Magnesium Perchlorate

This chemical standard operating procedure (SOP) and the associated Safety Data Sheet (SDS) are for our safety. Read and understand both documents. If this is a paper copy, check for updated versions on the IsoLab website.

Process

Magnesium perchlorate is used as a desiccant for CNS isotope analysis in the two elemental analyzers attached to Shrek, for nitrous oxide isotope analysis in the Precon attached to Irene and to create a dry air stream for all of the Picarro lasers.

Hazards - SDS

May intensify fire; oxidizer. Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation.

Protection - SDS

Engineering Controls

Work with magnesium perchlorate in a fume hood. Ensure the fume hood has proper air flow by checking the flow rate on the control panel and / or using a smoke match or wipe to visualize flow.

PHS - Any fume hood in the IsoLab suite will be sufficient.

Administrative Controls

PHS - No specific administrative controls are required.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

PHS - Wear a laboratory coat, eye protection, and gloves.

Handling - SDS

Keep container tightly closed when not in use. Keep away from reducing agents, open flames, or very hot surfaces.

PHS - Decontamination - Rinse / wipe items that came into contact with magnesium perchlorate into an appropriately labeled waste container.

Storage - SDS

Magnesium perchlorate is stored on the north wall of 303B on shelf #7. Use MyChem, the UW EH&S chemical inventory database, for more lab-suite specific storage details.

Spills - SDS

Avoid dust formation.

If the spill occurred in the fume hood, close the sash and prepare yourself to clean it up. Make sure you have a lab coat, eye protection, and gloves on. Clean up all material using wipes and paper towels. Discard all cleaning materials that have come into contact with magnesium perchlorate into the designated waste container.

If the spill is large and outside of the fume hood, don a respirator. Avoid dust formation. Make sure you have a lab coat, goggles, and gloves on. Clean up all material using wipes and paper towels. Discard all cleaning materials that have come into contact with magnesium perchlorate into the designated waste container.

If you need assistance or advice, use the IsoLab Emergency Contacts sheet.

Consult the EH&S Spill Poster and Exposure Poster

Waste - SDS

If you are cleaning up after a spill and have a bag of debris, ensure the bag is sealed and use multiple bags as needed. Complete an EH&S Hazardous Waste Label and adhere it to the bag. Here are instructions for how to label chemical waste containers. Labels are located in a drawer on the west wall of 303B near the door to the hallway.

Put all waste, solid or liquid, into a wide-mouth plastic container. Options for waste containers can be found under the west sink in 303B. Complete an EH&S Hazardous Waste Label and adhere it to the bottle. Here are instructions for how to label chemical waste containers. Labels are located in a drawer on the west wall of 303B near the door to the hallway.

Place the properly labeled container in one of the gray tubs near the hallway door of 303B. Segregate from other waste containers as appropriate.

Consult our generalized Chemical Waste Disposal SOP.

Training - PHS

Magnesium perchlorate is deemed a particularly hazardous substance - PHS by EH&S and you need approval before using it. Complete the list of requirements below before using this chemical.

Prerequisites

1. You must have completed Managing Laboratory Chemicals in the last three years. Login to check.
2. Read and understand the SDS for Magnesium perchlorate.
3. Read, understand, and digitally sign this SOP.
4. Contact your Principal Investigator (PI) AND the Chemical Hygiene Officer (CHO) indicating that you have completed all prerequisites and await approval.

Signature

I have read and understood the present SOP and, before starting work outlined in the present SOP, I will complete all required training.