Material Safety Data Sheet: Acrylonitrile (AN)

Identification

Chemical Name: Acrylonitrile
Chemical Formula: C3H3N
CAS Number: 107-13-1
Synonyms: 2-Propenenitrile, Vinyl cyanide
Industrial Uses: Production of plastics, synthetic rubber, resins, acrylic fibers
Manufacturer Contact Information: Emergency phone number, business address, safety specialist contact, information for poison control or local emergency coordinators.
Product Code: Specific to supplier or manufacturer, included for traceability.

Hazard Identification

GHS Classification: Flammable liquid, Acute toxicity (oral, inhalation, dermal), Skin and eye irritant, Carcinogenic Category 2
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapor; Fatal if inhaled; Toxic in contact with skin or if swallowed; Causes eye irritation; Suspected of causing cancer
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames; No smoking; Use explosion-proof equipment; Wear protective gloves, clothing, eye and face protection; Do not breathe vapor; Handle only outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
Emergency Overview: Colorless, volatile liquid with pungent odor; inhalation may cause central nervous system effects and respiratory distress; possible genetic effects linked to long-term exposure.

Composition / Information on Ingredients

Main Ingredient: Acrylonitrile (≥99%)
Impurities: Inhibited with small % (often <0.2%) of inhibitors like hydroquinone monomethyl ether, tert-butylcatechol
Other Additives: Trace stabilizers and residual reactants from manufacturing.
Mixture Notes: Sometimes mixed with water to lower volatility during shipping for certain grades.

First Aid Measures

Inhalation: Move person to fresh air; keep individual at rest; administer artificial respiration or oxygen if not breathing; seek medical attention immediately
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing; wash skin thoroughly with soap and water; flush for 15 minutes minimum; contact poison control or emergency room
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes cautiously with water for at least 15 minutes, lifting eyelids; remove contact lenses if present and easy to do; seek urgent ophthalmologist evaluation
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; rinse mouth; immediate transport to medical facility; never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person
Symptoms to Watch: Dizziness, headache, nausea, breathing difficulty, collapse, irregular heartbeat or convulsions.

Fire-Fighting Measures

Suitable Extinguishing Media: Alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, water spray (mist only to avoid spread of burning liquid)
Unsuitable Media: Straight water jets can spread fire
Specific Hazards: Vapors heavier than air; form explosive mixtures with air; polymerization may occur in fire, releasing toxic gases
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), fully protective chemical-resistant suits
Special Procedures: Cool containers with flooding quantities of water even after fire is out; approach fire from upwind; remove people away from downwind hazard zone.
Combustion Products: Hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide.

Accidental Release Measures

Personal Precautions: Evacuate personnel from area; wear chemical splash suit, gloves, goggles, and respiratory protective equipment
Environmental Precautions: Prevent spillage from entering drains, waterways, or soil; notify local environmental authorities for major releases
Methods for Containment: Absorb with inert materials like sand or earth; use non-sparking tools; ventilate area; contain large spills with dikes
Cleanup Procedure: Collect liquid in sealable containers for disposal; wash away residues with plenty of water, contain for treatment
Decontamination: Neutralize residues with dilute sodium hydroxide under controlled conditions; monitor atmosphere for vapors continuously
Emergency Plans: Follow site spill emergency response plan; contact trained hazardous materials teams for major incidents.

Handling and Storage

Safe Handling Measures: Use closed systems with exhaust ventilation; keep away from ignition sources; ground containers to prevent electrostatic sparks; avoid breathing vapor
Safe Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed, labeled containers; keep out of direct sunlight, away from heat, oxidizers, acids, bases
Incompatible Materials: Avoid copper, brass, or strong acids and alkalis; never store with oxidizing chemicals
Storage Temperature: Maintain below design threshold, often under 25°C (77°F); use refrigeration for long-term stability
Additional Storage Notes: Use explosion-proof refrigeration and lighting; monitor for leaks regularly; fit vapor detection alarms.
Special Instructions: Rotate inventory to prevent aged containers; keep emergency showers and eyewash stations close to all storage and handling points.

Exposure Controls and Personal Protection

Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 2 ppm; NIOSH REL: 1 ppm; ACGIH TLV: 2 ppm (skin), short-term excursion 10 ppm
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation; closed process equipment; continuous atmospheric monitoring
Respiratory Protection: Full-facepiece respirators with organic vapor cartridges or positive-pressure SCBA for high exposures
Skin Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves (butyl rubber, polyethylene/ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer), long-sleeve suits, apron
Eye Protection: Safety goggles, face shield
Personal Hygiene: Wash hands thoroughly after handling; do not eat, drink, or smoke in contaminated areas; remove and professionally clean contaminated clothing after use.
Monitoring: Routine air sampling; employee health surveillance; skin and urine biomonitoring for metabolites.

Physical and Chemical Properties

Appearance: Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid
Odor: Sharp, acrid, sweetish; detectable at low parts per million
Odor Threshold: 13 ppm
Boiling Point: 77°C (171°F)
Melting Point: -83°C (-117°F)
Flash Point: 2°C (36°F) closed cup
Flammability: Highly flammable
Auto-Ignition Temperature: 481°C (898°F)
Explosion Limits: 3% to 17% by volume in air
Vapor Pressure: 83 mmHg at 20°C
Vapor Density: 1.83 (air=1)
Solubility: Miscible with water, alcohols, ethers
Density: 0.81 g/cm³ at 20°C
Evaporation Rate: Rapid; high volatility
Partition Coefficient (log Kow): 0.25
Other: Polymerizes readily when heated or exposed to light without stabilizers.

Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable when inhibited and stored under recommended conditions; inhibited formulations prevent self-polymerization
Reactivity: Violent reactions with strong oxidizing agents, acids, alkalies, copper or brass; forms explosive peroxides if exposed to air and light
Conditions to Avoid: Heat, sparks, open flames, direct sunlight, incompatible chemicals, aging containers
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Hydrogen cyanide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, acrid smoke when burned
Polymerization: May polymerize violently and rapidly without proper inhibitors, especially in presence of contamination or heat.
Safe Practice: Monitor inhibitor levels routinely; never allow containers to go unstirred or unmixed for extended periods.

Toxicological Information

Likely Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, dermal absorption, ingestion, eye contact
Acute Effects: Headache, nausea, weakness, rapid heartbeat, respiratory distress, convulsions, collapse, fatal at high concentrations
Chronic Effects: Increased risk of tumors (lung, brain, gastrointestinal), nervous system impairment, reproductive toxicity
Carcinogenicity: IARC: 2B (possibly carcinogenic); EPA: Group B1 probable human carcinogen
LD50 (oral, rat): 81 mg/kg
LC50 (inhalation, rat): 341 ppm (4 hours)
Skin and Eye Irritation: Yes; may cause severe redness, burning, blistering
Sensitization: Not confirmed in animal studies; low documented rates in occupational settings.
Mutagenicity: Evidence from bacterial and animal test systems of genetic mutations at high exposures.
Reproductive Toxicity: Data from animal studies reveal developmental delays and fetal loss at high exposures.

Ecological Information

Ecotoxicity: Highly toxic to aquatic life; impacts fish, daphnia, algae. Mortality in exposed fish species at concentrations above 5 mg/l
Persistence and Degradability: Biodegrades in aquatic environments, but not rapidly; half-life varies with sunlight and microbes
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low (log Kow 0.25), but toxic effects seen through repeated exposures
Mobility in Soil: Highly mobile in both surface and subsurface; risk of groundwater contamination
Environmental Fate: Volatilizes readily from water; photolytic breakdown in air can create toxic byproducts including hydrogen cyanide
Other Harmful Effects: Contributes to ozone formation; suspected to affect soil microbial balance under spill conditions; strict measures demanded for all water and soil discharges.

Disposal Considerations

Disposal Methods: Chemical incineration in a facility equipped for halogenated organics; do not landfill or dump in regular sewage
Contaminated Packaging: Triple rinse with suitable neutralizer before recycling or incineration; recyclers require tanks or drums certified “triple empty”
Regulations: Strictly controlled under RCRA, CERCLA; records kept for cradle-to-grave tracking
Spill Cleanup Waste: Collect with inert absorbent; segregate from regular refuse; ship with hazardous manifest to licensed disposal site
Personal Protection During Disposal: Respiratory, eye, and skin protection; work under local exhaust hoods; never dispose in open environment.
Other Disposal Advice: Treat as acute hazardous waste (EPA Waste Number P009, U009); consult local, state, and national laws at every step.

Transport Information

UN Number: UN1093
Proper Shipping Name: Acrylonitrile, stabilized
Transport Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable liquid), with subsidiary toxic risk
Packing Group: I (high danger)
Labels Required: Flammable liquid, toxic
Special Transport Notes: Never ship without stabilizer; containers need pressure-relief devices; inspect tankers for contamination before reuse
Other Requirements: 24-hour emergency contact on shipping papers; notify carriers about vapor and explosive risks; vent appropriately to avoid buildup in holds for marine or rail shipment.
Environmental Hazards: Keep away from drains, tunnels, underground storage, or residential zones.

Regulatory Information

OSHA: Subject to strict workplace exposure limits under Process Safety Management (PSM)
EPA: Listed hazardous air pollutant; subject to Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA), Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA)
TSCA Status: Listed on U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory
International Regulations: Covered by European REACH and CLP regulations; subject to transport under ADR, IMDG, IATA codes
Right-to-Know Acts: Mandatory disclosure in hazardous chemical inventories (California Proposition 65, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts)
Safety Data Sheet Requirements: All employers must maintain compliant data sheets at accessible points in all work areas.
Other Legal Notes: Ongoing updates to classification; check for regulatory changes each year; suppliers may have stricter limits or additional health warnings under local and national schemes.