Heptane

Excerpt from ERG Guide 128 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Immiscible)]:

Use alcohol-resistant foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide, water spray. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

Rinse and then wash skin with water and soap. Refer for medical attention if skin irritation occurs.

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

Rinse mouth. Give nothing to drink. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer immediately 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 n-Heptane:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

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

500.0 [ppm]

For small (incipient) fires, use media such as "alcohol" foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide. For large fires, apply water from as far as possible. Use very larg quantities (flooding) of water applied as a mist or spray; solid streams of water may be ineffective. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water.

In case of fire: Evacuate area. Fight fire remotely due to the risk of explosion. Use water spray to cool unopened containers.

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. Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapors adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance.

SRP: Wastewater from contaminant suppression, cleaning of protective clothing/equipment, or contaminated sites should be contained and evaluated for subject chemical or decomposition product concentrations. Concentrations shall be lower than applicable environmental discharge or disposal criteria. Alternatively, pretreatment and/or discharge to a permitted wastewater treatment facility is acceptable only after review by the governing authority and assurance that "pass through" violations will not occur. Due consideration shall be given to remediation worker exposure (inhalation, dermal and ingestion) as well as fate during treatment, transfer and disposal. If it is not practicable to manage the chemical in this fashion, it must be evaluated in accordance with EPA 40 CFR Part 261, specifically Subpart B, in order to determine the appropriate local, state and federal requirements for disposal.

Burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber but exert extra care in igniting as this material is highly flammable. Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.

The following wastewater treatment technologies have been investigated for heptane: Biological treatment.

n-Heptane was detected in 7 of 12 samples of mothers breast milk from the cities of Bayonne, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; Bridgeville, PA; and Baton Rouge, LA(1). n-Heptane has also been detected in mother's milk collected from Pittsburgh, PA(2). The concentrations of n-heptane in the samples from these studies were not reported(SRC).

LC50; Species: Chaetogammarus marinus /amphipod/; Concentration: 0.2 mg/L for 96 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50; Species: Mysidopsis bahia (Opossum shrimp); Concentration: 0.1 mg/L for 96 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50; Species: Carassius auratus (Goldfish); Concentration: 4 mg/L for 24 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

LC50; Species: Leuciscus idus melanotus (Golden orfe); Concentration: 2940 mg/L for 48 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/ /formulated product/

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for n-Heptane (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 240(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that n-heptane is expected to have moderate mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of n-heptane from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1.8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), based upon its vapor pressure, 46 mm Hg(3), and water solubility, 3.4 mg/L(4). n-Heptane is expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure of 46 mm Hg at 25 °C(3). A 101% of theoretical BOD using activated sludge in the Japanese MITI test(5) suggests that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 240(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that n-heptane is expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 1.8 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), derived from its vapor pressure, 46 mm Hg(4), and water solubility, 3.4 mg/L(5). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 2.9 hours and 4.0 days, respectively(SRC). According to a classification scheme(6), an estimated BCF of 550(SRC), from its log Kow of 4.66(7) and a regression-derived equation(8), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is high(SRC). A 101% of theoretical BOD using activated sludge in the Japanese MITI test(9) suggests that biodegradation is an important environmental fate process in water.

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), n-heptane, which has a vapor pressure of 46 mm Hg at 25 °C(2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase n-heptane 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 2.2 days(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 7.15X10-12 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(3). n-Heptane 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).

The concentration of n-heptane measured in the volatile components of duck meat, duck fat, cantonese style roasted duck, and cantonese style roasted duck gravy were 1.34, 3.47, 17.29, and 6.51 ppb on a wet basis, respectively(1). n-Heptane was identified (unspecified concentrations) in both the noncondensable volatile fraction and in the condensable lipid fraction headspace of raw beef(2). n-Heptane has been detected in dry-cured hams at different stages of the manufacturing process; however, the concentrations were not specified(3). n-Heptane was identified as a volatile component of fried bacon(4), roasted filberts(5) and nectarines(6). n-Heptane has been detected (unspecified concentrations) in boiled Chinese Chestnuts(7). n-Heptane has been identified in headspace samples of heated peanut oil(8). n-Heptane has been detected in the headspace of floured chickpea seed(9).

Neurotoxin - Acute solvent syndrome

Compound with “poor evidence” of ototoxicity (it is a questionably ototoxic substance).

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

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Oral (T29) ; inhalation (T29) ; dermal (T29)

n-Heptane was detected in 7 of 12 samples of mothers breast milk from the cities of Bayonne, NJ; Jersey City, NJ; Bridgeville, PA; and Baton Rouge, LA(1). n-Heptane has also been detected in mother's milk collected from Pittsburgh, PA(2). The concentrations of n-heptane in the samples from these studies were not reported.

Section 8(a) of TSCA requires manufacturers of this chemical substance to report preliminary assessment information concerned with production, exposure, and use to EPA as cited in the preamble in 51 FR 41329. Effective date: 1/26/94; Reporting date: 3/28/94.

Pursuant to section 8(d) of TSCA, EPA promulgated a model Health and Safety Data Reporting Rule. The section 8(d) model rule requires manufacturers, importers, and processors of listed chemical substances and mixtures to submit to EPA copies and lists of unpublished health and safety studies. Heptane is included on this list. Effective date: 1/26/94; Sunset date: 6/30/98.

Standard for octane-rating determinations (pure normal heptane has zero octane number) anesthetic, solvent, organic synthesis, preparation of laboratory reagents. [HSDB]

Standard for octane-rating determinations (pure normal heptane has zero octane number) anesthetic, solvent, organic synthesis, preparation of laboratory reagents.

As standard in testing knock of gasoline engines.

Research chemical

Heptanes may be found in gasoline and are widely used as solvents. They are also sold as fuel for outdoor stoves. (L1289)

2023: 400,000,000 - <550,000,000 lb

(1986) >100 million - 500 million pounds

(1990) >100 million - 500 million pounds

(1994) >100 million - 500 million pounds

(1998) >100 million - 500 million pounds

For more U.S. Production (Complete) data for n-Heptane (10 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

Fractional distillation of petroleum, purified by rectification.

n-Alkanes having more than six carbon atoms are not isolated individually but as mixtures of several homologues. Suitable sources are the appropriate petroleum distillate fractions, from which the n-paraffins can be isolated in high isomeric purity (greater than or equal to 95% linearity) by selective separation (eg, molecular sieve separation or urea extractive crystallization). /Higher n-Alkanes/

Hydrogenation of 1-heptene

Food Additives -> EXTRACTION_SOLVENT -> JECFA Functional Classes

Cosmetics -> Solvent; Hair dyeing

Petrochemical Manufacturing

Heptane: ACTIVE