Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Material Safety Data Sheet: Phthalic Anhydride
Material Safety Data Sheet: Phthalic Anhydride
Material Safety Data Sheet: Phthalic Anhydride
Page: 1
PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE
FIRE
REACTIVE
OTHER
DEGREE OF HAZARD
0 = Minimum Hazard
1 = Slight Hazard
2 = Moderate Hazard
3 = Serious Hazard
4 = Severe Hazard
COLOR CODING
HEALTH = BLUE
FIRE = RED
REACTIVITY = YELLOW
OTHER = WHITE
OTHER CODES
OX = Oxidizer
ACID = Acid
ALK = Alkali
COR = Corrosive
W = Use No Water
RCRA Number
Anhydride
EPA Class
U190
Toxic Waste
Phthalic Anhydride
85-44-9
Corrosive
60
Chemical Formula
UN 2214
C6H4(CO)2O
Synonyms
PEL (8-hour):
2 ppm
12 mg/m3
Immediately Dangerous to
Life and Health (IDLH)
REL (10-hour):
1 ppm
6 mg/m3
TLV:
1 mg/m3
6 mg/m3
60 mg/m3
STEL:
Not
Established
STEL:
Not
Established
STEL:
Not
Established
Molecular Weight
148.1
Melting Point
267F (131C)
5.1
Solubility
Slightly soluble in water (0.6%), more soluble in hot water. Soluble in alcohol and carbon disulfide.
Appearance and Odor
White solid flake or a clear, colorless molten liquid with a characteristic acrid, irritating, choking odor.
Odor Threshold = 0.05 ppm.
LEL: 1.7%
UEL: 10.5%
Autoignition Temperature
1058F (569C)
Combustible Solid
Extinguishing Media
Use carbon dioxide or dry chemical on solid or molten materials. Use water spray on the flake or dust.
Special Fire Fighting Procedures
Poisonous gases are produced in fire; wear full protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). Isolate area and deny entry to those not involved in response procedures. Move containers
from fire area if it can be done without risk. If this is not possible, use water spray to keep fire-exposed
containers cool. Do Not release runoff from fire control measures to sewers or waterways.
Unusual Fire and Explosion Hazards
Vapors and dusts may burn in air. A serious dust explosion hazard exists at or above 0.015 ounces per
cubic foot of air-dispersed particulate (ignition temperature for dust clouds: 1202F/650C).
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.
Page: 2
Phthalic anhydride is normally stable under routine conditions of handling and storage. Avoid contact
with incompatible materials, moisture, and air.
Stability
Stable
Unstable
Incompatible materials include water (converts to phthalic acid in hot water), moisture in air, and strong
oxidizers (chlorine, bromine, fluorine).
X
Hazardous
Polymerization
May Occur
Conditions to Avoid
Under normal conditions of temperature and pressure, hazardous polymerization of phthalic anhydride
cannot occur. In the presence of iron, pyrophoric phthalic acid salts can be formed which are explosive.
Hazardous Decomposition or By-products
When heated to decomposition, phthalic anhydride emits toxic and irritating fumes and vapors, including
toxic oxides of carbon.
Absorption (skin)?
Ingestion?
Health Hazards
INHALATION: Causes irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory system with coughing, sneezing, dypsnea, mucous membrane irritation in the nasal cavity leading to ulceration of the
septum, nasal bleeding, loss of the sense of smell, conjunctivitis, hoarseness, possible
blood changes, and chemical bronchitis with asthma-like symptoms.
SKIN & EYES: Skin contact causes serious caustic burns, itchy rash, and dermatitis. Eye contact may
cause burns, irritation, corneal scarring, and perhaps permanent damage.
INGESTION:
Burning of the mouth, esophagus, and digestive tract. Pain in the chest, stomach, and
painful swallowing. In moist tissues, it hydrolyzes to phthalic acid, which is corrosive.
Carcinogenicity
NTP Listed?
Unknown Human
Unknown Animal
No
OSHA Regulated?
Target Organs?
No
29 CFR 1910.1000
Table Z-1
Eye contact: Flush immediately with water for 15 minutes (minimum); seek medical attention. Skin contact: Remove all contaminated clothing. Wash area with large amounts of soap and water. Seek medical assistance. For inhalation: Remove the person from exposure. Provide respiratory assistance and
CPR. Transfer to medical facility. Spray or gargle with water to relieve throat irritation. If swallowed:
Contact poison control center. Unless told otherwise, give soapy water to drink and induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious or convulsing person.
Collect powdered material using a vacuum equipped with HEPA filter, deposit in sealed drums for disposal. Avoid skin contact. Do NOT dry sweep (generates dusts). Allow molten materials to solidify, then
treat as a solid. Ventilate area of spill to disperse any collection of gas, vapors, or dusts.
Preferred Waste Disposal Method
Do not store phthalic anhydride in the presence of incompatible chemicals or materials. Store in tightly
closed containers in a cool, dark, well-ventilated area. Electrically ground and bond all containers and
equipment to prevent static sparks and possible ignition.
Other Precautions and Warnings
Keep away from water, moisture, and incompatible materials. Prevent damage to containers.
PEL is extremely low (2 ppm). Use a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with full facepiece or a
supplied-air respirator operated in pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
Ventilation
Impervious Material
Eye Protection
Protective Apron
Work/Hygiene Practices
Always wash hands thoroughly after using chemical; never bring food, drink, or smoking materials into
vicinity of chemicals.
1996 by CRC Press, Inc.
Page: 3
PHTHALIC ANHYDRIDE
C6H4(CO)2O
CAS: 85-44-9
O
1
O
2
Eye:
Page: 4
Any evaluation should include a careful medical history of past and present symptoms with an examination. However, medical tests that evaluate existing
damage are not a substitute for controlling exposure.
Also, since smoking can cause heart disease, emphysema, lung cancer, and other respiratory diseases,
smokers may experience symptoms more rapidly than
non-smokers under the same conditions of exposure.
Prudent risk management requires proper consideration of all possible factors that may be causing the appearance of exposure symptoms in the workplace.
Other methods to reduce exposure include:
;
anhydride. In almost every scenario, the threat of environmental exposure is contingent upon the proper
handling of the chemical substance. Accidental spills,
large or small, can result in fire, explosion, and possible contamination of the surrounding environmental
mediums (water, soil, and air).
Phthalic anhydride is considered a combustible
solid. It can react with water or moisture to produce
phthalic acid which is corrosive to most metals.
Phthalic anhydride mist, dust, or vapor can explode in
proper mixtures with air in contact with an ignition
source. These characteristics require special consideration during any emergency situation involving a
leak or spill of phthalic anhydride or phthalic anhydride mixtures. Should phthalic anhydride ever come
into contact with other incompatible substances, such
as strong oxidizers, either during use, transportation,
or storage, violent and even explosive reactions can
occur. Phthalic anhydride can enter the environment
from industrial discharges and spills.
6 Water Solubility
Phthalic anhydride is slightly soluble. Concentrations
of 10 milligrams will mix with a liter of water.
Page: 5
Page: 6
It may be necessary to dispose of phthalic anhydride as a hazardous waste. The responsible state
agency or the regional office of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should be
contacted for specific recommendations.
Burrell, R., D. K. Flaherty, and L. J. Sauers. 1992. Toxicology of the Immune System. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.
New York:
CRC
REFERENCES
American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists. 1988.
Documentation of the Threshold Limit Values and Biological Exposure Indices, 5th Edition (with updates). Cincinnati: ACGIH
Asante-Duah, D. K. 1993. Hazardous Waste Risk Assessment. New York:
CRC Press/Lewis Publishers.