Although no two Hydrogen Cyanide (un)loading solutions will be identical, the product itself determines much of the critical design criteria that will ensure that optimum safety and productivity can work together in harmony.

What is Hydrogen Cyanide? Hydrogen Cyanide, also known as hydrocyanic acid, prussic acid or HCN can be used as a chemical warfare agent, but it’s commercially used for fumigation, mining, chemical synthesis, electroplating, and in the production of synthetic fibers, plastics, dyes and pesticides.

In the United States, Hydrogen Cyanide is a “tight-fill” (closed-loop) (un)loading operation and is loaded into rail cars via chemical hoses, 316 stainless steel or 3” PTFE lined loading arms. Hydrogen cyanide if not handled properly can cause serious injuries and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is required. Additionally, because operators are on top of the vehicles during the loading process, robust, well-designed fall prevention is essential to ensure increased throughput, without compromising operator safety.

Hydrogen Cyanide is typically shipped in specially built 20,500 gallon DOT-105 rubber lined, insulated tank cars with high pressure safety valves.  The rails cars themselves are ~ 9′ outside diameter with an overall length of ~45′ to 50′, with a 6’x 6′ center opening crash box openings. Railcars are typically painted white with red bands or “candy stripes” for quick identification.