ETHYLENIMINE

CASRN: 151-56-4; DOT: 1185; DOT label: Flammable liquid and poison; molecular formula: C2H5N; FW: 43.07; RTECS: KX5075000; Merck Index: 12, 3850 Physical state, color, and odor: Clear, colorless, very flammable liquid with a very strong ammonia odor. Odor threshold concentration is 1.5 ppm (quoted, Amoore and Hautala, 1983). Melting point (°C): -71.5 (Sax and Lewis, 1987) Boiling point (°C): 57 (Hawley, 1981) Density (g/cm3): 0.8321 at 20 °C (Weast, 1986) Diffusivity in water (x 10-5 cm2/sec): 1.30 at 20 °C using method of Hayduk and Laudie (1974) Dissociation constant, pKa: 8.04 (HSDB, 1989) Flash point (°C): -11.21 (NIOSH, 1997) Lower explosive limit (%): 3.3 (NIOSH, 1997) 3.6 (NFPA, 1984) Upper explosive limit (%): 54.8 (NIOSH, 1997) Henry’s law constant (x 10-7 atm⋅m3/mol): 1.33 at 25 °C (quoted, Mercer et al., 1990) Ionization potential (eV): 9.20 (NIOSH, 1997) 9.9 (Scala and Salomon, 1976) Soil organic carbon/water partition coefficient, log Koc: 0.11 (calculated, Mercer et al., 1990)

ow -1.01 (quoted, Mercer et al., 1990) Solubility in organics: Soluble in acetone, alcohol, benzene, and ether (Weast, 1986) Solubility in water: Miscible (NIOSH, 1997). Vapor density: 1.76 g/L at 25 °C, 1.49 (air = 1) Vapor pressure (mmHg): 160 at 20 °C, 250 at 30 °C (quoted, Verschueren, 1983) Environmental fate: Photolytic. The vacuum UV photolysis (λ = 147 nm) and γ radiolysis of ethylenimine resulted in the formation of acetylene, methane, ethane, ethylene, hydrogen cyanide, methyl radicals, and hydrogen (Scala and Salomon, 1976). Photolysis of ethylenimine vapor at krypton and xenon lines yielded ethylene, ethane, methane, acetylene, propane, butane, hydrogen, ammonia, and ethyleneimino radicals (Iwasaki et al., 1973). Chemical/Physical. Polymerizes easily (Windholz et al., 1983). Hydrolyzes in water forming ethanolamine (HSDB, 1989). The estimated hydrolysis half-life in water at 25 °C and pH 7 is 154 d (Mabey and Mill, 1978). Exposure limits: Potential occupational carcinogen. NIOSH REL: IDLH 100 ppm; ACGIH TLV: TWA 0.5 ppm (1 mg/m3). OSHA recommends that worker exposure to this chemical is to be controlled by use of engineering control, proper work practices, and proper selection of personal protective equipment. Specific details of these requirements can be found in CFR 1910.1003-1910.1016. Symptoms of exposure: Severe irritation of the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. Eye contact with liquid may cause corneal opacity and loss of vision. Inhalation of vapors may cause eye, nose, throat irritation, and breathing difficulties (Patnaik, 1992). An irritation concentration of 200.00 mg/m3 in air was reported by Ruth (1986). Toxicity: Acute oral LD50 for rats 15 mg/kg (quoted, RTECS, 1985). Uses: Manufacture of triethylenemelamine and other amines; fuel oil and lubricant refining; ion exchange; protective coatings; adhesives; pharmaceuticals; polymer stabilizers; surfactants.