Pumping Fluids |
General Hazards & Concerns |
UL Allowed for HazLoc |
Corrosion Issues |
Seal Compatibility Issues |
References |
Chlorinated Organic (Hydrocarbon) Solvents, e.g. Methylene Chloride, Chloroform, Methyl Chloride, Tetrachloroethane… |
Toxic & Environmentally Unfriendly; Recommend operating under venthood. |
|
OK |
OK |
Kenneth M. Pruett, Chemical Resistance Guide for Metals and Alloys(Compass Publications: 1995) |
Alcohols, e.g. Methanol (Wood Alcohol), Ethanol (Grain Alcohol), Propanol (Rubbing Alcohol) |
Flammable & Possibly Toxic; Recommend operating in well ventilated area. |
Methanol, Isopropanol (sic) |
OK |
OK |
UL HazLoc, UL File# E221183 (for USA only) |
Liquid Organic Amines, e.g. Analine, Triethylamine (TEA)… |
Obnoxious, Toxic & Flammable; Recommend operating under a venthood. |
|
OK |
OK |
|
Polar Organic Solvents, e.g. Acetonitrile, Ethyl Acetate, Acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), Acetophenone, Cyclohexanone… |
Flammable & Toxic; Recommend operating in well ventilated area. |
Acetone, Acetonitrile |
OK |
OK |
UL HazLoc |
Acrylic acid (2-Propenoic acid), Methacrylic acid, Methyl Methacrylate |
Flammable, Toxic, Corrosive & Obnoxious; Easily Polyermizes |
|
OK |
OK |
|
Solids Hydrocarbons, e.g. Naphthelene |
Flammable & Toxic; Recommend operating in well ventilated area; Must heat all lines, cylinder and cap above melting point; 85C for Naphthalene. |
|
OK |
OK |
|
Liquid Hydrocarbons, e.g. Benzene, Toluene, Xylenes, Hexane, Gasoline, Diesel fuel & Kerosene… |
Flammable & Toxic; Recommend operating in well ventilated area. |
Benzene, Ethylbenzene, Hexane, Heptane, Gasoline, Diesel fuel & Jet fuel |
OK |
OK |
UL HazLoc |
LP (Liquified-Gas) Hydrocarbons, e.g. Methane, Ethane, Ethylene, Propane, Propylene, Butane, Isobutylene & Butadiene… |
Very Flammable & Explosive; Gases generally have poor refill efficiencies; Recommend operating under venthood & purging behind piston seals with Nitrogen or Argon gas. |
Methane, Ethane, Ethylene, Propane, Propylene, Butane, Isobutylene & Butadiene |
OK |
OK |
UL HazLoc |
Carbon Dioxide (Supercritical) |
Generally safe, nonflammable and not corrosive but possible Asphyxiate. |
|
OK |
OK |
|
Aqueous Sodium Chloride solutions, e.g. Saline & Brine |
Generally safe but corrosive; See Technical Bulletin TB04. |
|
Cylinder wall may suffer damage on long term. Recommend frequent rinsing with distilled water, especially before dormant periods (e.g. weekends, holidays, vacation…) and after use. Titanium is OK with Sodium Chloride up to saturation & 60C. |
Recommend wash gland with water. |
ISCO Syringe Pump Technical Bulletin TB04, "Pumping Salt Solutions and Brines with ISCO Syringe Pumps" & Compass |
Hydrogen Sulfide (Liquified-Gas) or Aqueous Solutions |
Obnoxious, Toxic & Flammable; Recommend pumping under a venthood; Gases generally have poor refill efficiencies. |
|
OK |
Can form Sulfur passed piston seal due to normal leakage and exposure to air; Sulfur will eventually erode the seal; Recommend purging behind piston seal with Nitrogen or Argon gas. |
|
Dimethyl Disulfide |
Obnoxious & highly flammable; High boiling point liquid; Recommend pumping under a venthood; Strong garlic-like odor. |
|
OK |
Recommend purging behind piston seal with Nitrogen or Argon gas, few mL/min flow, to prevent accumulation of flammable vapor near pump. |
|
Titanium Tetrachloride (liquid) |
Avoid exposure to water and water vapor; Highly reactive to water and air; Highly Toxic vapors; Recommend pumping under a venthood. |
|
OK with Stainless Steels, e.g. 304 and Nitronics 50; Recommend purging behind piston seal with dry Nitrogen or Argon gas. |
Recommend wash gland with clean, fresh, anhydrous Hexanes; Can attack Chemraz and Kalrez through swelling; OK with Viton & PTFE. |
|
Quarternary Ammonium Salt Solutions |
Toxic & Corrosive. |
|
Recommend frequent rinsing with distilled water, especially before dormant periods or after use. |
Recommend wash gland with fresh water. |
|
Sodium Hydroxide (Aqueous) Solution, 50% w/w, Saturated, (19M) 50C |
Toxic & Corrosive. |
|
Recommend frequent rinsing with distilled water, especially before dormant periods or after use; Ti OK upto 25% at boiling |
|
Compass |
Aqueous Ammonium Hydroxide |
Highly Obnoxious, Corrosive and Toxic; Recommend pumping under a venthood. |
|
Recommend frequent rinsing with distilled water, especially before dormant periods or after use. |
Unknown |
Unknown |
Anhydrous Ammonia |
Highly Obnoxious, Flammable and Toxic; Recommend pumping under a venthood. |
|
OK |
Recommend virgin, i.e. no carbon fiber fillers, PTFE seals. |
ISCO Syringe Pump Manual & UL HazLoc |
Sulfuric Acid (Aerated), 96% (18M) 50C |
Toxic & Corrosive. |
|
OK with 304, 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy up to 60C; OK with Titanium only up to 5% 35C. |
OK |
HPAlloys Nitronics 50 Data Bulletin & Compass |
Nitric Acid, 68% (15M) 45C |
Toxic & Corrosive. |
|
OK with 304, 316, Nitronics 50 & Titanium; OK with Hastelloy C up to 55C . |
OK |
HPAlloys & Compass |
Hydrochloric Acid, 2% (0.5M) 35C |
Toxic, Obnoxious & Corrosive. |
|
OK with Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy C up to 14% (4M) 60C; Ti OK at <1% at 95F. |
OK |
HPAlloys & Compass |
Phosphoric Acid (Aerated), 85% (14.7M) 55C |
Toxic & Corrosive. |
|
OK with 304, 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy C up to 90C; OK with Titanium only to 35% 20C. |
OK |
HPAlloys & Compass |
Acetic Acid (Aerated), 100% (17.4M) 50C |
Toxic, Obnoxious & Corrosive. |
|
OK with 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy C up to 150C; OK with Titanium only to 20C. |
OK |
HPAlloys & Compass |
Formic Acid, 40% (12M) 50C |
Toxic, Obnoxious & Corrosive. |
|
OK with 304, 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy C up to 90% 90C; OK with Titanuim at 90% 60C. |
OK |
HPAlloys & Compass |
Ferric Chloride (FeCl3) solution, 10% 25C |
Toxic, Obnoxious & Corrosive. |
|
OK with Nitronics 50. |
OK |
HPAlloys |
Chlorinated Bleach, 6.25% Sodium Hypochlorite solution, 25C |
Toxic & Corrosive; Liberated Chlorine Cl2 gas can be obnoxiuos. |
|
OK with 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy C up to 50% 45C; Titanium unknown. |
OK |
Compass |
Boron Trifluoride, BF3, dry at 100% 150C, or wet at 100% 100C, or liquid 100% 45C |
Very Toxic. Strong fluorinating agent. |
|
OK with 304, 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with Hastelloy C at only 45C; Titanium unknown. |
OK |
Compass |
Nitrogen Tetraoxide,N2H4, 20C |
Extremely Toxic! Strong oxidizing agent; Recommend pumping under a venthood. |
|
OK with 316 , 304 & Nitronics 50; Titanium unknown. |
OK |
Compass |
Hydrazine, N2H4, 100% 60C |
Extremely Toxic! Rocket monopropellant fuel; Recommend pumping under a venthood. |
|
OK with 316 & Nitronics 50; OK with 304 at 20C; Titanium unknown. |
OK |
Compass |
Hydrogen Fluoride, anhydrous liquid |
Extremely Toxic and Corrosive against Oxygen-containing compounds, e.g. glass & PEEK! Recommend pumping under a venthood. |
|
Attacks the PEEK wear ring! Replace with UHDPE wear ring, but compromises the high pressure spec; Recommend purging behind piston seal with dry Nitrogen or Argon gas. |
OK |
Compass |