4-Methyl-2-Pentanol

Excerpt from ERG Guide 129 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide.

Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention .

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

Rinse mouth. Rest. Refer for medical attention .

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Methyl isobutyl carbinol:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

20.0 [ppm]

Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Ventilation. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations. Do NOT wash away into sewer.

The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Work clothing that becomes wet or significantly contaminated should be removed and replaced.

SRP: The scientific literature for the use of contact lenses in industry is conflicting. The benefit or detrimental effects of wearing contact lenses depend not only upon the substance, but also on factors including the form of the substance, characteristics and duration of the exposure, the uses of other eye protection equipment, and the hygiene of the lenses. However, there may be individual substances whose irritating or corrosive properties are such that the wearing of contact lenses would be harmful to the eye. In those specific cases, contact lenses should not be worn. In any event, the usual eye protection equipment should be worn even when contact lenses are in place.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 129 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

Immediate precautionary measure

TERRESTRIAL FATE: If 4-methyl-2-pentanol is released to soil, it will be expected to exhibit high to very high mobility in soil(1,SRC) based upon estimated Koc of 143 and 21 estimated from log Kow(2) and water solubility(3), respectively, using a recommended regression equations(4,SRC). It may, therefore, leach through soil(SRC). It will not hydrolyze in moist soil(4), but it may be subject to volatilization from near surface soil based upon estimated rates for its volatilization from water(4-6). It may be subject to biodegradation in soil based upon the rapid biodegradation observed in laboratory aqueous screening tests using sewage and activated sludge inoculum(7,8).

AQUATIC FATE: If 4-methyl-2-pentanol is released to water, it will not be expected to adsorb to sediment and suspended particulate matter or to bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms based upon estimated Koc and BCF, respectively, estimated(2,SRC) from the measured log Kow (1) and water solubility(3). It will not be expected to hydrolyze(2) or directly photolyze(4,SRC). It may be subject to biodegradation in natural waters based upon the rapid biodegradation observed in laboratory aqueous screening tests using sewage and activated sludge inoculum(5,6). It will be subject to volatilization from surface waters based upon half-lives of 23 hr for volatilization from a model river one meter deep flowing 1 m/sec with a wind velocity of 3 m/sec(2,SRC) and 10.6 days for volatilization from a model pond(7,SRC), respectively, estimated using a measured Henry's Law constant(8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: If 4-methyl-2-pentanol is released to the atmosphere, it can be expected to exist mainly in the vapor-phase in the ambient atmosphere(1,SRC) based upon an experimental vapor pressure of 5.3 mm Hg at 25 °C(2,SRC). The measured rate constant for vapor-phase reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals of 7.1X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(3) corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of 2.3 days at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(SRC). 4-Methyl-2-pentanol has been rated a moderately reactive (Class III) compound(4) with respect to ozone formation as observed in smog chamber tests(5). 4-Methyl-2-pentanol will not be expected to directly photolyze in the atmosphere(6,SRC).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour and through the skin.

inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Sore throat. Unconsciousness.

Dry skin. Redness. Pain.

Redness. Pain.

irritation eyes, skin; headache, drowsiness; dermatitis; In Animals: narcosis

4-Methyl-2-pentanol was detected at a concn of 136 ppb in a sample of influent water from an unspecified municipal wastewater treatment plant(1). It was not indicated whether the compound was detected in final effluent from the plant(1). It was detected at a concn of 45 ppb in effluent samples taken from the Los Angeles County wastewater treatment plant discharge, Palos Verdes, CA between Nov 1980 and Aug 1981(2). A concn of 140 ppm was found in samples of leachate or samples of groundwater plume taken at an unspecified industrial landfill at an unspecified time(3). 4-Methyl-2-pentanol was qualitatively detected in 4 of 16 samples of concentrate derived from large volume (>400 gallons) samples of advanced treatment concentrate from 4 of 6 cities (Lake Tahoe, CA, Oct 1974; Pomona, CA, 1975; Orange County, CA, Feb 1976; Blue Plains, Washington, DC, May 1975)(4).

Based upon an experimental log Kow of 1.43(1), a Koc of 143 has been estimated using a recommended regression equation(2). Based upon an experimental water solubility of 1.64X10+4 mg/kg(3), a Koc of 21 has been estimated using a recommended regression equation(2). Based upon these estimated Koc, 4-methyl-2-pentanol will be expected to exhibit high to very high mobility in soil(4). 4-Methyl-2-pentanol, therefore, may leach through soil to groundwater if it does not volatilize or biodegrade first(SRC).

4-Methyl-2-pentanol was qualitatively detected in ambient air samples taken Nov 20, 1979 at the BFI Landfill in New Jersey(1). It was detected in ambient air during an air pollution peak at concn ranging from 0.9 to 7.0 ppb; date and location not specified(2).

This action promulgates standards of performance for equipment leaks of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) in the Synthetic Organic Chemical Manufacturing Industry (SOCMI). The intended effect of these standards is to require all newly constructed, modified, and reconstructed SOCMI process units to use the best demonstrated system of continuous emission reduction for equipment leaks of VOC, considering costs, non air quality health and environmental impact and energy requirements. Methyl isobutyl carbinol is produced, as an intermediate or final product, by process units covered under this subpart.