GLYCIDALDEHYDE

Chemical Properties

Glycidaldehyde is a mobile, colorless liquid with a pungent odor.There is a pronounced aldehyde-like odor at low levels. Voluntary exposure to serious lung-irritating levels is unlikely.

Chemical Properties

Glycidyl aldehyde is a colorless liquid. It has a pungent, aldehyde-like odor.

Uses

Butylene oxide is used as a cross-linkingagent in wool finishing, for tanning andfat liquoring of leather, and to insolubilizeprotein.

Uses

Glycidaldehyde is prepared from the hydrogen peroxide epoxidation of acrolein. It is suggested as a bifunctional chemical intermediate and as a cross-linking agent for textile treatment, leather tanning, and protein insolubilization.

Definition

ChEBI: Glycidaldehyde is an epoxide.

General Description

A colorless liquid. Slightly denser than water and insoluble in water. Flash point near 100°F. May irritate skin and eyes. Toxic by ingestion and inhalation. Used to make other chemicals.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

GLYCIDALDEHYDE is an epoxide and an aldehyde. Aldehydes are frequently involved in self-condensation or polymerization reactions. These reactions are exothermic; they are often catalyzed by acid. Aldehydes are readily oxidized to give carboxylic acids. Flammable and/or toxic gases are generated by the combination of aldehydes with azo, diazo compounds, dithiocarbamates, nitrides, and strong reducing agents. Aldehydes can react with air to give first peroxo acids, and ultimately carboxylic acids. These autoxidation reactions are activated by light, catalyzed by salts of transition metals, and are autocatalytic (catalyzed by the products of the reaction). The addition of stabilizers (antioxidants) to shipments of aldehydes retards autoxidation. Epoxides are highly reactive. They polymerize in the presence of catalysts or when heated. These polymerization reactions can be violent. Compounds in this group react with acids, bases, and oxidizing and reducing agents. They react, possibly violently with water in the presence of acid and other catalysts.

Health Hazard

TOXIC; may be fatal if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin. Inhalation or contact with some of these materials will irritate or burn skin and eyes. Fire will produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Vapors may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control or dilution water may cause pollution.

Health Hazard

Glycidaldehyde is a severe irritant, moder-ately toxic, and a carcinogenic compound.Exposure to 1 ppm for 5 minutes resultedin moderate eye irritation in humans. It pro-duced severe skin irritation with slow heal-ing, causing pigmentation of affected areas(Rose 1983).
The symptoms of its toxicity in humansare central nervous system depression, excite-ment, and effects on olfactory sense organs.Such ill effects may be observed on exposureto concentrations exceeding 5 ppm.
An intravenous administration of glyci-daldehyde at 20 mg/kg in rabbits causedmiosis, lacrimation, and respiratory depres-sion followed by death. In rats, 50 mg/kg,given orally, was fatal.

Fire Hazard

HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion and poison hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. May polymerize explosively when heated or involved in a fire. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water.

Safety Profile

Confirmed carcinogen with experimental carcinogenic,neoplastigenic, and tumorigenic data. Poison by ingestion, skin contact, intraperitoneal, and intravenous routes. Moderately toxic by inhalation. Human systemic effects by inhalation: changes in central nervous system electrical activity, olfactory changes, and excitement. Mutation data reported. A human eye irritant. Powerful skin sensitizer and mucous membrane irritant. Flammable when exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizing materials. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. See also ALDEHYDES.

Potential Exposure

Glycidyldehyde is and epoxide used to synthesize other chemicals. It has been used in the fin ishing of wool and the tanning of leather and surgical sutures in the U.K. It has been tested as a disinfectant.

Shipping

UN2622 Glycidaldehyde, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid, 6.1-Poisonous materials. The addition of antioxidant stabilizers to shipments of alde hydes may retard autoxidation.

Incompatibilities

Glycidaldehyde may undergo violent polymerization when subjected to heat, strong sunlight, or contamination. Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explo sions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, and epoxides. When heated or in contact with catalysts, epoxides may cause violent polymer ization. Epoxides are incompatible with reducing agents and oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explosions. Keep away from alkaline materi als, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, and epoxides. May react, possibly violently, with water in the presence of acid and other catalysts. Reacts with alcohols, amines, and other active hydrogen compounds. Slowly hydrolyzes in water.

Waste Disposal

Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform with EPA regulations govern ing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal.