МЕТИЛМЕРКАПТАН

Описание

Methanethiol (also known as methyl mercaptan) is a colorless gas with a smell like rotten cabbage. It is a natural substance found in the blood and brain of humans and other animals as well as plant tissues. It is disposed of through animal feces. It occurs naturally in certain foods, such as some nuts and cheese. It is also one of the main chemicals responsible for bad breath and the smell of flatus. The chemical formula for methanethiol is CH₃SH; it is classified as a thiol. It is sometimes abbreviated as MeSH. It is very flammable.

Химические свойства

Methyl mercaptan is a colorless gas or white liquid with a disagreeable odor like garlic or rotten cabbage. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas. The odor threshold is 0.002 ppm.

Физические свойства

Colorless gas with a garlic-like or rotten cabbage odor. An experimentally determined odor threshold concentration of 2.1 ppb_v was reported by Leonardos et al. (1969). A detection odor threshold concentration of 81 μg/m³ (41 ppb_v) was determined by Katz and Talbert (1930).

Вхождение

Methanethiol is released from decaying organic matter in marshes and is present in the natural gas of certain regions, in coal tar, and in some crude oils.
In surface seawater, methanethiol is the primary breakdown product of the algal metabolite dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP). Marine bacteria appear to obtain most of their protein sulfur by the breakdown of DMSP and incorporation of methanethiol, despite the fact that methanethiol is present in seawater at much lower concentrations than sulfate (～0.3 nM vs. 28 mM). Bacteria in oxic and anoxic environments can also convert methanethiol to dimethyl sulfide (DMS), although most DMS in surface seawater is produced by a separate pathway. Both DMS and methanethiol can be used by certain microbes as substrates for methanogenesis in some anaerobic soils.
Methanethiol is a weak acid, with a pKa of ～10.4. This acidic property makes it reactive with dissolved metals in aqueous solutions. The environmental chemistry of these interactions in seawater or fresh water environments such as lakes has yet to be fully investigated.
A material safety data sheet (MSDS) lists methanethiol as a colorless, flammable gas with an extremely strong and repulsive smell. At very high concentrations it is highly toxic and affects the central nervous system. Its penetrating odor provides warning at dangerous concentrations. An odor threshold of 1 ppb has been reported. The United States OSHA Ceiling Limit is listed as 10 ppm.

Использование

Methanethiol is mainly used to produce methionine, which is used as a dietary component in poultry and animal feed. Methanethiol is also used in the plastics industry and as a precursor in the manufacture of pesticides. It is released as a by-product of wood pulping in pulp mills.
Methanethiol is also used for communication in mining operations . Releasing the substance into the ventilation system is generally the most efficient and reliable means to alert all workers of an emergency , and is referred to as "releasing the pest" ,This substance's strong odor alerts the miners to immediately go to a saferoom.
Since natural gas and propane are colorless and odorless, a small amount of methyl mercaptan or ethyl mercaptan is added to make it easy to detect a gas leak.

Подготовка

Methanethiol is prepared commercially by the reaction of methanol with hydrogen sulfide gas over an acidic solid catalyst, such as alumina. It can be prepared by the reaction of methyl iodide with thiourea.

Реакции воздуха и воды

Highly flammable. Reacts with water, steam or acids to produce toxic, flammable vapors [Lewis].

Профиль реактивности

METHYL MERCAPTAN is a reducing agent--can react vigorously with oxidizing agents. Dangerous fire or explosion hazard when exposed to heat, flame, sparks or strong oxidizing agents (e.g., calcium hypochlorite). When heating to decomposition emits highly toxic fumes of oxides of sulfur [Lewis, 3rd ed., 1993, p. 862]. Violent reaction with mercury(II) oxide [Klason P., Ber., 1887, 20, p. 3410].

Опасность

Flammable, dangerous fire risk. Explosive limits in air 3.9–21.8%. Strong irritant. Liver damage.

Угроза здоровью

Can cause death by respiratory paralysis. It is an eye and respiratory tract irritant. Exposure results in pulmonary edema and hepatic and renal damage.

Пожароопасность

Combustion produces irritating sulfur dioxide. Flash back along vapor track may occur. Very dangerous when exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizers. On decomposition METHYL MERCAPTAN emits highly toxic fumes of sulfur oxides. METHYL MERCAPTAN will react with water, steam or acids to produce toxic and flammable vapors; and can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. Irritating sulfur dioxide is produced upon combustion. When heated to decomposition, METHYL MERCAPTAN emits highly toxic fumes and flammable vapors. Incompatible with mercuric oxide and oxidizing materials. Avoid direct sunlight, and areas of high fire hazards. Hazardous polymerization may not occur.

Профиль безопасности

Poison by inhalation. Mutation data reported. A common air contaminant. Very dangerous fire hazard when exposed to heat or flame; can react vigorously with oxidzing materials. Explosive in the form of vapor when exposed to heat or flame. Reacts with water, steam, or acids to produce toxic and flammable vapors. Violent reaction with mercury(II) oxide. To fight fire, use alcohol foam, CO2, dry chemical. Upon decomposition it emits highly toxic fumes of SOx.

Возможный контакт

Methyl mercaptan is used in methionine synthesis, and widely as an intermediate in pesticide manufacture. A foul-smelling odorant usually added to chemicals, including pesticides.

Экологическая судьба

Biological. After 20 d, methyl mercaptan started to degrade in anaerobic sediments and sludges producing stoichiometric amounts of methane. Complete degradation was achieved after 20 d. Under anaerobic freshwater conditions, methyl mercaptan were degraded by methanogenic archea (van Leerdam et al., 2006).
Photolytic. Sunlight irradiation of a methyl mercaptan-nitrogen oxide mixture in an outdoor chamber yielded formaldehyde, sulfur dioxide, nitric acid, methyl nitrate, methanesulfonic acid, and an inorganic sulfate (Grosjean, 1984a).
Chemical/Physical. In the presence of nitric oxide, gaseous methyl mercaptan reacted with OH radicals forming methyl sulfenic acid and methyl thionitrite. The rate constant for this reaction is 2.1 x 10^-11 cm³/molecule?sec at 20 °C (MacLeod et al., 1984). Forms a crystalline hydrate with water (Patnaik, 1992).

Перевозки

UN1064 Methyl mercaptan, Hazard Class: 2.3; Labels: 2.3-Poisonous gas, 2.1-Flammable gas, Inhalation Hazard Zone C. Cylinders must be transported in a secure upright position, in a well-ventilated truck. Protect cylinder and labels from physical damage. The owner of the compressed gas cylinder is the only entity allowed by federal law (49CFR) to transport and refill them. It is a violation of transportation regulations to refill compressed gas cylinders without the express written permission of the owner.

Несовместимости

Violent reaction with strong oxidizers, bleaches, copper, nickel and their alloys; aluminum. Reacts with acids producing flammable and toxic hydrogen sulfide

Утилизация отходов

Return refillable compressed gas cylinders to supplier. Consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Generators of waste containing this contaminant (≥100 kg/mo) must conform to EPA regulations governing storage, transportation, treatment, and waste disposal. Incineration followed by effective scrubbing of the effluent gas.