Available for Licensing: Fluorescent Tracer Technology for Hydrofluoric Acid Exposure Detection

Technology Licensing Opportunity: This technology is available for licensing through Idaho National Laboratory's (INL) Technology Deployment office. INL is not seeking to procure products or services in connection with this technology, and no procurement activity is associated with INL's technology transfer process. Interested parties are invited to contact INL to discuss licensing terms and partnership opportunities.

Overview

Hydrofluoric acid (HF) is used across petroleum refining, semiconductor manufacturing, glass processing, pharmaceutical synthesis, mineral processing, and laboratory research, among others. Despite established handling protocols, accidental skin or surface contact remains a persistent hazard — compounded by HF's unusual toxicological profile: at low concentrations, early-stage contact produces no pain, burning, or visible irritation, while damage to subcutaneous tissue and bone progresses silently before symptoms appear.

This technology introduces a UV-fluorescent tracer additive created froma xanthene powder.. The additive is designed to remain chemically inert while enabling workers to survey skin, clothing, or surfaces using a UV light source after handling. Fluorescence indicates contact, supporting immediate decontamination and first aid before acid penetrates tissue. The approach is intended as a complementary detection layer alongside existing personal protective equipment and engineering controls.

Industry Need

Current HF safety practice relies on prevention: chemical-resistant PPE, engineered containment, and procedural controls. These measures reduce exposure frequency but do not eliminate the risk of accidental contact, particularly in production environments or during equipment maintenance. No field-deployable method currently exists for workers to confirm the absence of skin or surface contact after an HF-handling task. The standard indicator of exposure is symptom onset, which may occur hours after contact, after significant physiological damage has already occurred. This detection gap represents a structural limitation in current HF safety frameworks across all affected industries.

Differentiation and Advantages

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  Post-task detection capability: Designed to enable active worker self-survey after HF handling, a capability not provided by current commercial safety approaches.

  
  

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  Chemically inert tracer formulation: Xanthene dye has documented chemical stability in HF environments and is not expected to alter acid reactivity, concentration, or intended function.

  
  

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  Early-window treatment support: Detection prior to symptom onset is intended to expand the effective window for decontamination and calcium gluconate application, both of which are more effective when administered early.

  
  

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  Leak detection in system processes: Secondarily, this product improves leak detection in industrial processes by creating a high visibility and distinct HF appearance that can reduce detection time and differentiate HF from other clear fluids used in the process.

  
  

Potential Applications

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  Industrial HF handling operations in petroleum refining, semiconductor etch, glass manufacturing, and pharmaceutical synthesis.

  
  

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  Worker post-task self-survey using portable UV light sources following HF-handling tasks.

  
  

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  Facility leak and spill detection through UV scanning of work surfaces and equipment exteriors.

  
  

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  Laboratory and small-scale research environments where engineering controls may be less robust.