Cylinder

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Cylinders are containers that store gases under high pressures. They can generally be defined using four characteristics:

Type of gas
State of gas
Purity of gas
Type of cylinder^[1]

Cylinder Handling

Because cylinders store gas under high pressure, they can be extremely dangerous. There are many government regulations regarding the handling, packaging, labeling and storing of cylinders. Agencies regulating such practices include, but are not limited to, the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Some basic guidelines for cylinder management are as follows.

Cylinders should be stored in a secure, upright position.
Valve protection caps and appropriate regulators should be used.
Cylinders should be properly labeled, describing the name and type of gas and whether it is full or empty.
Users should never rely upon the color of a cylinder to identify its contents.^[2]

Acetylene cylinders have a solid core that is permeated with acetone, which stabilizes this very volatile material. The paradox of acetylene cylinders is that we are still allowed to landfill them even though acetone itself is a hazardous chemical and is land-banned.^[3]