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Product Name: Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide
Chemical Formula: C16H37NO
CAS Number: 2052-49-5
Synonyms: Tetra-n-butylammonium hydroxide, TBAOH
Recommended Use: Laboratory reagent, phase transfer catalyst
Manufacturer Information: Supplier contact details available on the shipping label and purchase documentation
Emergency Contact: Local Poison Control Center or Emergency Services
GHS Classification: Corrosive to Skin (Category 1A), Serious Eye Damage (Category 1), Acute Toxicity (Oral, Category 4)
Pictogram: Corrosion, Exclamation mark
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Harmful if swallowed. May cause respiratory irritation.
Precautionary Statements: Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection, face protection. Wash exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Do not breathe fumes, vapors, or mist. Avoid release to the environment.
Chemical Identity: Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide
Concentration: Typically supplied as a 25–40% aqueous solution
Impurities: Trace amounts of butylamine or related amines, water as a diluent
Other Information: Single component mixture in water, proprietary stabilizers are not present
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air, keep comfortable for breathing. Get medical attention if symptoms occur.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Rinse skin immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Seek medical assistance promptly.
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes, removing contact lenses if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing and obtain medical attention at once.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth cautiously. Do not induce vomiting. Give water to drink if person is conscious. Seek immediate medical help.
Most Important Symptoms: Severe burning pain, redness, blisters, vision damage
Advice for Doctors: Treat symptomatically, consult Poison Control for further information
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide.
Specific Hazards: Decomposition in fire can produce toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and butylamines.
Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective gear to prevent exposure to corrosive vapors.
Special Instructions: Cool exposed containers with water spray to prevent rupture. Avoid inhalation of combustion products.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary personnel. Put on appropriate protective gear including gloves, safety goggles, and face protection.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent further spillage if possible without risk. Keep out of drains and surface water.
Methods for Containment: Contain spill with absorbent material such as sand, earth, or noncombustible absorbent.
Clean-up Procedures: Collect absorbed material in suitable, labeled containers for disposal. Ventilate area and clean thoroughly with water after collection.
Handling: Handle only in well-ventilated areas. Avoid inhalation of vapors and contact with skin or eyes. Do not eat, drink, or smoke while using the product.
Storage: Store locked up in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place away from incompatible materials such as acids and oxidizers. Keep container tightly closed and labeled.
Incompatibilities: Avoid contact with strong acids, oxidizers, and halogenated compounds. Storage area must be resistant to corrosion.
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, remove contaminated clothing, and wash before reuse.
Engineering Controls: Work in a chemical fume hood or ensure adequate ventilation at the workplace.
Personal Protection: Wear chemical-resistant gloves (nitrile, neoprene, or PVC), eye protection with side shields or face shield, and impervious clothing. Use respiratory protection if ventilation is inadequate.
Exposure Limits: No specific OSHA or ACGIH limits established, but minimize exposure as much as possible.
Environmental Protection: Keep away from soil, drains, and natural waterways to limit environmental contamination.
Appearance: Clear to slightly yellowish liquid
Odor: Ammoniacal, fishy
pH: Greater than 13 (strongly basic)
Boiling Point: 100–120°C, depending on concentration
Melting Point: Below 0°C for solution
Flash Point: Not flammable (aqueous solutions)
Solubility: Completely soluble in water and some organic solvents
Specific Gravity: 0.90–1.00 (25–40% solution)
Vapor Pressure: Not significant at ambient conditions
Partition Coefficient: Not available
Decomposition Temperature: Above 150°C, forming toxic fumes
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal handling and storage conditions
Inactive Materials: May react with strong acids, halogenated hydrocarbons, oxidizing agents
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, butylamines
Polymerization: Does not occur
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, open flame, and direct sunlight
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin contact, eye contact
Acute Toxicity: Harmful if swallowed. Estimated oral LD50 (rat) = 240–400 mg/kg (as base).
Corrosiveness: Causes severe burns to skin and eyes. Vapors may cause respiratory irritation.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure can cause dermatitis, corneal injury, respiratory symptoms
Carcinogenicity: Not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity according to available data
Reproductive Effects: Data unavailable, avoid unnecessary exposure due to strong corrosivity
Ecotoxicity: Harmful to aquatic organisms due to strong alkalinity. May cause harmful effects to aquatic life in rivers and lakes if released in quantity.
Environmental Degradation: Readily reacts with environmental acids, neutralizing to form low-toxicity products, but high pH can disrupt aquatic ecosystems.
Bioaccumulation: Potential for bioaccumulation is low due to ionic nature.
Mobility in Soil: Highly mobile due to complete water solubility
Other Adverse Effects: Spills can corrode metal and concrete infrastructure
Waste Treatment Methods: Neutralize with dilute acid under controlled conditions, then follow up with copious dilution and sewering if local regulations allow.
Contaminated Packaging: Triple rinse and offer container for recycling or disposal according to local, state, or federal regulations.
Disposal Precautions: Avoid directing to natural waterways or soil. Seek professional chemical waste disposal if unsure.
Legal Requirements: Meet all government and environmental regulations for hazardous waste.
UN Number: UN 3267
Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, basic, organic, n.o.s. (Contains Tetrabutylammonium Hydroxide)
Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive substances)
Packing Group: II
Label Required: Corrosive
Special Precautions: Ensure containers are upright, secured, and in secondary containment during transit. Follow all relevant national and international transport regulations.
US Regulations: Listed on TSCA Inventory. Subject to reporting under SARA Title III Sections 311/312 as an acute health hazard.
EU Regulations: Classified under CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008. Listed in EINECS.
Labeling Requirements: Comply with OSHA Hazard Communication, GHS, and applicable local regulations for labeling and signage.
Other Regulations: Handle according to relevant local, regional, and national regulatory requirements for hazardous chemicals.
