Foam fire extinguishing agent

Abstract

The present invention provides a foam fire extinguishing agent that does not contain a fluorine compound and exhibits sufficient fire extinguishing capacity against a water-soluble fuel fire. This foam fire extinguishing agent is characterized by containing: a mother liquid that does not contain an organic fluorine compound, but contains water, a hydrocarbon-based surfactant, and a water-soluble polymer; and a divalent metal salt.

Description

Foam fire extinguishing agent

[0001] The present invention relates to a foam fire-extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels, and more particularly to a non-fluorine-based foam fire-extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels that does not contain a fluorine-based compound and has excellent fire-extinguishing performance.

[0002] Foam fire extinguishing agents are primarily used for fires involving flammable liquids classified as Class 4 hazardous materials, and are supplied in a foamed state. The foam then spreads quickly over the flammable liquid, extinguishing the fire.

[0003] Here, in the case of a fire involving a water-soluble fuel such as alcohol, ketone, ester, ether or amine, even if a conventional fire extinguishing agent for petroleum fires is used to extinguish the fire, the foam of the extinguishing agent immediately disappears when it comes into contact with the surface of the burning liquid, and the fire cannot be sufficiently extinguished.

[0004] As foam extinguishing agents for use in such water-soluble fuel fires, foam extinguishing agents (fluorinated protein) in which a fluorine-based surfactant is added to a protein hydrolysate, and foam extinguishing agents in which a water-soluble polymer is added to a fluorine-based surfactant, etc. have been proposed and used so far (for example, Patent Document 1: JP 2007-252731 A, Patent Document 2: JP 2001-269421 A).

[0005] JP 2007-252731 A JP 2001-269421 A

[0006] However, in recent years, the use of organic fluorine compounds has been avoided due to environmental concerns, and fire extinguishing agents that do not use organic fluorine compounds have the problem of reduced alcohol resistance. To address this issue, it has been considered to use water-soluble polymers and hydrocarbon surfactants, but these have not been sufficiently effective against fires involving water-soluble fuels, and there is still room for improvement.

[0007] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a foam fire-extinguishing agent that does not contain an organic fluorine compound and that exhibits sufficient fire-extinguishing ability even against fires caused by water-soluble fuels.

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the inventors conducted extensive testing and research, and when they tried adding a divalent metal salt to a foam fire-extinguishing agent containing a water-soluble polymer, polysaccharide, and a hydrocarbon-based surfactant, alkylamine oxide, they found that it was possible to create a foam fire-extinguishing agent that exhibited sufficient fire-extinguishing ability against isopropyl alcohol (IPA) fires without using a fluorine compound, and thus completed the present invention.

[0009] That is, the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized by not containing an organic fluorine compound, but containing a mother liquor containing water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, and a water-soluble polymer, and a salt of a divalent metal.

[0010] In the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, it is preferable that the divalent metal salt is an alkaline earth metal salt.

[0011] In the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, it is preferable that the alkaline earth metal is Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba.

[0012] In the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention, it is preferable that the concentration of the divalent metal salt in the foam fire-extinguishing agent is 16.67 mmol / L to 166.7 mmol / L.

[0013] According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a foam fire-extinguishing agent that does not contain a fluorine compound and that exhibits sufficient fire-extinguishing ability even against fires caused by water-soluble fuels (i.e., a non-fluorine-based foam fire-extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels).

[0014] Hereinafter, foam fire extinguishing agents according to typical embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to examples shown in the table, although the present invention is not limited thereto.

[0015] 1. Components The foam fire-extinguishing agent according to this embodiment is a non-fluorine-based foam fire-extinguishing agent for water-soluble fuels, characterized in that it contains a mother liquor containing at least water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, and a water-soluble polymer, to which a divalent metal salt is further added (i.e., it has a composition excluding cases where a fluorine compound is included). These essential components and optional components are described below.

[0016] (1) Hydrocarbon-Based Surfactant The hydrocarbon-based surfactant may be any surfactant that generates foam when the foam extinguishing agent is mixed with air, and examples thereof include alkylsulfonic acid-based, alkylamino-based, alkyl-polyoxyethylene and / or polyoxypropylene-based, alkylbetaine-based, and polyoxyethylene alkylphenol-based hydrocarbon surfactants. Of these, alkylamino-based hydrocarbon surfactants are preferred, and among these, alkylamine oxides are preferred, with coconut alkyldimethylamine oxide being more preferred. As the alkylamine oxide, commercially available products available from, for example, Lion Corporation, NOF Corporation, Takemoto Oil & Fats Co., Ltd., Kao Corporation, etc. can be used.

[0017] (2) Water-Soluble Polymers The water-soluble polymer may be any polymer that is soluble in water and functions to precipitate insoluble matter in the water-soluble fuel, and examples thereof include cellulose derivatives (methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, etc.), polyvinyl alcohol, sodium alginate, polyvinyl ether, polyethylene glycol, tamarind seed gum, alginate esters, xanthan gum, pullulan, and other polysaccharides. Among these, tamarind seed gum, alginate esters, xanthan gum, pullulan, and other polysaccharides are preferred, with xanthan gum being more preferred. For example, commercially available products available from Mitsubishi Corporation Life Sciences, Kimica Co., Ltd., Higuchi Shokai Co., Ltd., Tsuruya Chemical Industry Co., Ltd., FC Chemical Co., Ltd., CPKelco, and the like can be used.

[0018] (3) Water There are no particular limitations on the water used as long as it does not impair the effects of the present invention, and tap water, river water, seawater, etc. can be used.

[0019] (4) Divalent Metal Salt As described above, the present inventors have found that when a divalent metal salt is further added to a foam fire extinguishing agent containing a water-soluble polymer, a polysaccharide, and a hydrocarbon surfactant, an alkylamine oxide, the foam extinguishing agent can exhibit sufficient fire-extinguishing ability against a fire caused by isopropyl alcohol (IPA), a water-soluble fuel, and have thus completed the present invention. Although the details of the reason for this are unknown, it is speculated that the interaction between the metal ions and the polysaccharide produces a precipitate that is less likely to penetrate the water-soluble fuel.

[0020] Among these, the divalent metal salt is preferably a salt of an alkaline earth metal, and the alkaline earth metal is preferably Mg, Ca, Sr, or Ba. Furthermore, Ca or Mg is particularly preferred from the viewpoints of low toxicity, familiarity, and ease of procurement and handling.

[0021] (5) Optional Components The foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention may contain, as other components, various components that are added to conventional foam fire-extinguishing agents, to the extent that the effects of the present invention are not impaired.

[0022] (5-1) Solvent Examples of the solvent include water-soluble organic solvents that can be mixed with water. Examples include alcohols and esters. Specific examples include propylene glycol, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether, dipropylene glycol, normal propanol, normal butanol, octanol, 1,3-butylene glycol, hexylene glycol, 3-methoxy-3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-methyl-1,5-pentadiol, diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (butyl carbitol), propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol monoethyl ether, methyl glycolate, triethyl citrate, sodium lactate, and glycerin.

[0023] (5-2) Surfactants The foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention may contain other surfactants (anionic surfactants, nonionic surfactants, cationic surfactants) that are not classified as the hydrocarbon surfactants in (1) above.

[0024] Examples of anionic surfactants include compounds having any hydrophilic group, such as a carboxylic acid group, a sulfonic acid group, a sulfate ester group, or a phosphate ester group, and any hydrophobic group, such as an aliphatic group or an aromatic group. More specifically, examples of anionic surfactants include alkylbenzenesulfonic acids or salts thereof, such as sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, dialkylsulfosuccinic acids or salts thereof, such as sodium diethylhexyl sulfosuccinate and sodium diisotridecyl sulfosuccinate, dipolyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfosuccinic acids or salts thereof, such as sodium di(polyoxyethylene 2-ethylhexyl ether) sulfosuccinate and sodium di(polyoxyethylene isotridecyl ether) sulfosuccinate, sodium lauryl sulfate, such as sodium polyoxyethylene lauryl ether sulfate, sodium alkyl sulfate, such as polyoxyethylene myristyl ether sodium sulfate and sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate ester salts, such as ammonium polyoxyethylene alkyl ether sulfate, sodium polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate, polyoxyethylene alkyl phenyl ether sulfate, and the like. polyoxyethylene alkylphenyl ether sulfate salts such as polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether sodium sulfate and polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether ammonium sulfate; polyoxyethylene polycyclic phenyl ether sulfate salts such as polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene glycol ether sulfate or a salt thereof; alkyl sulfates or a salt thereof such as sodium lauryl sulfate, higher alcohol sodium sulfate, triethanolamine lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate; fatty acids or a salt thereof such as potassium oleate, sodium oleate and partially hardened beef tallow fatty acid sodium; alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonic acids or a salt thereof such as diammonium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, sodium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate, calcium dodecyl diphenyl ether disulfonate and sodium alkyl diphenyl ether disulfonate; salts of condensates of aromatic sulfonic acids and formaldehyde;Examples include salts of condensates of aromatic sulfonic acids with formaldehyde, such as sodium naphthalenesulfonate formalin condensate; N-acyl sarcosinates, such as sodium lauroyl sarcosinate; higher fatty acid amidosulfonic acids or salts thereof, such as sodium N-myristoyl-N-methyl taurate and sodium coconut oil fatty acid methyl tauride; and N-acyl glutamic acids or salts thereof, such as disodium N-stearoyl glutamate and monosodium N-stearoyl glutamate.

[0025] Examples of nonionic surfactants include polyoxyethylene alkyl ether type, polyoxyethylene alkylphenol type, polyoxyethylene alkylamine type, polyoxyethylene alkylamide type, polyoxyethylene fatty acid ester type, propylene glycol fatty acid ester type, propylene glycol fatty acid dipolyoxyethylene lanolin ether type, aliphatic alkanolamide type, polyoxyethylene castor oil type, polyoxyethylene polyhydric alcohol type, polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester type, and polyoxyethylene polyhydric alcohol fatty acid ester type.

[0026] Examples of cationic surfactants include monoalkylammonium chloride, dialkylammonium chloride, EO-added ammonium chloride, tetramethylammonium chloride, and benzyltrimethylammonium chloride.

[0027] (5-3) Others In addition, the composition may contain preservatives (for example, preservatives available from Taisho Technos Co., Ltd., Showa Denko Materials Co., Ltd., ADEKA Corporation, Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., etc.), freezing point depressants (for example, lower alcohols such as isopropyl alcohol, butanol, octanol, etc., glycols such as ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, etc., polyacrylamide, polyethyleneimine, urea, various inorganic salts, etc.), etc., within the scope of not impairing the effects of the present invention.

[0028] 2. Mixing ratio of each component The foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention is characterized by comprising a mother liquor containing at least water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, and a water-soluble polymer, and further comprising the addition of a divalent metal salt, as described above. The mixing ratio of each essential component in the mother liquor may be appropriately adjusted within a range that does not impair the effects of the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention. Furthermore, from the viewpoint of reliably achieving the effects of the present invention, the concentration of the divalent metal salt is preferably 16.67 mmol / L to 166.7 mmol / L.

[0029] In the mother liquor, the contents of the hydrocarbon surfactant and the water-soluble polymer are preferably 8 to 15% by mass and 0.5 to 2.0% by mass, respectively, with the remainder being water (total 100% by mass). Thus, despite being formulated without a fluorine-based compound, the foam fire-extinguishing agent of the present invention has excellent heat resistance, which has been difficult to achieve in the past, and is also excellent in other performance characteristics. Furthermore, the raw materials are easily available.

[0030] 1. Preparation of Foam Fire-Extinguishing Agent (1) First, the components shown in Table 1 were mixed in the mixing ratio shown in Table 1 to prepare a mother liquid (total 100% by mass). Next, a salt of a divalent metal shown in Table 2 was added to 1 liter of the mother liquid to give a concentration shown in Table 2 to prepare a foam fire extinguishing agent.

[0031] 2. Evaluation Test The foam extinguishing agent obtained as described above was diluted with water to 6% by volume to prepare a foam solution. The concentration of metal salts in the foam solution is shown in Table 2. A table fire extinguishing test was conducted for each foam solution sample as follows, and the results are shown in Table 2. (1) 200 ml of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) was placed in a tray with an opening at the top and ignited. (2) Two minutes after ignition, the foam solution was foamed using a mixer and scooped into the tray with a spoon. (3) The foam extinguishing agent was continued to be added until the fire was extinguished, and the time and amount added until the fire was extinguished were confirmed.

[0032] A long fire extinguishing time, no fire extinguishing, or a large amount of added fire was evaluated as "X." A short fire extinguishing time or a small amount of added fire was evaluated as "Good," and a short fire extinguishing time and a small amount of added fire was evaluated as "Excellent." From the results shown in Table 2, it was found that the foam fire extinguishing agent according to the present invention, when containing a divalent metal salt, exhibits rapid fire extinguishing ability against water-soluble fuels with a small amount of added fire. That is, from the viewpoints of fire extinguishing performance and agent preparation, the concentration of the divalent metal salt in the foam fire extinguishing agent may be 16.67 mmol / L to 166.7 mmol / L. The lower limit is preferably 41.67 mmol / L, and more preferably 83.33 mmol / L. From the viewpoints of fire extinguishing performance and toxicity, MgCl ２ or CaCl ２ is preferred.

Claims

1. A foam fire extinguishing agent that does not contain organic fluorine compounds, characterized by comprising a mother liquor containing water, a hydrocarbon surfactant, and a water-soluble polymer, and a salt of a divalent metal.

2. The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 1, wherein the salt of the divalent metal is a salt of an alkaline earth metal.

3. The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 1, wherein the alkaline earth metal is Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba.

4. The foam fire extinguishing agent according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the divalent metal salt in the foam fire extinguishing agent is 16.67 mmol / L to 166.7 mmol / L.

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