120-82-1

Colorless liquid or white solid with a sharp chlorobenzene odor. Melting point 16.95°C (62.5°F) .

1,2,4-TRICHLOROBENZENE(120-82-1) can react vigorously with oxidizing materials . Yields hydrogen chloride and phosgene when heated to decomposition [USCG, 1999].

Insoluble in water.

Exposures to high concentrations via inhalation are potentially hazardous to the lungs, kidneys and liver. Prolonged or repeated exposures or short exposure to high concentrations via inhalation are potentially hazardous to the lungs, kidneys and liver. Prolonged or repeated exposure to the eyes is likely to result in moderate pain and transient irritation. Prolonged or repeated contact with the skin may result in moderate irritation and possible systemic effects. Ingestion: May cause kidney and liver damage.

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is used as a dye carrier, herbicide intermediate; a heat transfer medium; a dielectric fluid in transformers; a degreaser; a lubricant; as an industrial chemical; solvent, emulsifier, and as a potential insecticide against termites. The other trichlorobenzene isomers are not used in any quantity.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.

UN2321 Trichlorobenzenes, liquid, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

Reacts violently with oxidants, acids, acid fumes; steam.

Trichlorobenzenes (TCBs) are synthetic chemicals that occur in three different isomeric forms. The three chlorinated cyclic aromatic isomers are 1,2,3-trichlorobenzene (1,2,3-TCB), 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (1,2,4-TCB), and 1,3,5-trichlorobenzene (1,3,5-TCB). 1,2,4-TCB is one of the 188 chemicals designated as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act.

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is a low-melting solid or liquid with a pleasant, aromatic odor. The Odor Threshold is 1.4 ppm.

Colorless, stable liquid; odor similar to that of o-dichlorobenzene. Miscible with most organic solvents and oils; insoluble in water. Combustible.

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.

Colorless liquid with an odor similar to o-dichlorobenzene. Odor threshold concentration is 1.4 (quoted, Amoore and Hautala, 1983).

1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is a solvent in various organic chemical reactions.

Trichlorobenzenes are primarily used as solvents in chemical manufacturing industries. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is economically the most important isomer. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is used as a solvent in chemical reactions to dissolve oils, waxes, and resins. Furthermore, it is also used as a dye carrier. 1,2,3- Trichlorobenzene is used as an intermediate for pesticides production, pigments, and dyes. 1,3,5-Trichlorobenzene is not marketed commercially and has very limited use as a chemical intermediate. Besides, trichlorobenzenes can also be used as degreasing agents, as septic tanks and drain cleaners, and as an ingredient in wood preservatives and abrasive formulations. Other minor uses include metal work, anticorrosive paint, and corrosion inhibitor in sprays. In the past, mixed isomers of trichlorobenzenes were used to control termites; however, their use has been discontinued.

Trichlorobenzenes are primarily used as solvents in chemical manufacturing industries. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is economically the most important isomer. It is used as a solvent in chemical reactions to dissolve oils, waxes, and resins. Furthermore, it is also used as a dye carrier. 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene is a highly chlorinated aromatic solvent. It may be used as a solvent to prepare:
dimethylketene β-lactone dimer from tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanedione
salicyl-o-toluide by the reaction of phenyl salicylate and o-toluidine

ChEBI: A trichlorobenzene with chloro substituents at positions 1, 2 and 4.

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 74, p. 3890, 1952 DOI: 10.1021/ja01135a052

Biological. Under aerobic conditions, biodegradation products may include 1,2-dichlorobenzene, 1,3-dichlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene, and carbon dioxide (Kobayashi and Rittman, 1982). A mixed culture of soil bacteria or a Pseudomonas sp. transformed 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene to 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (Ballschiter and Scholz, 1980). When 1,2,4- trichlorobenzene was statically incubated in the dark at 25 °C with yeast extract and settled domestic wastewater inoculum, significant biodegradation occurred, with gradual acclimation followed by a deadaptive process in subsequent subcultures. At a concentration of 5 mg/L, 54, 70, 59, and 24% losses were observed after 7, 14, 21, and 28-d incubation periods, respectively. At a concentration of 10 mg/L, only 43, 54, 14, and 0% were observed after 7, 14, 21, and 28-d incubation periods, respectively (Tabak et al., 1981). In activated sludge, <0.1% mineralized to carbon dioxide after 5 d (Freitag et al., 1985).
In an enrichment culture derived from a contaminated site in Bayou d’Inde, LA, 1,2,4- trichlorobenzene underwent reductive dechlorination to 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene at relative molar yields of 4 and 96%, respectively. The maximum dechlorination rate, based on the recommended Michaelis-Menten model, was 4.6 nM/d (Pavlostathis and Prytula, 2000).
Surface Water. Estimated half-lives of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene (0.5 μg/L) from an experimental marine mesocosm during the spring (8–16 °C), summer (20–22 °C), and winter (3–7 °C) were 22, 11, and 12 d, respectively (Wakeham et al., 1983).
Photolytic. A carbon dioxide yield of 9.8% was achieved when 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene adsorbed on silica gel was irradiated with light (λ >290 nm) for 17 h (Freitag et al., 1985).
Chemical/Physical. The hydrolysis half-life was estimated to be >900 yr (Ellington et al., 1988). At 70.0 °C and pH values of 3.10, 7.11, and 9.77, the hydrolysis half-lives were calculated to be 18.4, 6.6, and 5.9 d, respectively (Ellington et al., 1986).
At influent concentrations of 1.0, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 mg/L, the GAC adsorption capacities were 157, 77.6, 38.4, and 19.0 mg/g, respectively (Dobbs and Cohen, 1980).

Separate it from a mixture of isomers by washing with fuming H2SO4, then water, drying with CaSO4 and slowly fractionally distilling. [Jensen et al. J Am Chem Soc 81 3303 1959, Beilstein 5 IV 664.]

The liver is themain target of trichlorobenzenes irrespective of the route of exposure. The mechanisms of liver toxicity induced by these chemicals have not been illustrated. It might involve intermediate arene oxides formed during initial transformation to trichlorophenols. In addition, exposure to 1,2,4-TCB induced porphyria in rats by inducing daminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthetase, a rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of heme, and also heme oxygenase, a ratelimiting enzyme in the degradation of heme synthetase, and therefore increasing heme production.