On April 29, 2022, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) published the Third Revision of Indian Standard (IS) 718 Carbon Tetrachloride – Specification (hereinafter referred to as the Standard). The deadline for comments is June 28, 2022.
The Standard prescribes the requirements, methods of sampling and testing for carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).
The requirements for carbon tetrachloride are listed in the table below.
Table 1: Requirements for Carbon Tetrachloride
SI No. | Characteristics | Requirements | Method of test, Ref to | |
Annex | Indian Standard | |||
i) | Relative density at 27 C/27c | 1.584 to 1.590 | A | — |
ii) | Colour, Pt-Co, Max | 15 | — | 8768 |
iii) | Distillation range at 760 mm Hg | 2 to 97 ml shall distil between 76.0 to 77.0 OC | B | — |
iv) | Non-volatile matter, percent by mass, Max | 0.002 | C | — |
v) | Purity, percent by mass, Min | 99.5 | D | — |
vi) | Methyl chloride, Methylene chloride and Chloroform, percent by mass, Max | 0.025 | D | — |
vii) | Moisture content, percent by mass, Max | 0.01 | E | — |
viii) | Acidity (as HCl) or alkalinity (as NaOH), ppm, Max | 5 | F | — |
ix) | Spot test | To pass test | G | — |
x) | Free Chlorine | To pass test | H | — |
What’s more, investigations have shown carbon tetrachloride to be one of the most harmful solvents. Thus, extreme care shall be taken in handling it. The BIS recommends that carbon tetrachloride be handled in galvanized or epoxy-lined mild steel containers or HM-HDPE drums rather than plain steel and cast-iron drums. Specific requirements on marking of containers are listed as below:
Each container shall bear legibly and indelibly the following information:
name of the material;
name of manufacturer and its recognized trademark, if any;
month and year of manufacture;
lot or batch number;
net weight; and
any other statutory requirements.
All containers in which the material is stored or transported shall be prominently and clearly marked with the following marking: “STORE IN COOL AND DRY PLACE. PROTECT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT.”
All containers in which fire extinguishing blend is stored or transported shall be prominently and clearly marked with the following: “STORE IN COOL AND DRY PLACE. PROTECT FROM DIRECT SUNLIGHT. USE WITH ADEQUATE VENTILATION, WEAR MASK AND NECESSARY PERSONAL PROTACTIVE EQUIPMENTS DURING HANDLING”
Once the draft is approved, products conforming to the requirements of this standard could be certified with the BIS and be marked with the Standard Mark.
