Qatar Chemical Co. Ltd.

(Q-Chem)

SAFE HANDLING AND STORAGE GUIDELINES

SULPHUR (PRILLED)

1
 TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP………………………………………………………………………………………………4

2. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5

3. SULPHUR SPECIFICATION………………………………………………………………………………………………5

4. SAFE HANDLING & STORAGE GUIDELINES……………………………………………………………………..6

a. STORAGE GUIDELINES……………………………………………………………………………………………….6
b. HANDLING, VENTILATION & DUST CONTROL GUIDELINES…………………………………………7
c. EQUIPMENT & ELECTRICAL MAINTENANCE GUIDELINES…………………………………………..7

5. ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION………………………………………………………………………………….8

6. REGULATORY INFORMATION…………………………………………………………………………………………8

7. SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION……………………………………………………………………..8

8. CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………8

2
PRODUCT STEWARDSHIP
Qatar Chemical Company Ltd (Q-Chem) is committed to being a good product steward of the
products we produce. We want anyone who comes in contact with one of our products to have
access to information that will help them to understand its potential risk and how to use it safely.
The thrust of our product stewardship program is the implementation of an Operation Excellence
Management System (OEMS) initiative, which makes health, safety and environmental
protection an integral part of our products. Successful implementation of this system must
include a shared responsibility of all those who come in contact with a product throughout its life
cycle. Qatar Chemical Company Ltd will continue to work with customers and others to help
ensure that all who use and handle our products follow safe and environmentally sound
practices.
The information contained in this document is not intended to, nor does it, amend or replace the
Qatar Chemical Company Ltd Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for Sulphur. The most current SDS can be
obtained from Qatar Chemical Company Ltd at www.qchem.com.qa and should be carefully
examined prior to working with this product.

3
INTRODUCTION
Sulfur is produced as a by-product in Q-Chem operations when sour ethane is treated to remove
H2S and CO2 from process gas. H2S removed is then processed further for converting sulfur
compounds into liquid sulfur to be then converted into solid prilled form.
This document is intended to provide general information about safe handling and storage Sulfur
in its solid form (prilled). It is not intended to provide an in-depth discussion of all health and
safety information. Additional information on the product is available through the applicable
Safety Data Sheet which should be consulted before use of the product.

SULPHUR SPECIFICATION

SPECIFICATION
CHARACTERISTIC METHOD UNIT
Min Max
TE-LAB-PRO-08-0035
FREE SULPHUR wt % 99.9 -
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0036
MOISTURE* wt % 0.05 3.0
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0037
ASH wt % - 0.01
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0039
ACIDITY as H2SO4 wt % NIL -
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0040
ORGANIC MATTER wt % - 0.01
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0041
CHLORIDES as NaCl wt % NIL -
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0043
COLOR VISUAL Bright Yellow -
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

BULK DENSITY (Loose) TE-LAB-PRO-08-0045 Kg/m3 1040 -

TE-LAB-PRO-08-0067
H2S ppm wt - 40.0
(SRUAN – 4 (KTI))

SIEVE ANALYSIS

Retained on 6.3 mm TE-LAB-PRO-08-0044 wt % - < 5.0

Pass thru 5.6 mm TE-LAB-PRO-08-0044 wt % 75 -

4
 Retained on 2.8 mm TE-LAB-PRO-08-0044 wt % 75 -

Pass thru 1.0 mm TE-LAB-PRO-08-0044 wt % - < 2.0

Pass thru 0.3 mm TE-LAB-PRO-08-0044 wt % - < 0.5

(*) Moisture range for the Sulphur shipment

SAFE HANDLING AND STORAGE GUIDELINES

Sulphur when stored and handled in solid prilled form can create and generate some dust
formation, which can lead to dust explosion and inhalation. Good industrial hygiene practices
should always be followed and personnel’s handling it should be knowledgeable and trained.
Following are some of the guidelines and mitigation measures which should be considered:

Storage guidelines:
• Storages or buildings housing any equipment in which Sulphur is handled or processed
should be constructed with fire resistant materials.
• Where practical, dust producing processes should be confined and isolated.
• Where possible, to prevent accumulation of dust, the design of the storages or
buildings should be such and the structural members so sloped and assembled or
protected as to present the least possible surface (other than floor) on which the dust
can lodge.
• Floor drains or troughs or gutters should be provided to carry off water from any area
where cleaning is accomplished by flushing with hose streams.
• It is recommended that during the design stage and operating phase every effort be
made to minimize the possibility of rusty metal components scraping or striking objects
that may cause sparking inside the storages or buildings during normal operations
and/or failure, collapsing or falling situations.
• Metal surfaces of carbon steel, structural steel, hoppers, equipment, tools, etc. should
be protected from iron oxide formation at all times by painting, covering or use of other
types of metals where practical.
• All parts of any storage or building where Sulphur dust may be present or handled
should have adequate explosion proof vents.
• Storage or building vents should be distributed as uniformly as possible to provide
adequate ventilation consistent with good engineering practices.
• Smoking is not allowed in any storages or buildings in which Sulphur is handled or
processed.

Handling, Ventilation & Dust control guidelines:

• All parts of the storage or building in which dust may be raised should be vented to the
outside air.
• The design and installation of explosion proof vents should be assigned to a competent

5
 person who is familiar with their operation and effectiveness.
• All interior bins handling Sulphur dust should be provided with facilities to prevent
blowing or dust dispersion inside the storage or building due to the displacement of air
during filling.
• Sulphur bins should be filled and emptied through dust tight spouts or chutes.
• Dust should not be allowed to accumulate in any part of any storage or building or
structure. Dust should be carefully removed from the walls, floors, and machinery of
the plant at regular intervals.
• Blowing down of any surface by compressed air or other gases in a confined space
should not be allowed.
• Where floor drains or troughs or gutters are provided for the removal of dust, the dust
may be washed down the drain, trough or gutter using water hoses. Where drains,
troughs or gutters are not provided, the dust should be carefully collected and
removed.
• Where there is a provision for the collection of dust by vacuum systems, the systems
should be designed such that the buildup of static electricity is prevented. Non-
conducting ducts or hoses should not be used unless effectively bonded.
• Vacuum cleaners or other electrical devices for cleaning are required to be certified for
use in the appropriate class and electrical code standards.

Equipment & Electrical Maintenance guidelines:

• Before any repair or maintenance work including any welding, burning, and cutting is
undertaken on any machinery or equipment, the area within which it is to be
undertaken plus an additional space of 2 meters all around, should first be carefully
cleaned so that there is no Sulphur dust present. If impractical, other acceptable
prevention measures should be taken, i.e., covering, wetting, steam blanketing, etc.
• On completion of any burning, cutting, or welding, the surrounding area should be
carefully examined to ensure that no residual fragments or particles of burned or
heated materials are left.
• Electrical power tools or any other piece of electrical equipment are required to be
approved for use according to the appropriate class and electrical code standards.
• Relative humidity should be maintained as high as practical inside enclosed area where
dust is expected to be in suspension.
• The electrical installation and electrical equipment are required to be constructed and
installed in accordance with regulations adopted under the provisions of the Safety.
• Portable battery powered devices are required to be approved for use in the
appropriate hazardous area.
• Where practical, conveyor belts should be of a type that are both fire resistant and anti-
static. Provision for static discharge devices should be installed where it is impractical
to use such type of conveyor belts.
• V-belts that drive machinery in an enclosed area should be fire resistant and anti-static.
• Oils used in enclosed areas for hydraulic circuits should be of fire-resistant grade.
Similar oils should also be used for any traction purposes, where practical.
• Gasoline and diesel-powered equipment should not be used in enclosed hazardous
6
 areas without special precautions such as a hot work permit.

ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION:
Sulfur is not classified as an environmental hazard as no specific hazards have been found to
be associated with it. Aquatic toxicity is unlikely for Sulfur since it is not volatile and has
low/negligible solubility in water. For additional details please consult the Safety Data Sheet
(SDS) and Product Stewardship Summary (PSS).

REGULATORY INFORMATION:
Regulations exist that govern the manufacture, sale, transportation, use and/or disposal of
products of the sulfur category. These regulations may vary by city, state, country or
geographic region. Additional helpful information may be found by consulting the relevant
product Safety Data Sheet.

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Qatar Chemical Company Limited Material Safety Data Sheet Information

http://www.qchem.com.qa/internet/Products/Pages/sulphur.aspx
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Hazardous
Substances Data Bank (HSDB) http://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/
• European Chemical Substances Information System (ESIS) http://esis.jrc.ec.europa.eu/
• The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/

CONCLUSION:
Sulfur is an inorganic substance in the form of yellow solid prill, granules or pellet widely used
in the applications for various industrial or consumer settings. As sold by Qatar Chemical
Company Limited (Q-Chem), in solid prilled form, sulfur is chemically stable under normal
ambient temperature and pressure. It is relatively non-toxic to humans, causing only mild or no
irritation to skin and eyes. It is not toxic to aquatic and terrestrial organisms. However, make
sure to consult the Safety Data Sheet and review applicable OSHA and other appropriate
regulatory guidelines prior to use of these products.

Updated: October, 2022