Name: 1,2-Bis(2-Chloroethoxy)Ethane
Common Names: Diglycol dichloride
Chemical Formula: C6H12Cl2O2
CAS Number: 111-91-1
Physical Form: Liquid, clear, sometimes with a faint odor
Industry Uses: This chemical finds its way into polymer production, lab synthesis, and specialized chemical formulations across polymer and adhesive manufacturing. Its presence can pop up in controlled research environments searching for strong, stable intermediates.
Hazard Classification: Recognized as harmful by inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. Can irritate eyes, skin, respiratory tract.
Main Hazards: Inhalation brings headaches, dizziness, and coughing at low concentrations, and worse on prolonged exposure. Contact with skin or eyes leads to irritation, redness, or chemical burns in some cases. Labeled with GHS symbols signaling acute toxicity and irritant concerns.
Environmental Harm: The substance lingers in water, spreading potential damage to aquatic life if released without proper controls.
Chemical Identity: Main component is pure 1,2-Bis(2-Chloroethoxy)Ethane, usually more than 98%.
Impurities: Any minor impurities typically stem from production routes and purification steps, but regulated environments minimize their significance.
Physical Description: The liquid appears colorless or possibly yellowish if stored improperly or exposed to contaminants.
Inhalation: Head outdoors to fresh air straight away. Breathing issues need urgent medical attention—your airways come first.
Skin Contact: Strip out of soaked clothes, wash off with plenty of running water and soap. Irritation means you shouldn't stall— get checked.
Eye Contact: Rinse the eye gently for minutes, making sure to keep eyelids open. Seek care if any pain or redness lingers.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth carefully, avoid inducing vomiting, and rush for trained help.
Symptoms: Shortness of breath, headaches, skin burning, and digestive discomfort show up as signs you can't ignore.
Flammability: Not highly flammable, but burning releases hydrogen chloride and other harmful vapors.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, or alcohol-resistant foam work best.
Special Hazards: Heat triggers toxic gas clouds; firefighters wear masks and chemical protection.
Advice: Limit access to the area, keep upwind, cool containers with water spray if safe.
Personal Precautions: Throw on gloves, goggles, chemical-resistant clothing. Ventilate closed areas, avoid inhaling any splashes or vapors.
Spill Response: Collect spills with inert material like sand. Do not let the chemical seep into drains or waterways.
Disposal: Place waste in secure, labeled drums for chemical treatment or hazardous waste incineration.
Handling: Use in a chemical hood or other well-aired spot. No eating, drinking, or smoking nearby. Spills and splashes mean prompt cleanup. If you have open wounds, steer clear.
Storage: Airtight containers, out of direct sun and away from moisture. Keep segregated from oxidizers, acids, and heat sources. Store in a locked, cool, ventilated space intended for dangerous chemicals.
Engineering Controls: Install fume hoods or local exhaust to prevent inhaling vapors. General ventilation should clear any airborne residue fast.
Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, splash-proof coats, and proper foot protection. Respirators needed if ventilation falls short.
Limits: Workplace exposure limits tend not to be established for this substance, but applying the lowest feasible exposure standard helps.
Hygiene: Wash hands after use, remove contaminated gear, and never bring work clothes home.
Appearance: Clear, almost colorless liquid
Odor: Slight, but present
Boiling Point: Between 235-240°C
Melting Point: Generally below –10°C
Density: 1.22–1.25 g/cm³
Solubility: Poor in water, better in common organic solvents
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature, so vapors only become significant if heated or spilled in bulk.
Chemical Stability: Quite stable at normal temperature; strong acids or bases, high temperatures, and sunlight encourage breakdown.
Reactive Hazards: Exposed to water or strong bases, releases hydrogen chloride and other hydrolysis products.
Avoid: Strong oxidizers, hot environments, or mixing with metals like sodium or potassium, as this triggers hazardous reactions.
Decomposition: High heat breaks it down into corrosive and toxic fumes including chlorinated hydrocarbons and hydrochloric acid.
Inhalation: Irritates nose and lungs even in low concentrations. Prolonged exposure sometimes results in headaches, dizziness, and possible lung injury.
Skin Contact: Skin absorbs the chemical with risk of redness, burns, and dermatitis.
Eye Contact: Causes immediate burning or stinging.
Ingestion: Swallowing damages digestive tract and can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.
Long-Term Effects: Extended, repeated exposure raises the risk of chronic irritation or organ damage. Laboratory toxicology data suggest potent acute toxicity but little long-term carcinogenic insight.
Aquatic Toxicity: Even small leaks make trouble for fish and aquatic plants, particularly in stagnant or poorly circulated settings.
Persistence: Breakdown products linger in soil and water— they don’t degrade quickly in the environment.
Bioaccumulation: The chemical does not build up significantly in animal tissues, yet still disrupts local ecologies after steady releases.
Best Practices: Waste containment and responsible discharge make a huge difference in safeguarding water and wildlife health.
Waste Handling: Collect waste and contaminated cleanup gear for controlled chemical destruction or hazardous incineration. Never pour down drains, soil, or public refuse.
Regulatory Guidance: Disposal matches region-specific hazardous waste rules; consult local agencies for precise protocols.
DOT / ADR / IMDG / IATA: Falls under hazardous chemicals for road, sea, or air transport.
Packing and Labeling: Requires corrosion- and leak-proof containers, full warning labels, and shipping paperwork for each load.
Transport Hazards: Spills or leaks carry inhalation and environmental dangers. Crews need spill kits and gear for emergency management.
Classification: Listed as hazardous according to major global chemical safety bodies.
Usage Restrictions: Workplaces face monitoring by occupational hygiene authorities.
Reporting: Release or disposal above threshold limits demands prompt reporting to environmental and safety regulators.
Worker Protection: Training on handling procedures and medical surveillance cuts down risk to human health.