Chemical Properties
Reddish Yellow Oil
Uses
A potent liver carcinogen in several species of animals, is one of the most widespread N-nitroso compounds in the human environment.
Definition
ChEBI: N-Nitrosodiethanolamine is a nitroso compound.
General Description
Yellow to dark brown very viscous liquid with no distinct odor.
Air & Water Reactions
Water soluble.
Reactivity Profile
N-NITROSODIETHANOLAMINE can react with alkoxides. N-NITROSODIETHANOLAMINE reacts with sulfuric acid at temperatures above 311° F.
Health Hazard
ACUTE/CHRONIC HAZARDS: N-NITROSODIETHANOLAMINE may be harmful by eye or skin contact, inhalation or ingestion. It is an irritant and, when heated to decomposition, it emits toxic fumes of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.
Fire Hazard
Flash point data for N-NITROSODIETHANOLAMINE are not available; however, N-NITROSODIETHANOLAMINE is probably combustible.
Safety Profile
Confirmed carcinogen
with experimental carcinogenic,
neoplastigenic, and tumorigenic data.Mildly
toxic by ingestion. Mutation data reported.
When heated to decomposition it emits
toxic fumes of NOx. See also N-NITROSO
COMPOUNDS and ALCOHOLS.
Carcinogenicity
N-Nitrosodiethanolamine is reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from studies in experimental animals.
Purification Methods
Purify NDELA by dissolving the amine (0.5g) in 1-propanol (10mL) and 5g of anhydrous Na2SO4 added with stirring. After standing for 1-2hours, it is filtered and passed through a chromatographic column packed with 10mL of AG 50W x 8 (H+form 50-100mesh, a strongly acidic cation exchanger). The eluent and washings (50 mL EtOH) are combined and evaporated to dryness at 35o. It has also been extracted with EtOH from the nitrosation mixture of ethanolamine, filtered and distilled under high vacuum. [Fukuda et al. Anal Chem 53 2000 1981, Jones & Wilson J Chem Soc 550, 1949, Beilstein 1 III 721, see Spiegelhalder et al. N-Nitroso Compounds: Occurrence Biological Effects and Relevance in Human Cancer (eds. O’Neill et al. IARC Scientific Publications No 57; IARC Lyon p943 1984.] Possible
Toxics Screening Level
The Initial Risk Screening Level (IRSL) for n-nitrosodiethanolamine is 0.0012 μg/m3 based on an annual averaging time.
