Product Identification

Product Name

Ethyl isocyanate

Synonyms

Isocyanatoethane

CAS

109-90-0

Formula

C3H5NO

Molecular Weight

71.08

EINECS

203-717-9

RTECS

NQ8825000

RTECS Class

Mutagen

Beilstein/Gmelin

773743

Beilstein Reference

4-04-00-00492

EC Class

highly flammable, very toxic, irritant, sensitizing

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance

Colorless liquid with pungent odor, lachrymator.

Solubility in water

Soluble

Melting Point

<-50

Boiling Point

60

Vapor Pressure

209 (25 C)

Density

0.90 g/cm3 (20 C)

Partition Coefficient

1.36

Heat Of Vaporization

29.0 kJ/mol

Heat Of Combustion

-1777 kJ/mol

Usage

Pharmaceutical and pesticide intermediate.

Saturation Concentration

230,300 ppm (23%) at 24 C; 17108 ppm (1.71%) at 22.8 C (calculated)

Refractive Index

1.3808 (20 C)

First Aid Measures

Ingestion

Administer charcoal as a slurry (240 ml water/30 g charcoal). Usual dose: 25 to 100 g in adults/adolescents.

Inhalation

Hospitalization and observation for 72 hours is advisable to detect a late onset of pulmonary edema. Evaluate chest x-ray, fev 1, and arterial blood gases. Pulmonary edema (noncardiogenic): maintain ventilation and oxygenation and evaluate with frequent arterial blood gas or pulse oximetry monitoring. Early use of peep and mechanical ventilation may be needed. Bronchospasm - treat symptomatically with oxygen, bronchodilators, and steroids.

Skin

Remove contaminated clothing and wash exposed area thoroughly with soap and water. A physician should examine the area if irritation or pain persists. Treat dermal irritation or burns with standard topical therapy. Patients developing dermal hypersensitivity reactions may require treatment with systemic or topical corticosteroids or antihistamines.

Eyes

The liquid in contact with the eye is extremely irritating and may cause permanent damage. Irrigate exposed eyes with copious amounts of tepid water for at least 15 minutes. If irritation, pain, swelling, lacrimation, or photophobia persist, the patient should be seen in a health care facility. Topical antibiotics may be useful in secondary infection. Severe iritis may be treated with topical atropine or homatropine.

Handling and Storage

Storage

Keep in a cool, dry, dark location in a tightly sealed container or cylinder. Keep away from incompatible materials, ignition sources and untrained individuals. Secure and label area. Protect containers/cylinders from physical damage.

Handling

All chemicals should be considered hazardous. Avoid direct physical contact. Use appropriate, approved safety equipment. Untrained individuals should not handle this chemical or its container. Handling should occur in a chemical fume hood.

Hazards Identification

Inhalation

Low concentrations may produce mild respiratory irritation. High concentrations result in cough, dyspnea, increase secretions, chest pain, tightness and asthmatic episodes. Pulmonary edema may be seen. Chronic exposures may result in chronic obstructive lung disease.

Skin

Skin irritation is likely. Contact can cause chemical burns (sittig, 1991; hsdb, 2001).

Eyes

Contact with the eye is extremely irritating and may cause permanent damage with cataract formation, trachoma and chronic blepharitis.

Ingestion

Gastrointestinal irritation and vomiting may occur.

Hazards

Vapors form explosive mixtures with air: indoors, outdoors, and sewers explosion hazards. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Substance will react with water (some violently) releasing flammable, toxic or corrosive gases and runoff. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated or if contaminated with water.

EC Risk Phrase

R 11 26 22 36/37/38 42/43

EC Safety Phrase

S 23 26 36/37/39 45

UN (DOT)

2481

Exposure Controls/Personal Protection

Personal Protection

Wear appropriate chemical protective clothing. If contact with the material anticipated, wear appropriate chemical protective clothing.

Respirators

Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus.

Exposure Effects

Acute exposure may cause dyspnea. Pulmonary edema-induced hypoxia may produce CNS depression. There is conflicting data as to whether methyl isocyanate is fetotoxic, however, it crosses the placental barrier. Reports from Bhopal, India and animal studies suggest a high degree of adverse reproductive effects and teratogenicity.

Poison Class

1

Fire Fighting Measures

Flash Point

-10

Fire Fighting

Do not extinguish fire unless flow can be stopped. Use water in flooding quantities as fog. Solid streams of water may be ineffective. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Use alcohol foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide. Keep run-off water out of sewers and water sources.

Fire Potential

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE.

Accidental Release Measures

Small spills/leaks

Keep sparks, flames, and other sources of ignition away. Keep material out of water sources and sewers. Build dikes to contain flow as necessary. Attempt to stop leak if without undue personnel hazard. Use water spray to knock-down vapors.

Stability and Reactivity

Disposal Code

9

Incompatibilities

Alcohols.

Stability

No data.

Decomposition

Oxides of carbon and nitrogen, HCN.

Combustion Products

Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases.

Transport Information

UN Number

2481

Hazard Class

3

Packing Group

I

HS Code

2929 10 90