possible.
  • Verify your experimental set-up and procedure prior to use.
  • Inform colleagues that this material will be used and where. Label the work area with a sign saying "Water Reactives Use Area".
  • Only use if the area is properly equipped with a certified eye wash/safety shower within ten seconds of travel.
  • Never use water to extinguish fires caused by water reactive materials.

NOTE:See a more details on safe handling in the UC Berkeley Office of Environmental Health and Safety documents “Safe Use of Pyrophoric and Water Reactive Reagents” and “Quenching of Pyrophoric Substances”.

Conditions for Safe Storage

  • Always handle inside a glove box.
  • Air sensitive. Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
  • Minimize dust generation and accumulation.
  • Hazard communication label on the container must read ‘Water Reactive’. W
  • Never allow product to get in contact with water or water based compounds during storage.
  • Do not leave the container on the bench top - even momentarily.
  • Do not leave the container near a lab sink, emergency eyewash or safety shower.
  • Do not store in humid air/moisture. Dry nitrogen is a suitable inert gas. Note: Dry nitrogen containing less than 5 ppm oxygen and less than 5 ppm of moisture is recommended.
  • Store and handle under inert gas (Noble gases such as Nitrogen, Argon etc.)
  • Keep in a dry place (such as a desiccator or a dry box or glove box).
  • Use/purchase only amount that is needed in a reasonable amount of time. Use small quantities whenever possible.
  • Store in a separate secondary container and label the material clearly.
  • Follow any substance-specific storage guidance provided in Safety Data Sheet documentation.
  • Store in a cool, dry location, separated from acids.
  • Monitor your inventory closely to assure that you have tight control over your material.
  • Wash hands and arms with soap and water after handling.
  • Minimize dust generation and accumulation.
  • At the end of each project, thoroughly inspect the area for residual reactive material
  • Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.

Chemical stability

Stable under recommended storage conditions.

Spill and Accident Procedure

Once spilled all liquid or solid pyrophoric chemicals will instantly ignite.

Fire-fighting & Extinguishing media

Suitable Extinguishing Media

Use dry powder (ABC) for neat diethyl zinc

DO NOT use water

Special Protective Equipment for Fire-Fighters

Special protective equipment for fire-fighters: Rescue personnel should be equipped with appropriate protective equipment (e.g. Self-ContainedBreathing Apparatus - SCBA) to prevent unnecessary exposure and must be aware of the fire and explosion potential of Diethyl zinc.

Personal precautions

  • Avoid dust formation.
  • Ensure adequate ventilation.
  • Remove all sources of ignition.
  • Evacuate personnel to safe areas.

Environmental precautions

Do not let product enter drains.

Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up

  • Pick-up and dispose of as hazardous waste without creating dust.
  • Do not flush with water or bring in contact with moisture.
  • Keep in suitable, tightly closed containers for disposal.

Chemical Spill Dial 911

Spill – Assess the extent of danger. Help contaminated or injured persons. Evacuate the spill area. Avoid breathing vapors. If possible, confine the spill to a small area using a spill kit or absorbent material. Keep others from entering contaminated area (e.g., use caution tape, barriers, etc.).

Small (<1 L) – If you have training, you may assist in the clean-up effort. Use appropriate personal protective equipment and clean-up material for chemical spilled. Double bag spill waste in clear plastic bags, label and take to the next chemical waste pick-up.

Large (>1 L) – Dial 911and 510-642-9090 for assistance.

Chemical Spill on Body or Clothes – Remove clothing and rinse body thoroughly in emergency shower for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical attention. Notify supervisor and EH&S immediately.Follow up with a call to 510-642-9090 to report the incident.

Chemical Splash Into Eyes – Immediately rinse eyeball and inner surface of eyelid with water from the emergency eyewash station for 15 minutes by forcibly holding the eye open. Seek medical attention. Notify supervisor and EH&S immediately.Follow up with a call to 510-642-9090 to report the incident.

Medical Emergency Dial 911

Life Threatening Emergency, After Hours, Weekends And Holidays – Dial 911or go to the nearest emergency room. Note: All serious injuries must be reported to EH&S within 8 hours. Follow up with a call to 510-642-9090 to report the incident.

Non-Life Threatening Emergency – Go to the Occupational Health Facility (Tang Health Center). After hours go to the nearest emergency room. Note: All serious injuries must be reported to EH&S within 8 hours. Follow up with a call to 510-642-9090 to report the incident.

Needle stick/punctureexposure (as applicable to chemical handling procedure) – Wash the affected area with antiseptic soap and warm water for 15 minutes. For mucous membrane exposure, flush the affected area for 15 minutes using an eyewash station. Go to the Occupational Health Facility (Tang Health Center).After hours go to the nearest emergency room. Note: All needle stick/puncture exposures must be reported to EH&S within 8 hours. Follow up with a call to 510-642-9090 to report the incident.

Decontamination/Waste Disposal Procedure

NOTE:Lab-specific information on decontamination/waste disposalmay be included in the Protocol/Procedure section.

Wearing proper PPE, please decontaminate equipment and bench tops using procedures made in cooperation with site EHS&S. Please dispose of the water reactive and disposables contaminated with water reactivesas hazardous waste.

Diethyl zinc waste is listedasExtremely Hazardous (EH) Waste by the State. Even the containers (irrespective of the size) which once held Diethyl zinc must be disposed of as hazardous waste with anon-line hazardous waste tag affixed on the container.

All dry hazardous waste must be double bagged (use only see through/transparent bags) and affixed with an on-line waste tag. Note:Black, Red, Orange or Yellow bags are prohibited by EH&S Hazardous Materials Division, for hazardous waste disposal.

On the on-line waste tag for the dry waste generated from Diethyl zinc;

In thecontents section, mention asDry Waste 99%

Diethyl zinc 1%

Type:Solid

Note:This is just an example of the waste composition in %

General hazardous waste disposal guidelines:

Label Waste

Labelallcontainers withthelabelprovidedat See theEH&SFactSheet,“HazardousWaste Management”forgeneralinstructionsonprocedures fordisposingofhazardouswaste.

Store Waste

  • Store hazardous waste in closed containers, in secondary containment and in a designated location
  • Double-bag dry waste using transparent bags
  • Waste must be under the control of the person generating & disposing of it

Dispose of Waste

  • Dispose of regularly generated chemical waste within 6 months
  • Call EH&S for questions
  • Empty Containers
  • Dispose as hazardous waste if it once held extremely hazardous waste (irrespective of the container size)
  • Consult waste pick-up schedule

Prepare for transport to pick-up location

  • Check on-line waste tag
  • Write date of pick-up on the waste tag
  • Use secondary containment
  • Dispose of regularly generated chemical waste within 6 months
  • Call EH&S for questions

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Location

SDS can be accessed online at

Diethyl Zinc 1Date: 12/19/2012

SOP Template developed by the UC Center for Laboratory SafetyGKM/PY

Protocol/Procedure for Diethyl Zinc

CAS#:557-20-0

Preparation / Keep water and ignition sources away from reaction area.
Know location of spill kit
Know the location of the nearest fire extinguisher, eyewash, and safety shower before beginning work.
Lab-specific Information / All work with diethyl zinc must be performed in a working fume hood.
Procedure/Use / Scale / Engineering Controls/Equipment / PPE (eye, face, gloves, clothing) / Procedure Steps and Special Precautions for this Procedure
Diethyl zinc, neat or as a solution, is transferred by syringe under an inert atmosphere.
Make sure needle/syringe joint is tight and can be wrapped in Teflon tape for further protection.
Diethyl zinc bottle should have an inlet of inert gas to equalize pressure as reagent is removed.
When removing reagent, fill syringe to desired amount or up to 40% of syringe volume. Then fill syringe with inert gas to minimize contact with outside atmosphere.
If large amount of reagent are to be used, it is advised to have a second person nearby to help in case of accidents. / Diethyl zinc is available as a solution in hydrocarbon solvents, and the use of these sources is preferred over using the neat reagent.
When used as a reagent, diethyl zinc can be used in quantities ranging from <1mL to 20ml. / All work should be carried out in a ventilated, functioning fume hood.
All work with the neat reagent should be done inside a glove box under inert atmosphere. / Eye protection: Wear tight-fitting safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields.
Gloves: Handle with reusable neoprene or nitrile gloves. If potential for skin contact, also use leather fighter gloves. Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands after use.
Clothing: Wear fire/flame resistant lab coat (100% cotton based); cotton based clothing/attire; full length pants or equivalent; and close-toed, close-heeled shoes. / The reagent can be transferred using a syringe that has been purged with inert atmosphere (argon or nitrogen).
It is recommended that Luer-lock type syringes be used to prevent the needle from detaching during use.
Additionally, syringes should only be filled to ~40% of their total volume. If larger volumes are needed (>10mL), multiple transfers of 10mL can be used to reach the desired volume.
Alternatively, cannula transfers may be done, or an addition funnel can be filled with the desired amount (via cannula or syringe) and then the reagent added using the addition funnel.
All additions should be performed in a way so that they can be quickly halted if the reaction begins to react uncontrollably.
Once addition is complete, the needle used should be washed with an inert solvent (such as hexanes) to further dilute any remaining diethyl zinc.
Notes / Any deviation from this SOP requires approval from PI.
Initials of individuals using this procedure

Diethyl Zinc 1Date: 12/19/2012