Boron Trichloride

Toxic Gases & Vapors -> Corrosive Gases

Corrosives

Pungent, irritating odor

Sharp, irritating.

1.35 at 53.6 °F (EPA, 1998) - Denser than water; will sink

4.789 g/L

Relative density (water = 1): 1.35

1.373 @ 0°C

It is corrosive to metals

Vigorously attacks elastomers and packing materials

Strong irritant to tissue. Fumes are corrosive and toxic

54.5 °F at 760 mmHg (EPA, 1998)

12.5 °C

12.5 °C

12.5 °C @760 [mm Hg]

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of /hydrogens of chloride/.

Decomposed by water or alcohol.

The toxic action of the halogenated borons is considerably influenced by their decomposition products (hydrofluoric acid-, fluoboric acid-, hydrochloric acid-). /Halogenated borons/

-161 °F (EPA, 1998)

-107.3 °C

-107 °C

-107 °C

4.03 (EPA, 1998) - Heavier than air; will sink (Relative to Air)

4.03 (Air = 1)

Relative vapor density (air = 1): 4.03

Danger

H300: Fatal if swallowed [Danger Acute toxicity, oral]

P260, P264, P270, P271, P280, P284, P301+P316, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P320, P321, P330, P363, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Danger

H280 (92.6%): Contains gas under pressure; may explode if heated [Warning Gases under pressure]

P260, P261, P264, P270, P271, P280, P284, P301+P316, P301+P330+P331, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P319, P320, P321, P330, P363, P403+P233, P405, P410+P403, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Chemical: Borane, trichloro-

Borane, trichloro- is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Borane, trichloro- 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)

Status: Active Update: 24-09-2021 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/5454

Borane, trichloro-: HSNO Approval: HSR001036 Approved with controls

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

When heated to decomposition, it emits toxic fumes of chlorides. It will react with water or steam to produce heat, and toxic and corrosive fumes. In hot water, decomposes to hydrochloric acid and boric acid. Fumes and hydrolyzes in moist air to form hydrochloric acid and oily, irritating corrosives. Avoid aniline, hexafluorisopropylidene amino lithium, nitrogen dioxide, phosphine, grease, organic matter, and oxygen. Nitrogen peroxide, phosphine, fat or grease react energetically with boron trichloride. Oxygen and boron trichloride react vigorously on sparking. Boron trichloride and aniline react violently in the absence of a coolant or diluent. Stable. (EPA, 1998)

· Some may burn but none ignite readily.

Not combustible. Gives off irritating or toxic fumes (or gases) in a fire.

Strong irritant to tissue. Fumes are corrosive and highly toxic. Boron affects the central nervous system causing depression of circulation as well as shock and coma. May cause severe burns to skin. May result in marked fluid and electrolyte loss and shock. (EPA, 1998)

· TOXIC and/or CORROSIVE; may be fatal if inhaled, ingested or absorbed through skin.

Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] A corrosive substance that can cause injury to skin, eyes, and respiratory tract; Rapidly evaporating liquid can cause frostbite; High inhalation exposure can cause pulmonary edema; [ICSC] Reacts violently with water evolving hydrochloric acid and boric acid; Also forms hydrochloric acid on contact with moisture in air and soil; Corrosive and toxic; [CAMEO] Reacts violently with water producing a visible vapor cloud; Short-term exposure causes second- and third-degree skin burns and severe eye injury; Inhalation can cause edema and severe upper respiratory tract irritation; Vapors are intolerable even at low concentrations; [CHRIS]

It is not flammable. Use dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or dry sand to extinguish. If large quantities of combustibles are involved, use water in flooding quantities as spray and fog. Use water spray to absorb vapors. For large fires use water spray, fog, or foam. Do not get water on material itself. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible. Do not get water inside container. Move container from fire area if you can do so without risk. Stay away from ends of tanks. Spray cooling water on containers that are exposed to flames until well after fire is out. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. (EPA, 1998)

NO water. In case of fire in the surroundings, use appropriate extinguishing media. In case of fire: keep cylinder cool by spraying with water. NO direct contact with water.

Fresh air, rest. Half-upright position. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer for medical attention.

ON FROSTBITE: rinse with plenty of water, do NOT remove clothes. Refer for medical attention .

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

· Do not touch or walk through spilled material.

Warning: Boron trichloride is extremely corrosive. Caution is advised.

General First Aid:

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

TIH (Toxic Inhalation Hazard) - Term used to describe gases and volatile liquids that are toxic when inhaled. Some are TIH materials themselves, e.g., chlorine, and some release TIH gases when spilled in water, e.g., chlorosilanes. [ERG 2016].

If material involved in fire: Use dry chemical, dry sand, or carbon dioxide. Do not use water on material itself. If large quantities of combustibles are involved, use water in flooding quantities as spray and fog. Use water spray to knock-down vapors. Cool all affected containers with flooding quantities of water. Apply water from as far a distance as possible.

In case of fire: cool cylinder by spraying with water but avoid contact of the substance with water.

Fireproof if in building. Separated from food and feedstuffs.

Storage temp: Ambient

Evacuate danger area! Consult an expert! Ventilation. (Extra personal protection: gas-tight chemical protection suit including self-contained breathing apparatus).

Neutralize spilled material with crushed limestone, soda ash, or lime.

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.

Attach an appropriate control valve provided with a trap or check valve and a long piece of flexible hose connected to the control valve outlet. Discharge the gas at a moderate rate into an adequate amount of about 15% aqueous sodium hydroxide or other alkali in a suitable container. When the gas has been discharged, close the valve and transport to neutralization plant for disposal.

Sore throat. Cough. Burning sensation. Shortness of breath. Laboured breathing. Symptoms may be delayed.

Pain. Redness. Blisters. Skin burns. ON CONTACT WITH LIQUID: FROSTBITE.

Pain. Redness. Severe deep burns. Loss of vision.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Inhalation of boron trichloride vapor results in edema and irritation of upper respiratory tract.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Classified as a corrosive liquid to the skin and mucous surfaces due to its rapid hydrolysis to hydrochloric acid (and boric acid) by moisture.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ EFFECTS OF SHORT-TERM EXPOSURE: ...Inhalation of the gas may cause lung edema. Rapid evaporation of the liquid may cause frostbite. Exposure at high levels may result in death. The effects may be delayed. Medical observation is indicated.

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ /Effects on exposure by/ inhalation /may include/ sore throat, cough, burning sensation, shortness of breath, and labored breathing.

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for BORON TRICHLORIDE (7 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

According to the 2006 TSCA Inventory Update Reporting data, the number of persons reasonably likely to be exposed in the industrial manufacturing, processing, and use of boron trichloride is 1 to 99; the data may be greatly underestimated(1).

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 1,125 workers (613 of these are female) are potentially exposed to boron trichloride(1). Occupational exposure to boron trichloride may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where boron trichloride is produced or used(SRC).

Industrial exposures ... occur from release ... into the worker atmosphere as well as from production & handling ... /Boron halides/

The chemistry of boron is dominated by its tendency to form stable bonds with electronegative atoms, especially oxygen. Reduced boron compounds (halides, hydrides, alkyls and aryls) tend to oxidize and hydrolyze readily, and would be expected to be converted into various boron-oxide compounds in the environment. Inorganic boron compounds are nonvolatile and would not be expected to volatilize from moist or dry soil surfaces. (SRC)

ON FROSTBITE: rinse with plenty of water, do NOT remove clothes. Refer for medical attention.

In acute poisonings, if a large amount has been ingested and the patient is seen within one hour of exposure, gastrointestinal decontamination should be considered ... .It is important to keep in mind that vomiting and diarrhea are common, and severe poisoning may be associated with seizures. Therefore induction of emesis by syrup of ipecac is probably contraindicated in these exposures. Catharsis is not indicated if diarrhea is present. /Boric acid and Borates/

If ingestion of borate has been massive (several grams), or has extended over several days, administer intravenous glucose and electrolyte solutions to sustain urinary excretion of borate. Monitor fluid balance and serum electrolytes (including bicarbonate capacity ) regularly. Monitor cardiac status by ECG. Test the urine for proteins and cells to detect renal injury, and monitor serum concentration of borate. Metabolic acidosis may be treated with sodium bicarbonate. If shock develops, it may be necessary to infuse plasma or whole blood. Administer oxygen continuously. If oliguria (less than 25 to 30 mL urine per hour) occurs, intravenous fluids must be slowed or stopped to avoid overloading the circulation. Such patients should be referred to a center capable of providing intensive care for critically ill patients. /Boric acid and Borates/

If renal failure occurs, hemodialysis may be necessary to maintain fluid balance and normal extracellular fluid composition. Hemodialysis has had limited success in enhancing clearance of borates. Peritoneal dialysis has been performed in borate poisoning and is felt to be as effective as, and safer than, exchange transfusion in removing borate. No large study has been done, but it is still used somewhat less frequently than hemodialysis. /Boric acid and Borates/

For more Antidote and Emergency Treatment (Complete) data for BORON TRICHLORIDE (12 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

0.02

PPRTV Current

0.02

PPRTV Current

2

PPRTV Current

Releases of CERCLA hazardous substances are subject to the release reporting requirement of CERCLA section 103, codified at 40 CFR part 302, in addition to the requirements of 40 CFR part 355. Boron trichloride is an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) subject to reporting requirements when stored in amounts in excess of its threshold planning quantity (TPQ) of 500 lbs.

Boron trichloride

1

5000

84.7

45

Toxic chemical that can be released at a facility.

(CA) CALIFORNIA 1000 ug/L /Boron/

(NH) NEW HAMPSHIRE 630 ug/L /Boron/

(ME) MAINE 1,400 ug/L /Boron/

(MN) MINNESOTA 1,000 ug/L /Boron/

(WI) WISCONSIN 960 ug/L /Boron/

Used in semiconductor manufacturing and in boron production; also used as a catalyst, soldering flux, and metal refining agent; [HSDB]

Soldering [Category: Heat or Machine]

One of the most important uses of BCl3 is in the preparation of boron fibers.

... Used as a Lewis acid catalyst in organic synthesis in the polymerization of olefins and phosphazines, as well as in catalysis of other organic reactions. Boron trichloride is also used in plasma etching of aluminum and silicon, in semiconductor manufacturing, and as a source of boron for chemical vapor deposition.

Steel is boronized by contacting it with a reactive mixture of hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and BCl3 at high temperatures.

Manuf and purification of boron; as catalyst for organic reactions; in semiconductors; in bonding of iron, steels; in purification of metal alloys to remove oxides, nitrides and carbides.

2023: 367,555 lb

Production volume for non-confidential chemicals reported under the 2006 Inventory Update Rule. Chemical: Borane, trichloro-. Aggregated National Production Volume: 500,000 to < 1 million lbs.

Commercially, boron trichloride is prepared by the reaction of boron carbide with chlorine in a borate melt. This reaction can also be done with dry B4C in a fluidized-bed reactor using a transition-metal halide as a catalyst. Contamination of BCl3 with COCl2 from the chlorination of carbon oxides is a serious problem in BCl3 manufacturing. Because of similar vapor pressure - temperature curves, BCl3 and COCl2 cannot be separated by fractional distillation. Thermal or photochemical conversion of COCl2 to CO and Cl2 followed by fractional distillation has been used to purify BCl3.

Chlorination of a boron trioxide and carbon mixture.

(1) Heating boric oxide and carbon with chlorine; (2) combining boric oxide with phosphorus pentachloride.

Prepared by chlorinating a mixture of finely divided carbon and boric oxide at 871-982 °C; by heating boric oxide with sodium, potassium or lithium chloride at 800-1000 °C.

Borane, trichloro-: ACTIVE

Lab preparation: boron trifluoride + aluminum chloride yields boron trichloride and aluminum fluoride