Tetramethylammonium chloride

1.1690 at 20 °C/4 °C

1.17 g/cm³

Bipyramidal from dilute alcohol

White crystalline solid

Slightly soluble in ethanol; insoluble in ether, benzene, chloroform; very soluble in methanol

Soluble in alcohol; insoluble in ether

Soluble in water

Solubility in water at 20 °C: very good

When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of /nitrogen oxides, ammonia and hydrogen chloride/.

368-370 °C

420 °C (decomposes)

MP: Decomposes

MP: >300 °C

CBI; Liquid

White hygroscopic solid; [ICSC] White odorless powder; Hygroscopic; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

HYGROSCOPIC WHITE CRYSTALS.

Hygroscopic

When heated to decomposition it emits very toxic fumes of NOx, NH3, and Cl(-).

This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 19.3% (55 of 285) of reports.

Danger

H300 (67%): Fatal if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]

P260, P261, P262, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P273, P280, P301+P316, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P308+P316, P316, P319, P321, P330, P332+P317, P337+P317, P361+P364, P362+P364, P391, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 285 reports by companies from 23 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Danger

Chemical: Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride

Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride (1:1) is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride (1:1) are required to report information about their production and use of this chemical to the EPA under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). (40 eCFR Part 711)

REACH registered substance: Tetramethylammonium chloride (EC: 200-880-8)

Tetramethylammonium chloride: Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standard

Amberlite IRA 900: Does not have an individual approval but may be used under an appropriate group standard

Causes somnolence and convulsions in oral lethal-dose studies of rats; [RTECS] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; May cause CNS effects; [ICSC] A skin and strong eye irritant; Toxic by ingestion; Harmful by skin absorption; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

Acute Tox. 2 (67%)

Acute toxicity (ingestion) - category 3

Acute toxicity (Oral) - Category 3

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Give a slurry of activated charcoal in water to drink. Induce vomiting (ONLY IN CONSCIOUS PERSONS!). Refer for medical attention .

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination. Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in soil or water; effects on animal and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

0.14 [mg/m3]

1.6 [mg/m3]

9.3 [mg/m3]

LC50; Species: Pimephales promelas (Fathead Minnow) age 33 days, length 21.8 mm, weight 0.147 g; Conditions: freshwater, flow through, 24.7 °C, pH 7.6, hardness 44.5 mg/L CaCO3, alkalinity 41.5 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen 7.2 mg/L; Concentration: 462000 ug/L for 96 hr (95% confidence interval: 431000-495000 ug/L) /97% purity formulation/

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 8(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that tetramethylammonium chloride is expected to have high very mobility in soil(SRC). Tetramethylammonium chloride is a salt, indicating that this compound will exist in the cation form in the environment and cations generally adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(3). Volatilization of tetramethylammonium chloride from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.2X10-12 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Tetramethylammonium chloride is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 1.2X10-8 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(5). That no biodegradation occurred using activated sludge in a respirometer test(6) suggests that biodegradation is not an important environmental fate process in soil; cation compounds are known to be toxic to microorganisms(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 8(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that tetramethylammonium chloride is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.2X10-12 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Tetramethylammonium chloride is a salt and exists in the cation form at pH values of 5 to 9; therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process. According to a classification scheme(5), an estimated BCF of 3(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of -4.18(6) and a regression-derived equation(7), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). That no biodegradation occurred using activated sludge in a respirometer test(5) suggests that biodegradation is not an important environmental fate process in water; cation compounds are known to be toxic to microorganisms(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), tetramethylammonium chloride, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 1.2X10-8 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), will exist in both the vapor and particulate phases in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase tetramethylammonium chloride is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(SRC); the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 25 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 5.1X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3). Particulate-phase tetramethylammonium chloride may be removed from the air by wet or dry deposition(SRC). Tetramethylammonium chloride does not contain chromophores that absorb at wavelengths >290 nm(4), and therefore is not expected to be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight(SRC).

Cough. Headache. Sore throat. Shortness of breath.

Redness. Pain.

Redness. Pain. Blurred vision.

Abdominal pain. Dizziness. Nausea. Sore throat. Vomiting.

Using a structure estimtion method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of tetramethylammonium chloride can be estimated to be 8(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that tetramethylammonium chloride is expected to have very high mobility in soil. Tetramethylammonium chloride is a salt, indicating that this compound will exist in the cation form in the environment and cations generally adsorb more strongly to soils containing organic carbon and clay than their neutral counterparts(3). Tetramethylammonium chloride at 37% of the cation exchange capacity was shown to inhibit electroactive anion probe transport properties in a Swy-1 montmorillonite clay(4).

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Inhibitory effects of paraquat and structurally related compounds on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in human erythrocytes and the electric organs of electric-eels (Electrophorus-electricus) were studied in-vitro. ... Human erythrocyte and electric-eel AChE and human plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) were incubated with paraquat, diquat, d-tubocurarine, edrophonium, trimethylphenylammonium-chloride or tetramethylammonium-chloride. The effects on AChE and BuChE of the preparations were examined and Hill plots were constructed. Paraquat and d-tubocurarine had Hill coefficients less than 1, whereas the Hill coefficients of the other compounds were close to 1. All compounds inhibited human erythrocyte and electric-eel AChE to a greater extent than human plasma BuChE. ...

Tetramethylammonium chloride's production and use as a chemical intermediate, catalyst, and inhibitor(1) may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC). Its use in hydrofracking fluid as a clay stabilizer(2) will result in its direct release to the environment(SRC).

AEROBIC: Tetramethylammonium chloride, present at 100 mg/L, was not biodegraded after 240 hours using 30 mg/L of activated sludge incubated at 20 °C in the respirometer test(1). Cation compounds are known to be toxic to microorganisms(SRC).

PURE CULTURE: Tetramethylammonium chloride, present at 0.2% wt/vol, was not utilized as a sole nitrogen source by the majority of 461 yeast species tested; the exception were Sporobolomyces odorus CBS483 and Sporobolomyces hispanicus CBS2873, maintained on a mineral salts medium(1). The compound, present at 1 uMol, reached 82% of its theoretical O2 uptake (CO2 evolution was complete in 60 minutes) in 90 minutes using a quarternary ammonium compound-enrichment inoculum in a respirometer test(2).

An estimated BCF of 3 was calculated in fish for tetramethylammonium chloride(SRC), using an estimated log Kow of -4.18(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for tetramethylammonium chloride is estimated as 4.2X10-12 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) using a fragment constant estimation method(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that tetramethylammonium chloride is expected to be essentially nonvolatile from water and moist soil surfaces(2). Tetramethylammonium chloride is a salt and exists in the cation form at pH values of 5 to 9; therefore volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process. Tetramethylammonium chloride is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 1.2X10-8 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(3).

Agents that mimic neural transmission by stimulation of the nicotinic receptors on postganglionic autonomic neurons. Drugs that indirectly augment ganglionic transmission by increasing the release or slowing the breakdown of acetylcholine or by non-nicotinic effects on postganglionic neurons are not included here nor are the nonspecific cholinergic agonists.

Used as a clay stabilizer in hydraulic fracturing fluids, as a chemical intermediate, catalyst, and inhibitor; [HSDB]

Petroleum Production and Refining [Category: Industry]

Both oil base and water base fracturing fluids are being used in the fracturing industry. Water base, which includes alcohol-water mixtures and low strength acids, make up the majority of treating fluids. The common chemicals added to these fluids are polymers for viscosity development, crosslinkers for viscosity enhancement, pH control chemicals, gel breakers for polymer degradation following the treatment, surfactants, clay stabilizers, alcohol, bactericides, fluid loss additives and friction reducer. /Hydraulic fracturing/

Hydraulic fracturing uses a specially blended liquid which is pumped into a well under extreme pressure causing cracks in rock formations underground. These cracks in the rock then allow oil and natural gas to flow, increasing resource production. ... Chemical Name: Tetramethyl ammonium chloride; Chemical Purpose: Prevents clays from swelling or shifting; Product Function: Clay stabilizer.

Chemical intermediate, catalyst, inhibitor.

2023: 8,500,000 - <25,000,000 lb

Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride is listed as a High Production Volume (HPV) chemical (65FR81686). Chemicals listed as HPV were produced in or imported into the U.S. in >1 million pounds in 1990 and/or 1994. The HPV list is based on the 1990 Inventory Update Rule. (IUR) (40 CFR part 710 subpart B; 51FR21438).

Production volumes for non-confidential chemicals reported under the Inventory Update Rule. [Table#7925]

Production volume for non-confidential chemicals reported under the 2006 Inventory Update Rule. Chemical: Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride. Aggregated National Production Volume: 10 to < 50 million pounds.

Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing

Methanaminium, N,N,N-trimethyl-, chloride (1:1): ACTIVE