Standard Operating Procedure

Hydrochloric acid
This SOP is not complete until it 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.
Refer to instructions for assistance.

Department: Chemistry & Biochemistry - Chemical Engineering

Date SOP was written: December 14, 2012
Date SOP was approved by PI/lab
January 18, 2013
supervisor:
Principal Investigator: Prof. Susannah Scott
Internal Lab Safety Coordinator/Lab
Stephanie Goubert-Renaudin
Manager:
Lab Phone: 805-893-8941

Office Phone: 805-893-7403

EHS 24 hour line: 805-893-3194

Emergency Contact:
(Name and Phone Number)
ESB 3324 and 3328
Location(s) covered by this SOP:
(Building/Room Number)

Type of SOP: Process Hazardous Chemical Hazardous Class

Purpose
Hydrochloric acid is a highly corrosive, strong inorganic/mineral acid. If not stored and handled
properly, this can pose a serious threat to the health and safety of laboratory personnel,
emergency responders and chemical waste handlers. Hence, it is important to follow safety
protocols to handle this chemical. Hydrochloric acid is used in the chemical industry as a
chemical reagent in the large-scale production of vinyl chloride for PVC plastic, and MDI/TDI for
polyurethane. It has numerous smaller-scale applications, including household cleaning,
production of gelatin and other food additives, descaling, and leather processing.

Physical & Chemical Properties/Definition of Chemical Group

CAS# 7647-01-0

Class: Corrosive

Molecular Formula: HCl

SOP Template developed by The UC Center for Laboratory Safety

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Form (Physical State): Colorless liquid.

Boiling Point: > 100 °C (> 212 °F) - lit.

Melting point: -30 °C (-22 °F)

Density: 1.2 g/cm3 at 25 °C (77 °F)

Odor: Pungent

Synonym: Muriatic acid

Potential Hazards/Toxicity
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

Burning sensation, cough, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, spasm, inflammation and
edema of the larynx, spasm, inflammation and edema of the bronchi, pneumonitis & pulmonary
edema. Material is extremely destructive to tissue of the mucous membranes and upper
respiratory tract, eyes, and skin.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Respiratory protection
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

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

Hand protection
Type of gloves recommended for Hydrochloric acid: Nitrile

SOP Template developed by The UC Center for Laboratory Safety

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Note: Consult with your preferred glove manufacturer to ensure that the gloves you plan on using
are compatible with Hydrochloric acid.

Refer to glove selection chart from the links below:

http://www.ansellpro.com/download/Ansell_8thEditionChemicalResistanceGuide.pdf
OR
http://www.allsafetyproducts.biz/page/74172
OR
http://www.showabestglove.com/site/default.aspx
OR
http://www.mapaglove.com/

Eye protection
Splash goggles. If used in large quantities, please use appropriate face shield.

Skin and body protection

Lab coat, long pants, closed-toed shoes

Hygiene measures
Avoid contact with skin, eyes and clothing.
Wash hands before breaks and immediately after handling Hydrochloric acid.

Engineering Controls

All operations involving Hydrochloric acid must be carried out in a certified chemical fume
hood (certified once every year by EH&S).

Laboratory rooms must be at negative pressure with respect to the corridors and external
environment. To achieve this, the laboratory/room door must be kept closed at all times.

First Aid Procedures

General advice
Consult a physician. Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance. Move out of
dangerous area.
If inhaled
If breathed in, move person into fresh air. If not breathing, give artificial respiration. Consult a
physician.
In case of skin contact
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately. Wash off with soap and plenty of water
for at least 15 minutes. Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician. Continue
rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
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

Precautions for safe handling

Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
Avoid inhalation of vapor or mist.
Always use inside a chemical fume hood.

SOP Template developed by The UC Center for Laboratory Safety

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Note: In case you need to dilute the concentration of HCl, always add acid to water.
Always transfer from container to the receptacle by using an appropriate funnel.
DO NOT mouth-pipette HCl.

Conditions for safe storage

Do not store in/with combustible packing material; such as cardboard, Styrofoam, plastic and
paper.
Keep container upright & tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Always store HCl in a secondary container. Note: Nalgene/polypropylene tray or a tub is the best
suited secondary containment.
Materials to avoid: Store segregated from – Organic Acids, Bases, Amines, Alkali metals, Metals,
permanganates, e.g. potassium permanganate, sodium hypochlorite (bleach), Fluorine, metal
acetylides, hexalithium disilicide.

Spill and Accident Procedure

Chemical Spill Dial 9-911 and EH&S (805-893-3194)

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 9-911 from campus phones (and 805-893-3446 from a cell phone) and
EH&S (893-3194) 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.
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.

Medical Emergency Dial 9-911

Life Threatening Emergency, After Hours, Weekends and Holidays – Dial 9-911 (or
805-893-3446 from a cell phone) or go to the Emergency Room of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital
at 351 South Patterson Avenue, Goleta (Phone number: 805-967-3411) Note: All Serious injuries
must be reported to EH&S within 8 hours.

Non-Life Threatening Emergency – Go to the Student Health Building, Building 588 (phone
number: 893-5361, hours: M, T, R, F 8am-4.30pm, W 9am - 4.30pm, R 5pm to 7pm by
appointment). After hours go to the Emergency Room of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital at 351
South Patterson Avenue, Goleta (Phone number: 805-967-3411) Note: All serious injuries must
be reported to EH&S within 8 hours.

Needle stick/puncture exposure (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. Page the needle stick
nurse \ and then enter your extension. After hours go to the nearest emergency room: the
Emergency Room of Goleta Valley Cottage Hospital at 351 South Patterson Avenue, Goleta
(Phone number: 805-967-3411). Note: All needle stick/puncture exposures must be reported to
EH&S within 8 hours.

SOP Template developed by The UC Center for Laboratory Safety

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Decontamination/Waste Disposal Procedure
Wearing proper PPE, please decontaminate equipment and bench tops. Please dispose of the
used hydrochloric acid as hazardous waste.

Label Waste
• Affix an on-line hazardous waste tag on all waste containers as soon as the first drop of
waste is added to the container
Store Waste
• Store hazardous waste in closed containers, in secondary containment and in a
designated location
• Waste must be under the control of the person generating & disposing of it
Dispose of Waste
• Dispose of regularly generated chemical waste within 90 days
• Call EH&S for questions
• Empty Containers
o Dispose as hazardous waste if it once held extremely hazardous waste
(irrespective of the container size)
o 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

Safety Data Sheet (SDS) Location

SDS can be found online: http://ehs.ucsb.edu/units/labsfty/labrsc/chemistry/lschemmsdsacc.htm

Protocol/Procedure
In our laboratory, concentrated hydrochloric acid (assay 37%) is stored in the designated ‘Acid’
ventilated cabinet and is mainly used to prepare diluted solutions.

Due to its corrosive properties, when handling concentrated hydrochloric acid, nitrile gloves have
to be worn at all times, as well as safety goggles and a lab coat. Gloves have to be changed as
soon as contaminated.

Concentrated hydrochloric acid cannot be handled out of the ventilated fume hood, and has to be
used on a cleared space away from any strong base or metals.

Due to the exothermic nature of the reaction, dilution of hydrochloric acid has to be done by
slowly adding the acid to water to limit the risk of splashing concentrated acid out.

Hydrochloric acid solutions have to be disposed as a hazardous waste in the appropriate acidic
waste container.

NOTE: Any deviation from this SOP requires approval from PI.

Documentation of Training (signature of all users is required)

• Prior to conducting any work with hydrochloric acid, designated personnel, i.e. approved
users listed below, must provide training to his/her laboratory personnel specific to the

SOP Template developed by The UC Center for Laboratory Safety

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 hazards involved in working with this substance, work area decontamination, and emergency
procedures.

• The Principal Investigator must provide his/her laboratory personnel with a copy of this SOP
and a copy of the SDS provided by the manufacturer.

• The Principal Investigator must ensure that his/her laboratory personnel have attended
appropriate laboratory safety training or refresher training as required by EH&S.

I have read and understand the content of this SOP:

Name Signature Trainer Date

Prof. Susannah Scott

Stephanie
Goubert-Renaudin

Gary Kwanyi Ng

Alessandro Gallo

Anthony Crisci

Haibo Yu

Taeho Hwang

Bethany Wigington

Daniel Coller

Zachary Jones

Youhong Wang

Jinghong Zhou

Jason Fendi

SOP Template developed by The UC Center for Laboratory Safety