Sulfuric Acid

You have written several articles regarding the Torrance Mobil Refinery blast in which you have mentioned the local residents’ fear of the hydrofluoric acid which was released in the blast and their desire to have Mobil convert to sulfuric acid.

Apart from the tremendous expense in such a conversion, the residents should be aware of the increased hazard of such a conversion. The sulfuric acid which would replace the hydrofluoric acid would be of much higher strength and would produce fumes just as bad. However, more significant is the fact that the converted facility would use 10 times as much sulfuric acid as it did hydrofluoric. I fear that they would be jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

No, I am not a Mobil Oil executive. I am a retired aerospace scientist from Hughes Aircraft Co., and a registered professional engineer.

HARRY RAECH

Torrance