Any ethyl chloride loading solution must take into consideration critical design criteria to optimize safety and increase productivity at your facility.

Ethyl chloride or chloroethane is a man-made chemical compound that was once widely used in producing tetraethyl lead, a gasoline additive. More recently, it has been used as a medical ingredient to control pain, and for the temporary relief of minor sports injuries.  

When topically applied to the skin, ethyl chloride creates an instantaneous numbing and cooling effect on the skin surface thereby producing a temporary anesthetic effect.

Ethyl chloride is typically shipped in DOT-111A and 112A insulated tank cars with safety valves that meet the DOT specification for the transportation of ethyl chloride and other similar commodities. The rails cars are usually ~ 9′ outside diameter with an overall length of ~45’ to 60′, with a 6’ x 6’ center opening or off-set opening crash box.

All trailers must be equipped with pressure relief valves, and trailers with bottom outlets must be outfitted with remote-controlled stop valves. Tank truck loading and unloading procedures are similar to railcar applications with the trailers meeting established DOT requirements for hauling titanium ethyl chloride.  Approved DOT trailers include MC 300 thru MC 312, MC 330, and MC 331 and must be equipped with remote-controlled stop valves.