107-06-2

Ethylene dichloride is one of the highest volume chemicals used in the United States. It is a colorless oily liquid with a chloroform-like odor, detectable over the range of 6–40 ppm,with a sweet taste. Ethylene dichloride (1,2-dichloroethane), which has a carbon-carbon single bond, should be distinguished from 1,2-dichloroethene, which has a carbon-carbon double bond. It is a skin irritant. Ethylene dichloride is also used as an extraction solvent, as a solvent for textile cleaning and metal degreasing, in certain adhesives, and as a component in fumigants for upholstery, carpets, and grain. Other miscellaneous applications include paint, varnish, and fi nish removers, soaps and scouring compounds, wetting and penetrating agents, organic synthesis, ore fl otation, and as a dispersant for nylon, rayon, styrene-butadiene rubber, and other plastics.

A clear colorless liquid with a chloroform-like odor. Flash point 56°F. Denser than water and insoluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air. Density 10.4 lb/gal.

Liquid ammonia and ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE(107-06-2) can cause an explosion when mixed, NFPA 491M, 1991. A tank of dimethyl amino propyl amine exploded violently when ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE(107-06-2) reacted with wet ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE(107-06-2) which had been the tank's previous contents [Doyle 1973]. Halogenated aliphatic compounds, such as ETHYLENE DICHLORIDE(107-06-2), are moderately or very reactive. Reactivity generally decreases with increased degree of substitution of halogen for hydrogen atoms. Materials in this group are incompatible with strong oxidizing and reducing agents. Also, they are incompatible with many amines, nitrides, azo/diazo compounds, alkali metals, epoxides, aluminum

Highly flammable. Slightly water soluble.

Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption; strong irritant to eyes and skin; a carcinogen. Flammable, dangerous fire risk, explosive limits in air 6–16%. Possible carcinogen.

Exposures to ethylene dichloride cause CNS depression (dizziness, drowsiness, trembling, unconsciousness), nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, skin irritation, dermatitis, eye irritation, corneal opacity, blurred vision, headache, sore throat, cough, bronchitis, pulmonary edema (may be delayed), liver, kidney, cardiovascular system damage, cardiac arrhythmia, acute abdominal cramps, diarrhea, internal bleeding (hemorrhagic gastritis and colitis), and respiratory failure. Ethylene dichloride involves the kidneys, liver, eyes, skin, CNS, and the cardiovascular system as the target organs. Ethylene dichloride is known to cause systemic effects and has been identifi ed as a priority pollutant in many countries. Prolonged periods of inhalation of the vapors of ethylene dichloride irritate the respiratory tract. Symptoms of severe toxicity are CNS effects, liver damage, kidney damage, adrenal gland damage, cyanosis, weak and rapid pulse, and unconsciousness. Death can occur from respiratory and circulatory failure. The acute effects of ethylene dichloride are similar for all routes of entry: ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Acute exposures result in nausea, vomiting, dizziness, internal bleeding, bluish-purple discoloration of the mucous membranes and skin (cyanosis), rapid but weak pulse, and unconsciousness. Acute exposures can lead to death from respiratory and circulatory failure. Autopsies in such situations have revealed widespread bleeding and damage in most internal organs. Repeated long-term exposures to ethylene dichloride have resulted in neurologic changes, loss of appetite, and other gastrointestinal problems, irritation of the mucous membranes, liver and kidney impairment, and death.

Inhalation of vapors causes nausea, drunkenness, depression. Contact of liquid with eyes may produce corneal injury. Prolonged contact with skin may cause a burn.

In recent years, 1,2-dichloroethane is used in the production of vinyl chloride and as a leadscavenging agent in petrol; it has found wide use in the manufacture of ethylene glycol, diaminoethylene, polyvinyl chloride; nylon, viscose rayon; styrenebutadiene rubber, and various plastics. It is a solvent for resins, asphalt, bitumen, rubber, cellulose acetate; cellulose ester; and paint; a degreaser in the engineering, textile, and petroleum industries; and an extracting agent for soybean oil and caffeine. It is also used as an antiknock agent in gasoline; a pickling agent; a fumigant; and a dry-cleaning agent. It has found use in photography, xerography, and water softening; and also in the production of adhesives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and varnishes.

Move victim to fresh air. Call 911 or emergency medical service. Give artificial respiration if victim is not breathing. Do not use mouth-to-mouth method if victim ingested or inhaled the substance; give artificial respiration with the aid of a pocket mask equipped with a one-way valve or other proper respiratory medical device. Administer oxygen if breathing is difficult. Remove and isolate contaminated clothing and shoes. In case of contact with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Keep victim warm and quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.with substance, immediately flush skin or eyes with running water for at least 20 minutes. For minor skin contact, avoid spreading material on unaffected skin. Keep victim warm and quiet. Effects of exposure (inhalation, ingestion or skin contact) to substance may be delayed. Ensure that medical personnel are aware of the material(s) involved and take precautions to protect themselves. Medical observation is recommended for 24 to 48 hours after breathing overexposure, as pulmonary edema may be delayed. As first aid for pulmonary edema, a doctor or authorized paramedic may consider administering a drug or other inhalation therapy.

UN1184 Ethylene dichloride, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid, 6.1-Poisonous materials. Note: United States DOT 49CFR172.101, Inhalation Hazardous Chemical as 1,2-Dichloroethane

May form explosive mixture with air. Reacts violently with strong oxidizers and caustics; chemically active metals, such as magnesium or aluminum powder, sodium and potassium; alkali metals; alkali amides; liquid ammonia. Decomposes to vinyl chloride and HCl above 600℃. Attacks plastics, rubber, coatings. Attacks many metals in presence of water.

1,2-Dichloroethane, also called ethylene dichloride (EDC), is a manufactured chemical that is not found naturally in the environment. It is used principally to synthesize vinyl chloride, which is further used to produce a variety of vinyl based plastics products, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, furniture, automobile upholstery, wall coverings, housewares, and automobile parts. It is used in solvents in closed systems for various extraction and cleaning purposes in organic synthesis. It is used as a leaded gasoline additive to remove lead, but with declining tendency. It is used as a dispersant in rubber and plastics, as a wetting and penetrating agent. It was used in ore flotation, as a metal degreaser, and in textile and PVC cleaning. It was also used as an insect fumigant for stored grains and in mushroom houses, a soil fumigant in peach and apple orchards. But due to its toxicity, it is no longer registered for use as an insect fumigant in the United States (IARC 1999).

1,2-Dichloroethane structure

Incineration, preferably after mixing with another combustible fuel. Care must be exercised to assure complete combustion to prevent the formation of phosgene. An acid scrubber is necessary to remove the halo acids produced

Clear, colorless, oily liquid with a pleasant, chloroform-like odor. The average least detectable odor threshold concentrations in water at 60 °C and in air at 40 °C were 12 and 52 mg/L, respectively (Alexander et al., 1982). Experimentally determined detection and recognition odor threshold concentrations were 25 mg/m³ (6 ppm_v) and 165 mg/m³ (41 ppm_v), respectively (Hellman and Small, 1974).

1,2-Dichloroethane is used in the manufacture of acetyl cellulose and vinyl chloride; inpaint removers; as a fumigant; as a degreaser;as a wetting agent; and as a solvent for oils,waxes, gums, resins, and rubber. It has been used as insect and soil fumigant.

1,2-dichloroethane (Ethylene dichloride), also known as EDC, is produced by reacting chlorine or anhydrous hydrochloric acid with ethylene. The largest single use for EDC is the production of vinyl chloride monomer, which is used to produce poly vinyl chloride (PVC). It has many uses in industry, with principal ones being the following:
As an intermediate in the manufacture of methyl chloroform, perchloroethylene, ethylene amines, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), sulfide compounds, vinyl chloride, and trichloroethane.
As an additive in gasoline (used as a lead scavenger), pharmaceutical products, color film, and pesticides.
As a solvent for rubber, tobacco extract, paint, printing inks, and varnish.
Miscellaneous uses include as an ingredient in fingernail polish, for metal degreasing, in extracting spices, and as a dry cleaning agent.

ChEBI: A member of the class of chloroethanes substituted by two chloro groups at positions 1 and 2.

The first synthesis of 1,2-dichloroethane was achieved in 1795. 1,2-Dichloroethane is industrially produced by chlorination of ethylene. This chlorination can either be carried out by using chlorine (direct chlorination) or hydrogen chloride (oxychlorination) as a chlorinating agent. It is also produced by oxychlorination—ethylene, hydrogen chloride, and air are reacted at about 250 °C with a copper chloride catalyst. In the United States, almost all ethylene dichloride produced at present is used as the starting material for preparation of vinyl chloride monomer.

Ethylene dichloride (EDC) is produced by reacting ethylene and chlorine in the presence of ferric chloride, using the liquid product as solvent. It is also produced by oxychlorination—ethylene, hydrogen chloride, and air are reacted at about 250 °C with a copper chloride catalyst.

In the United States, almost all ethylene dichloride produced at present is used as the starting material for preparation of vinyl chloride monomer. Other applications are much smaller.

Flammable liquid; burns with a smoky flame; flash point (closed cup) 13°C (56°F), (open cup) 18°C (65°F); vapor pressure 62 torr at 20°C (68°F); the vapor is heavier than air and can travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back; autoignition tem perature 413°C (775°F); fire-extinguishing agent: dry chemical, CO2, or foam; water may be used to keep fire-exposed contain ers cool and to disperse the vapors and flush away any spill.
1,2-Dichloroethane forms explosive mix tures with air, with LEL and UEL val ues of 6.2% and 16.0% by volume in air, respectively. Its reactions with alkali met als, powdered aluminum, or magnesium can be violent. It forms explosive mixtures with nitrogen tetroxide.

Highlyflammable

Fumigant, Insecticide: Not approved for use in EU countries. Not registered for use in the U.S. When mixed with carbon tetrachloride, ethylene dichloride is used as a grain fumigant for bulk storage in bags, sealed containers, bins or on floors. In recent years, 1,2-dichloroethane has found wide use in the manufacture of ethylene glycol, diaminoethylene, polyvinyl chloride, nylon, viscose rayon, styrenebutadiene rubber, and various plastics. It is a solvent for resins, asphalt, bitumen, rubber, cellulose acetate, cellulose ester, and paint; a degreaser in the engineering, textile and petroleum industries; and an extracting agent for soybean oil and caffeine. It is also used as an antiknock agent in gasoline, a pickling agent and a dry-cleaning agent. It has found use in photography, xerography, water softening, and also in the production of adhesives, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and varnishes.

BORER SOL®; BROCIDE®; DESTRUXOL BORER-SOL®; DOWFUME®[C]; DUTCH LIQUID®; DUTCH OIL®

1,2-Dichloroethane is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals.

Improper use of insecticidal fumigant formulation containing 1,2-dichloropropane and carbon tetrachloride (Granosan).

Biological. Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, Methanococcus deltae, and Methanobacterium thermoautotrophicum metabolized 1,2-dichloroethane releasing methane and ethylene (Belay and Daniels, 1987). 1,2-Dichloroethane showed slow to moderate biodegradative activity with concomitant rate of volatilization in a static-culture flask-screening test (settled domestic wastewater inoculum) conducted at 25 °C. At concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/L, percent losses after 4 wk of incubation were 63 and 53, respectively. At a substrate concentration of 5 mg/L, 27% was lost due to volatilization after 10 d (Tabak et al., 1981).
Photolytic. Titanium dioxide suspended in an aqueous solution and irradiated with UV light (λ = 365 nm) converted 1,2-dichloroethane to carbon dioxide at a significant rate (Matthews, 1986).
The rate constant for the reaction of 1,2-dichloroethane and OH radicals in the atmosphere at 300 K is 1.3 x 10^-11 cm³/molecule?sec (Hendry and Kenley, 1979). At 296 K, a photooxidation rate constant of 2.2 x 10^-13 cm³/molecule?sec was reported for the reaction with OH radicals resulting in a half-life of 1.7 months (Howard and Evenson, 1976).
Chemical/Physical. Anticipated products from the reaction of 1,2-dichloroethane with ozone or OH radicals in the atmosphere are chloroacetaldehyde, chloroacetyl chloride, formaldehyde, and ClHCHO (Cupitt, 1980).

Resting cell suspensions of the soil methylotroph Methylosinus trichosporium OB-3b rapidly dehalogenate 1,2-dichloroethane, resulting in the formation of chloroethanol via direct hydroxylation of one of the C-Cl bonds, and this ethanol is rapidly oxidized to yield chloroacetic acid.

It is usually prepared by chlorinating ethylene, so that likely impurities include higher chloro derivatives and other chloro compounds depending on the impurities originally present in the ethylene. It forms azeotropes with water, MeOH, EtOH, trichloroethylene, CCl4 and isopropanol. Its azeotrope with water (containing 8.9% water, and b 77o) can be used to remove gross amounts of water prior to final drying. As a preliminary purification step, it can be steam distilled, and the lower layer is treated as below. Shake it with conc H2SO4 (to remove alcohol added as an oxidation inhibitor), wash with water, then dilute KOH or aqueous Na2CO3 and again with water. After an initial drying with CaCl2, MgSO4 or by distillation, it is refluxed with P2O5, CaSO4 or CaH2 and fractionally distilled. Carbonyl-containing impurities can be removed as described for chloroform. [Beilstein 1 IV 131.]

Ethylene dichloride (1) had been detected in surface and ground water as an environmental contaminant, resulting from both industrial and agricultural uses. It is also detected following the chlorination of drinking water. Ethylene dichloride is stable to hydrolytic degradation at environmentally relevant pH and temperature.
The primary dissipation mechanism of ethylene dichloride is volatilisation (DT₅₀ 30 min, Moore et al., 1991). Ethylene dichloride interacts with hydroxyl radicals produced by photo-oxidation in air to yield chloracetyl chloride (2, Howard and Evenson, 1976; Radding et al., 1977). The DT₅₀ of ethylene dichloride in the vapour phase under atmospheric photo-oxidation conditions was 12-122 days (Atkinson, 1985).

1,2-Dichloroethane can enter the environment when it is made, packaged, shipped, or used. Most 1,2-dichloroethane is released to the air, although some is released to rivers or lakes. 1,2-Dichloroethane could also enter soil, water, or air in large amounts in an accidental spill (evaporates into the air very fast from soil and water). If released to air, a vapor pressure of 78.9mmHg at 25°Cindicates that 1,2-dichloroethane will exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 1,2-dichloroethane will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 63 days. Indirect evidence for photooxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane comes from the observation that monitoring levels are highest during the night and early morning. It may also be removed from air in rain or snow. Since it stays in the air for a while, the wind may carry it over large distances. In water, 1,2-dichloroethane breaks down very slowly and most of it will evaporate to the air. Only very small amounts are taken up by plants and fish. Exact longevity of 1,2-dichloroethane in water remains unknown. It is thought that it remains longer in lakes than in rivers.
In soil, it either evaporates into the air or travels down through soil and enters underground water. 1,2-Dichloroethane has been found in the United States drinking water at levels ranging from 0.05 to 64 ppb. An average amount of 175 ppb has been found in 12%of the surface water and groundwater samples taken at 2783 hazardous wastes sites. 1,2-Dichloroethane has also been found in the air near urban areas at levels of 0.10–1.50 ppb and near hazardous waste sites at levels of 0.01–0.003 ppb. Small amounts of 1,2-dichloroethane have also been found in foods. Small organisms living in soil and groundwater may transform it into other, less harmful compounds, although this happens slowly. Large amounts from an accident, hazardous waste site, or landfill may likely reach the underground and contaminate drinking water wells. Biodegradation occurs slowly in water and soil surfaces. It is not expected to undergo hydrolysis and photolysis. Humans may get exposed to very lowlevels of 1,2-dichloroethane through its use as a gasoline additive (leaded gasoline is no longer used in the United States).

https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/substances/toxsubstance.asp?toxid=110
[2] http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/42027/1/9241530014.pdf
[3] https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2016-09/documents/ethylene-dichloride.pdf