Perfluorotributylamine (PFBTA), has been identified 7100 times more effective in trapping Sun’s heat than carbon dioxide.
Used in electronic industries and in artificial blood substitute PFBTA pose serious threat to climate if unchecked ,though current volume is only 0.18 parts per trillion by volume.
Plants use light energy to photosynthesize carbohydrate from carbon dioxide and water which generates oxygen as a waste product. During night plants breathe out some carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is heavier than air, about 1.67 times. Carbon dioxide turns to solid below −78.5 °C at 1 atm, and in this state it is called dry ice. At −56.6 °C and pressure above 5.1 atm carbon dioxide turns to liquid.
Phase diagram of CO2 (carbon dioxide). X axis is temperature in kelvin; Y axis is pressure in bar. Authors – Ben Finney, Mark JacobsEnglish: Small pellets of dry ice sublimating in air. The pellets are approx 0.5 – 1.0cm in diameter. Author Richard Wheeler (Zephyris) at en.wikipedia
There are various uses of carbon dioxide in food, oil, chemical industry, medical field etc. In food industry carbon dioxide is used as an acidity regulator, propellant, in carbonated beverages, wine making etc. In medical field carbon dioxide is used for respiratory therapy and pulmonary function testing.
Carbon dioxide is a non-flammable, nontoxic gas classified as Class 2.2 in transport regulations. Higher concentration of carbon dioxide in shipping containers and ship’s cargo hold lead to oxygen depleted atmosphere
.
Transport regulations list carbon dioxide as below
UN 1013, CARBON DIOXIDE, Class 2.2
UN 1845, CARBON DIOXIDE, SOLID (DRY ICE), Class 2.2
UN 2187, CARBON DIOXIDE, REFRIGERATED LIQUID, Class 2.2
UN 1013 can be stowed on or under deck on a cargo ship however UN 1845 & UN 2187 is authorized for on deck stowage only.
CARBON DIOXIDE, REFRIGERATED LIQUID – Road Tank Vehicle – Photo by Shashi KalladaCARBON DIOXIDE, REFRIGERATED LIQUID – Road Tank Vehicle – Photo by Shashi Kallada
Soda lime is generally used in anaesthesia and undersea breathing due its property of absorbing carbon dioxide. Soda lime is also used by navy in submarines, mining and petrochemical industries. The main ingredients of soda lime are Calcium hydroxide (about 75%), Water (about 20%), Sodium hydroxide (about 3%) & Potassium hydroxide (about 1%).
If soda lime is containing more than 4% sodium hydroxide then it is classified as Class 8, corrosive substances. UN number assigned to corrosive soda lime is UN 1907.
Carbon is the 15th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust and the fourth most abundant element in the universe by mass.
All known form of life has carbon.
Charcoal is the dark grey residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents from animal and vegetation substances.
Charcoal is usually produced by slow pyrolysis, the heating of wood or other substances in the absence ofoxygen. The resulting soft, brittle, lightweight, black, porous material resembles coal.
Activation/Oxidation: Raw material or carbonized material is exposed to oxidizing atmospheres (carbon monoxide, oxygen, or steam) at temperatures above 250 °C, usually in the temperature range of 600–1200 °C.
Chemical activation: Prior to carbonization, the raw material is impregnated with certain chemicals. The chemical is typically an acid, strong base, or a salt (phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, zinc chloride, respectively).
Highlighted in BOLD are the assigned proper shipping names for Charcoal or Carbon vegetable or animal origin
Assigned to Division 4.2 – Spontaneous Combustion.
Self-heating substances, which are substances, which, in contact with air without energy supply, are liable to self-heating. These substances will ignite only when in large amounts (kilograms) and after long periods of time (hours or days). If the rate of heat production exceeds the rate of heat loss, then the temperature of the substance will rise which, after an induction time, may lead to self-ignition and combustion.
A substance shall be classified as a self-heating substance of class 4.2 as per tests performed in accordance with the test method given in the United Nations Manual of Tests and Criteria, part III, 33.3.1.6
CARBON animal or vegetable origin – 4.2 1361
CARBON, ACTIVATED – 4.2 1362
1361 PG II & III / SP 925 and 223 for PG III
1362 PG III / SP 223 & 925
SP 925 states
The provisions of this Code do not apply to:
– non-activated carbon blacks of mineral origin;
– a consignment of carbon if it passes the tests for self-heating substances as reflected in the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (see 33.3.1.3.3), and is accompanied by a certificate from a laboratory accredited by the competent authority, stating that the product to be loaded has been correctly sampled by trained staff from that laboratory and that the sample was correctly tested and has passed the test; and
– carbons made by a steam activation process.
When Charcoal/ Carbon is considered as non Hazardous?
a) Either it is non-activated carbon blacks of mineral origin; or
b) Passed the UN test as per SP 925; or
c) carbons made by a steam activation process
MSDS must contain either of the information in ‘a’ or ‘b’
Or
Shipment must be supported/accompanied by test report in ‘b’
Shipping lines may have individual house rules with varying conditions for acceptance of hazardous and non-hazardous carbon.
IMDG Code Compliance Centre 