DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Chemical properties

white to off-white powder

Chemical properties

Amorphous silica, the noncrystalline form of SiO2, is a transparent to gray, odorless, amorphous powder

The Uses of DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Diatomaceous earth may be used as an adsorbent for column chromatography.

The Uses of DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Celite (R) 545 AW was used as stationary phase in purification of fagopyritols using preparative chromatography. Celite (R) 545 AW was used as packing material for fractionating procedure and the fractions were analysed using GC-ECD, GC/ECNI-MS 2 and IC-MS/MS.

The Uses of DIATOMACEOUS EARTH

Production of filters, polishes, absorbents, insulators.

What are the applications of Application

Silicon dioxide, acid-washed is a filter aid

Definition

ChEBI: Silicon dioxide is a silicon oxide made up of linear triatomic molecules in which a silicon atom is covalently bonded to two oxygens.

General Description

Chromosorb^? W is a diatomite which provides solid support for the packed GC columns. It is suitable for use with polar compounds, due to its low surface area and high inertness.

Health Hazard

Amorphous silica, natural diatomaceous earth, is usually considered to be of low toxicity; however, pure amorphous silica is rarely found.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Potential Exposure

Amorphous fumed silica is used as a mineral, natural or synthetic fiber. A potential danger to those involved in the production and handling of fumed silica for paint pigments or catalysts. Diatomaceous earth is used in clarifying liquids, in manufacture of fire brick and heat insulators; used as a filtering agent; as a filler in construction materials; pesticides, paints, and varnishes. A potential danger to those involved in mining of diatomaceous earth or fabrication of products there from.

Carcinogenicity

Amorphous silica has been tested for carcinogenicity in a variety of animal studies by a number of routes. Most of the tests were negative or were inadequate primarily because of poorly defined physiochemical characteristics of the silica. The IARC concluded that evidence is inadequate to describe amorphous silica as carcinogenic in either experimental animals or humans. Crystalline silica, however, has been designated by IARC as a probable human carcinogen (category 2A), based on “sufficient evidence” in experimental animals and “limited evidence” in humans.Therefore, although evidence for the carcinogenicity of crystalline silica in humans is unconvincing, certainly from exposures insufficient to cause silicosis, appropriate hazard warnings are obligatory in the United States. These apply to all materials containing 0.1% or more of crystalline silica (quartz, cristobalite, and/or tridymite).

Incompatibilities

Silica, amorphous is a noncombustible solid. Generally unreactive chemically. Incompatible with fluorine, oxygen difluoride, chlorine trifluoride. Soluble in molten alkalis and reacts with most metallic oxides at high temperature.

Waste Disposal

Sanitary landfill.