Isopentane Properties

Material Safety Data for: Isopentane   
 1. PRODUCT   INDENTIFICATION    
Name                                            Isopentane   
Synonyms                                     2­methylbutane, butane, 2­methyl­ CAS#                                            78­-78­-4   
Product Uses                               solvent, blowing agent for foams,
gasoline ingredient, chlorinated hydrocarbon synthesis
   
 2.                            INGREDIENTS                  %                 TWAEV / TLV   
ppm / mg/m3   
LD50   
ORAL   
(mg/kg)   
SKIN   
LC50 ppm   
INHALATION   
n­Pentane           100%                  600 / 1750                    10,000             
not known                  51,000
   
 3.  (a)                    HAZARDS   SUMMARY    
 Hazards,  Quick  Guide  : extremely flammable liquid, heavy vapour
travels, distant ignition and flashback are possible; central
   
nervous depressant & anaesthetic   
Canada – WHMIS                                                       B 2   
Key:     B 2 – Flash Point <38oC, B 3 – Flash Point >38oC & <93oC   
D 1 – Immediately Toxic, D 2 – Chronic Toxicity   
C – Oxidising Substance, E ­ Corrosive   
U.S.A. – HMIS                                                            Health – 1, Fire – 4, Reactivity – 0   
Key:                                                                                        0=minimal, 1=slight, 2=moderate, 3=serious, 4=severe   
 3.  (b)                     HAZARDS  –  TOXICITY    
 Effect s,  Acute  Exposure    
Skin Contact                                    little to no effect – rapid evaporation reduces likelihood of irritation   
Skin Absorption                               no toxic effects likely by this route – rapid evaporation reduces likelihood of absorption   
Eye Contact                                     slightly irritating – rapid evaporation reduces likelihood of irritation   
Inhalation                                         may irritate above 5000ppm; headache, dizziness, drowsiness, intoxication, anaesthesia   
symptoms may be partly due to hypoxia as isopentane vapour displaces oxygen in the air   
Ingestion                                          probably impossible to ingest as isopentane boils at 28oC – well below body temperature   
 Effect s,  Chronic  Exposure    
General                                            no known effects   
Sensitising                                       not a sensitiser in humans or animals   
Carcinogen/Tumorigen                   not considered a tumorigen or a carcinogen in humans or animals   
Reproductive Effect                         no known effect in humans or animals   
Mutagen                                           no known effect on humans or animals   
Synergistic With                              thought to sensitise heart to effects of adrenalin (epinephrine in U.S.A.) LD50 (oral)                                       10,000mg/kg (rat);   
LD50 (skin)                                       not known   
LC50 (inhalation)                             95,000ppm (rat), 51,000ppm (mouse)   
Isopentane   
 4.                          FIRST   AID    
SKIN:                  Allow to evaporate. Remove contaminated clothing and do not reuse until dry – assuming isopentane is the only   
substance present!  If other substances may be present, wash thoroughly with soap and water and launder clothing before wearing again.   
EYES:                 Allow to evaporate – assuming isopentane is the only substance present!  If other substances may be present, wash eyes with plenty of water, holding eyelids open. Seek medical assistance promptly if there is irritation.   
INHALATION:  Remove from contaminated area promptly. CAUTION: Rescuer must not endanger himself! If breathing stops, administer artificial respiration and seek medical aid promptly.   
INGESTION:      Give plenty of water to dilute product.  Do not induce vomiting (NOTE below). Keep victim quiet. If vomiting occurs, lower victim’s head below hips to prevent inhalation of vomited material. Seek medical help promptly.   
Inadvertent inhalation of vomited material may seriously damage the lungs. The danger of this is greater than the risk of poisoning through absorption of this   
relatively low­toxicity substance. The stomach should only be emptied under medical supervision, and after the installation of an airway to protect the lungs.   
 5.                          PHYSICAL   PROPERTIES    
Odour & Appearance                      clear, colourless liquid with pleasant gasoline­like odour   
Odour Threshold                             not known   
Vapour Pressure                              595mmHg / 79kPa  (21oC / 70oF) Evaporation Rate (Butyl Acetate = 1)    14 – extremely volatile   
Vapour Density (air = 1)                2.5   
Boiling Range                                  28oC / 82oF Freezing Point                                 ­160oC / ­256oF Specific Gravity                               0.62 (20/20oC) Water Solubility                              insoluble   
Also soluble in                             most organic solvents   
Viscosity                                          not known – very mobile liquid   
pH                                                    none – (does not liberate hydrogen ions when dissolved) Conversion Factor                           1ppm = 2.95g/m3   
Molecular Weight                            72grams per mole   
 6.                          FLAMMABILITY   &   FIRE  FIGHTING    
Flash Point                                       ­51oC / ­60oF (closed cup) Autoignition Temperature               260oC  /  500oF Flammable Limits                           1.5% – 7.8%   
Combustion Products                      carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, smoke, part oxidised hydrocarbon fragments   
Fire Fighting Precautions                foam, dry chemical; water is ineffective; CO2 discharge may produce static which could re­   
ignite fire; cool intact containers with water spray; fire fighters must wear SCBA   
Static Charge Accumulation           readily accumulates a static charge on agitation or pumping which can cause ignition   
 7.                          STABILITY  /  REACTIVITY    
Dangerously Reactive With             strong oxidising agents; chlorine and fluorine   
Also Reactive With                          halogen compounds Stability                                           stable; will not polymerize Decomposes in Presence of             not known   
Decomposition Products                  none apart from Hazardous Combustion Products   
Sensitive to Mechanical Impact      no   
(Isopentane,  cont’d)                                                                                                                                                          Page 3   
 8.                          PROTECTIVE   EQUIPM ENT  /  EXPOSURE   CONTROL    
TWAEV / TLV   600ppm  / 1750mg/m3   
STEL (OSHA)    750ppm / 2200mg/m3 (not currently enforceable); PEL – TWA (OSHA) 1000ppm / 2950mg/m3   
Ventilation          mechanical ventilation required to maintain airborne titre below TWAEV; depending on handling procedures   
NOTE: Due to extreme volatility, product should only be used in sealed equipment.   
Respirators with organic vapour cartridges must be available in the work place for “escape” purposes in case of a release. These respirators should be kept in air­tight containers (eg: Tupperware) to preserve “freshness.   
Hands                  not required; “Viton” gloves recommended – other types may also protect; consult supplier   
Eyes                     safety glasses with side shields – always protect the eyes   
Clothing              no special protective clothing required   
 9.                          HANDLING   &   STORAG E    
Store a minimum quantity in a cool (below 30oC / 86oF), away from sources of ignition, heat and oxidising agents.   
Always use non­sparking bronze or aluminium hand tools. All electrical and mechanical equipment (including lighting, switchgear and forklift trucks) used with or around this product must be explosion­proof.  Al way s  ground or electrically bond both the source container and the receiving container, and transfer pump before transferring contents. Avoid splashing by ensuring that the product nozzle is below the surface in the receiving container.   
Bulk storage should be outdoors under a roof to prevent exposure to the sun. Tanks must be vented, and the vents equipped with spark arrestors. Drums must be kept away from oxidisers and corrosives. Drums should have pressure/vacuum relief venting. Drums should be bonded or grounded – contact with an appropriately conductive concrete floor may be adequate. Drum storage area must be well ventilated – with floor level venting! Storage area should have raised sills to contain spills. Storage area must be kept clean and free of rags, mops, and similar equipment.   
Never use a cloth dampened with this product for wiping or cleaning surfaces!   
Avoid breathing product vapour. Use with adequate ventilation. If dealing with a spill, and ventilation is impossible or impractical, wear a suitable respirator (see Part 8).   
Never cut, drill, weld or grind on or near this container. Avoid contact with skin and wash work clothes frequently. An eye bath and safety shower must be available near the workplace.   
 10.                        SPILL   PROCEDURES    
Serious Fire Potential: blanket spill with foam as a precaution against accidental ignition. Take extreme care   
to avoid sparks – do not operate (turn on  OR  off) electrical appliances near spill, unless explosion proof.   
Leak Precaution  dyke to control spillage and prevent environmental contamination   
Handling Spill    ventilate contaminated area; recover free liquid with suitable pumps; absorb residue on an inert sorbent, sweep   
& pick up using plastic or aluminium shovel, & store in closed containers for recycling or disposal   
 11.                        DISPOSAL    
Waste Disposal       do not flush to sewer, recycle solvent if possible, if local regulations permit, may be put in sanitary landfill,   
may be incinerated in approved facility –  a spill may well “clean itself” by rapid evaporation   
Containers              Drums should be reused. Recondition and pressure test by a licensed reconditioner prior to re­use.   
Pails must be vented and thoroughly dried prior to crushing and recycling.   
IBCs (intermediate bulk containers): polyethylene bottle must be pressure tested & recertified at 30 months. Replace at 60 months (5yrs). Steel containers must be inspected, pressure tested & recertified every 5 years.   
Never cut, drill, weld or grind on or near this container, even if empty   
(Isopentane,  cont’d)                                                                                                                                                           page 4   
 12.                        ENVIRONMENTAL   INFORMATION    
Bioaccumulation               this product is rapidly eliminated by metabolism and lungs and cannot bioaccumulate   
Biodegradation                  this product appears to degrade readily in the presence of oxygen, however, volatilisation is likely to be the major means for a spill of this product to disappear from either soil or water   
Abiotic Degradation          this product reacts with atmospheric hydroxyl radicals; its estimated half­life in air is 4.2 days   
Mobility in soil, water       this product is water insoluble and cannot move readily in soil and water; evaporation is rapid, reducing the likelihood of soil or water contamination   
 13.                        TRANSPORT   REGULATIONS    
Canada TDG PINUN­1265
  Shipping Namepentanes, liquid
  Class3
  Packing GroupI
U.S.A. 49 CFR PINUN­1265
  Shipping Namepentanes
  Class3
  Packing GroupI
Marine Pollutant  not a marine pollutant
 14.                        EMERGENCY  INFORMATION    
CanadaCall CANUTEC (collect)  
U.S.A.Call CHEMTREC  
 15.                        REGULATIONS    
Canada DSL                                   on inventory   
U.S.A. TSCA                                  on inventory   
Europe EINECS                             on inventory   
Atmospheric Standards: This action promulgates standards of performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the Synthetic Organic   
Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Isopentane is produced, as an intermediate or final product, by process units covered under this subpart.   
 16.                        PREPARATION  INFORMATION    
File Name: isopentane