Izakhamizi Zikhishwe Ngemva Kokuchitheka Kwe-Nitric Acid E-Arizona - Kodwa Iyini Le Acid?

Ifu eliphuzi elisawolintshi likhiqizwa i-nitric acid lapho libola futhi likhiqize igesi ye-nitrogen dioxide. Ikhredithi yesithombe: Vovantarakan/Shutterstock.com

NgoLwesibili, Febhuwari 14, izakhamizi zasePima County, eSouthern Arizona, zatshelwa ukuthi ziphume noma zikhoselise ezindlini ngemuva kokuba iloli ebelithwele uketshezi lwe-nitric acid liphahlazekile lachitha ebikuqukethe emgwaqeni ozungezile.

Ingozi yenzeke ngezithuba zabo-2:43 ntambama kanti ihilela iloli lezentengiselwano ebelidonsa “amakhilogremu angu-2,000” (~900 kilograms) e-nitric acid, ephahlazekile, kwashona umshayeli futhi kwaphazamisa umzila omkhulu osempumalanga-ntshonalanga onqamula ingxenye enkulu yeNingizimu ye-US. Entshonalanga.

Abaphenduli bokuqala, okuhlanganisa noMnyango Wezomlilo wase-Tucson kanye noMnyango Wezokuphepha Komphakathi wase-Arizona, ngokushesha bakhiphe wonke umuntu osendaweni engamakhilomitha angu-0.8 (amakhilomitha angu-0.8) ukusuka engozini futhi bayala abanye ukuthi bahlale ezindlini futhi bavale isiphephetha-moya nezifudumezi zabo. Nakuba umyalelo “wokufihlakala” wabuye wasuswa, kulindeleke ukuthi kube nokuphazamiseka okuqhubekayo emigwaqweni ezungeze indawo yengozi njengoba kubhekwana nekhemikhali eyingozi.

I-nitric acid (HNO3) iwuketshezi olungenambala futhi olugqwala kakhulu olutholakala kumalabhorethri amaningi ajwayelekile futhi lusetshenziswa ezimbonini ezahlukahlukene ezifana nezolimo, izimayini, kanye nokukhiqiza udayi. I-asidi ivame ukutholakala ekukhiqizeni umanyolo lapho isetshenziselwa ukukhiqiza i-ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3) ne-calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) yomanyolo. Cishe wonke ama-fertilizer asekelwe ku-nitrogen asetshenziselwa i-feedstocks ngakho-ke kunesidingo esikhulayo sabo njengoba inani labantu emhlabeni wonke likhula futhi libeka isidingo esikhulu ekukhiqizweni kokudla.

Lezi zinto ziphinde zisetshenziswe njengezandulela ekukhiqizeni iziqhumane futhi zifakwe ohlwini lokulawulwa okulawulwayo emazweni amaningi ngenxa yamandla azo okusetshenziswa kabi - i-ammonium nitrate empeleni kwakuyinto eyabangela ukuqhuma kwe-Beirut ngo-2020.

I-nitric acid iyingozi emvelweni futhi inobuthi kubantu. Ukuchayeka ku-asidi, ngokusho kweCenters for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), kungabangela ukucasuka emehlweni nasesikhumbeni futhi kungaholela ezinkingeni ezihlukahlukene ezibambezelekile zamaphaphu, njenge-edema, i-pneumonitis, ne-bronchitis. Ubunzima balezi zinkinga buncike kumthamo kanye nesikhathi sokuchayeka.

Izithombe nezithombe ezithathwe amalungu omphakathi zibonisa ifu elikhulu eliphuzi elisawolintshi lindiza esibhakabhakeni lisuka endaweni yengozi yase-Arizona. Leli fu likhiqizwa i-nitric acid lapho libola futhi likhiqiza igesi ye-nitrogen dioxide.

Ukuchitheka kwe-nitric acid kuza ezinsukwini eziyi-11 kuphela ngemuva kokuba isitimela sezimpahla saseNorfolk Southern siphume emzileni e-Ohio. Lo mcimbi uphinde waholela ekukhishweni kwezakhamizi njengoba i-vinyl chloride ebithwelwe ezimotweni ezinhlanu zikaloliwe ithungeleka ngomlilo futhi yathumela izingqimba ezinobuthi be-hydrogen chloride ne-phosgene emkhathini.