General Description
Mesityl oxide appears as a colorless, oily liquid with a pungent honey-like odor. Flash point 87 °F. Less dense than water and slightly soluble in water. Vapors heavier than air. Used in paint removers, as a solvent for plastics, and as an insect repellent.
Reactivity Profile
Mixing MESITYL OXIDE(141-79-7) in equal molar proportions with any of the following substances in a closed container caused the temperature and pressure to increase: 2-aminoethanol, chlorosulfonic acid, ethylene diamine, nitric acid, oleum, or sulfuric acid [NFPA 1991].
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Slightly soluble in water
Hazard
Flammable, moderate fire risk. Toxic by
ingestion, inhalation, and skin absorption. Eye and
upper respiratory tract irritant, central nervous system impairment.
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes irritation of nose and throat, headache, dizziness, difficult breathing. Contact with liquid or concentrated vapor causes severe eye irritation. Liquid irritates skin. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach.
Potential Exposure
Mesityl oxide is used as a solvent for
cellulose esters and ethers and other resins in lacquers and
inks. It is used in paint and varnish removers and as an
insect repellent
Fire Hazard
Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel a considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back.
First aid
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 and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit
Shipping
UN1229 Mesitly oxide, Hazard Class: 3; Labels:
3-Flammable liquid.
Incompatibilities
May form explosive mixture with air.
May be able to form explosive peroxides. May react
violently with nitric acid; aliphatic amines; alkanolamines, 2-
aminoethanol, ethylene diamine; chlorosulfonic acid; oleum
(fuming sulfuric acid). Not compatible with oxidizers, strong
acids; strong bases; reducing agents; halogens. Dissolves
some forms of plastics, resins and rubber. Attacks copper.
Chemical Properties
Mesityl oxide is a clear, pale yellow, or colorless liquid with a strong peppermint odor. The odor threshold is 0.05 ppm.
Waste Disposal
Dissolve or mix the material
with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal,
state, and local environmental regulations must be observed.
Physical properties
Clear, pale yellow liquid with a strong, peppermint, or honey-like odor. Experimentally
determined detection and recognition odor threshold concentrations were 70 μg/m3 (17 ppbv) and
200 μg/m3 (50 ppbv), respectively (Hellman and Small, 1974).
Occurrence
Reported found in orange juice, baked potato, bell pepper, sauerkraut, tomato, crisp bread, parmesan cheese,
milk, chicken fat, hop oil, rum, coffee, tea, peanut, passion fruit, mushroom, tamarind, prickly pear, buckwheat, basil, elder flower,
rosemary, shrimp, nectarine, clam and maté
Uses
Mesityl oxide is used as a solvent for resins,gums, nitrocellulose, oils, lacquers, and inks;as an insect repellant; and in ore flotation..
Uses
Solvent for nitrocellulose, many gums and resins, particularly vinyl resins. In lacquers, varnishes and enamels. In making methyl isobutyl ketone.
Definition
ChEBI: 4-Methyl-3-penten-2-one, 9CI is an olefinic compound. It is functionally related to an acrylic acid.
Preparation
By reacting acetone or diacetone alcohol with iodine or other dehydrating agent; by condensation of acetone over sulfonated polystyrene-divinylbenzene resin used as an ion exchange catalyst.
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
storage
Color Code—Red: Flammability Hazard: Store in a flammable liquid storage area or approved cabinet away from ignition sources and corrosive and reactive materials. Mesityl oxide 1715 Prior to working with this chemical you should be trained on its proper handling and storage. Before entering confined space where this chemical may be present, check to make sure that an explosive concentration does not exist. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from oxidizers, strong acids. See incompatibilities above. Where possible, automatically pump liquid from drums or other storage containers to process containers.
Purification Methods
Purify it by distillation, preferably in a vacuum or via the semicarbazone (m 165o) which is decomposed to pure ketone. The 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone (m 205-206o) crystallises from EtOH. [Johnson J Am Chem Soc 73 5888 1951, Johnson J Am Chem Soc 75 2720 1953, Erskine & Waight J Chem Soc 3425 1960, Beilstein 1 H 736, 1 I 382, 1 II 793, 1 III 2995, 1 IV 3471.]
