Tri-n-butylaluminum

Metals -> Metals, Organic Compounds

Flammable agents - 4th degree

Tri-n-butylaluminum appears as a colorless to light-yellow colored liquid. Likely to cause burns on contact with skin, eyes or mucous membranes. Fumes pose a serious inhalation hazard.

Liquid

Colorless liquid; [HSDB] Colorless to pale yellow liquid; [CAMEO]

Low melting solids or colorless, volatile liquids. /Alkylaluminum halides/

Less sensitive than trialkylaminums to oxidation upon exposure to air. /Alkylaluminum halides/

Pyrophoric

Normal (linear) alkylaluminum compounds exist largely as associated dimers at 25 °C, with bridging alkyl groups.

The fumes are white, possess a characteristic musty odor at low concentrations, and thus have suitable warning properties. /Aluminum alkyls/

Normal (linear) alkylaluminum compounds exist largely as associated dimers at 25 °C, with bridging alkyl groups. /Alkyl aluminum compounds/

Danger

H250 (57.4%): Catches fire spontaneously if exposed to air [Danger Pyrophoric liquids]

P210, P222, P223, P231, P231+P232, P233, P260, P264, P264+P265, P280, P301+P330+P331, P302+P335+P334, P302+P361+P354, P304+P340, P305+P354+P338, P316, P317, P321, P363, P370+P378, P402+P404, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 129 reports by companies from 4 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Chemical: Aluminium, tributyl-

Aluminum, tributyl- is listed on the EPA's Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) system. Manufacturers and importers of Aluminum, tributyl- 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: Tributylaluminium (EC: 214-240-0)

Tri-N-butylaluminum: HSNO Approval: HSR006339 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.)

Certain polymerization catalysts, such as aluminum alkyls, react & burn violently on contact with water. /Aluminum alkyls/

Aluminum alkyls are organic aluminum compounds that are highly reactive and dangerous because of spontaneous burning in air. /Aluminum alkyls/

Prophoric material in flammable solvent. Vapors are heavier than air & may travel to a source of ignition & flash back. /Aluminum alkyls/

A strong reducing agent; May ignite on contact with moist air or water; Fumes in air; May cause burns to skin, eyes, and mucous membranes; Fumes hazardous by inhalation; [CAMEO] Pyrophoric; Reacts with water evolving flammable gas; [eChemPortal: ERMA] Organoaluminum compounds are corrosive; Harmful if absorbed through the skin or inhaled; The butyl alkyls and below are pyrophoric; Aluminum alkyls are eye irritants; [HSDB] Organic aluminum compounds can cause irritation or burns, depending upon concentration; [Ullmann] TLV withdrawn for aluminum alkyls because of inadequate toxicological data; [ACGIH] See Aluminum. See ORGANOMETALS.

Anon; Information profiles on Potential Occupaional Hazards: Aluminum & Compounds, 2nd Draft (Revised); GRA & I Issue 21 NTIS/PB89-216238 (1989)> TD3: Information profiles are working papers used by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health to assist the Institute in establishing priorities. The proile summarizes data on organic and inorganic substances containing aluminum as the only metal. Each summary presents data on known and suspected health effects, the extent of worker exposure, physical and chemical properties and the industrial importance of the following aluminum compounds: aluminum metal, aluminum ammonium sulfate, aluminum chlorhydrate, aluminum chloride anhydrous, aluminum chloride hydrous, aluminum distearate, aluminum ethoxide, aluminum fluoride, aluminum hydride, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum nitrate, aluminum oxide, aluminum ortho-phosphate, aluminum potassium sulfate, aluminum silicate, aluminum sodium sulfate, aluminum sulfate, calcium aluminum silicate, diethylaluminum chloride, sodium aluminate, tri-n-butylaluminum, triethylaluminum, tri-n-hexylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tri-n-octylaluminum. Detailed literature searches are conducted to identify information to be used in the profile sumaries. Sponsored by National Inst. for Occupational Safety and Health, Rockville, MD.

Ignites spontaneously. /from table/

Stop flow of liquid before extinguishing fire. Use dry chemical or carbon dioxide. DO NOT use water as straight stream directly on spilled material. Water fog can be used to control fire. DO NOT use halogenated extinguishing agents on spilled material. Violent reaction may result. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Fight fire from protected location or maximum possible distance. /Aluminum Alkyls/

Extremely reactive with air, moisture and compounds containing active hydrogen and therefore must be kept under a blanket of inert gas. /Aluminum alkyls/

In general, materials ... toxic as stored or which can decompose into toxic components ... Should be stored in cool ... ventilated place, out of ... sun, away from ... fire hazard ... be periodically inspected and monitored. Incompatible materials should be isolated ...

All possibility of contact with water must be avoided. Solution containing not more than 20% of these compounds in non-reactive solvents, however, can be handled without risk of spontaneous ignition. /Aluminum alkyls/

Must be stored in an inert atmosphere; sensitive to oxidation and hydrolysis in air. /Trialkylaluminums/

Separate from air, water, halocarbons, alcohols. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Outside or detached storage is preferred. Inside storage should be in a standard flammable liquid storage warehouse, room, or cabinet. /Aluminum alkyls/

Aluminum compounds are treated under anhydrous conditions to prevent violent reactions, recover solvent, and form Al compounds suitable for landfill by reaction with anhydrous hydrolysis agent, eg calcium hydroxide. /Aluminum compounds/

SRP: The most favorable course of action is to use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational exposure 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, aquatic, and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations.

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.

Work clothing that becomes wet or significantly contaminated should be removed and replaced. /Aluminum (soluble salts and alkyls, as Al)/

Workers whose clothing may have become contaminated should change into uncontaminated clothing before leaving the work premises. /Aluminum (soluble salts and alkyls, as Al)/

The worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated. /Aluminum (soluble salts and alkyls, as Al)/

SRP: Contaminated protective clothing should be segregated in such a manner so that there is no direct personal contact by personnel who handle, dispose, or clean the clothing. Quality assurance to ascertain the completeness of the cleaning procedures should be implemented before the decontaminated protective clothing is returned for reuse by the workers. Contaminated clothing should not be taken home at end of shift, but should remain at employee's place of work for cleaning.

8 hr Time Weighted Avg (TWA): 1 mg/cu m (respirable fraction). /Aluminum metal and insoluble compounds/

Excursion Limit Recommendation: Excursions in worker exposure levels may exceed 3 times the TLV-TWA for no more than a total of 30 minutes during a work day, and under no circumstances should they exceed 5 times the TLV-TWA, provided that the TLV-TWA is not exceeded. /Aluminum metal and insoluble compounds/

A4; Not classifiable as a human carcinogen. /Aluminum metal and insoluble compounds/

Excerpt from ERG Guide 138 [Substances - Water-Reactive (Emitting Flammable Gases)]:

Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact. /Aluminum (soluble salts and alkyls, as Al/

Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact. /Aluminum (soluble salts and alkyls, as Al)/

Protective clothing and a high standard of training in the necessary precautionary measures are essential for the handling of the materials. /Aluminum alkyls/

Aluminum targets the nervous system and causes decreased nervous system performance and is associated with altered function of the blood-brain barrier. The accumulation of aluminum in the body may cause bone or brain diseases. High levels of aluminum have been linked to Alzheimer's disease. A small percentage of people are allergic to aluminium and experience contact dermatitis, digestive disorders, vomiting or other symptoms upon contact or ingestion of products containing aluminium. (L739, L740)

The main target organs of aluminum are the central nervous system and bone. Aluminum binds with dietary phosphorus and impairs gastrointestinal absorption of phosphorus. The decreased phosphate body burden results in osteomalacia (softening of the bones due to defective bone mineralization) and rickets. Aluminum's neurotoxicity is believed to involve several mechanisms. Changes in cytoskeletal protein functions as a results of altered phosphorylation, proteolysis, transport, and synthesis are believed to be one cause. Aluminum may induce neurobehavioral effects by affecting permeability of the blood-brain barrier, cholinergic activity, signal transduction pathways, lipid peroxidation, and impair neuronal glutamate nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway, as well as interfere with metabolism of essential trace elements because of similar coordination chemistries and consequent competitive interactions. It has been suggested that aluminum's interaction with estrogen receptors increases the expression of estrogen-related genes and thereby contributes to the progression of breast cancer (A235), but studies have not been able to establish a clear link between aluminum and increased risk of breast cancer (A15468). Certain aluminum salts induce immune responses by activating inflammasomes. (L739, A235, A236)

Inhalating aluminum dust causes coughing and abnormal chest X-rays. A small percentage of people are allergic to aluminium and experience contact dermatitis, digestive disorders, vomiting or other symptoms upon contact or ingestion of products containing aluminium. (L739, L740)

/SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS/ Corrosive. Causes severe eye and skin burns. Irritating to skin, eyes, and respiratory system. May be harmful if absorbed through skin or inhaled. "Metal fume fever" may result from inhalation of fumes /from organoaluminum compounds/. /SRP: While possible, metal fume fever is not highly probable./ /Organoaluminum compounds/

/OTHER TOXICITY INFORMATION/ Vapors of the pyrophoric alkyls (butyls and below) are nontoxic because they are completely consumed, but inhalation of the metallic oxide smoke (Al2O3) at 15 mg/cu m or greater can result in symptoms such as "metal fume fever." /Aluminum alkyls/

Not listed by IARC. IARC classified aluminum production as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), but did not implicate aluminum itself as a human carcinogen. (L135) A link between use of aluminum-containing antiperspirants and increased risk of breast cancer has been proposed (A235), but studies have not been able to establish a clear link (A15468).

(AZ) ARIZONA 73 ug/l /Aluminum/

(CA) CALIFORNIA 200 ug/l /Aluminum/

(ME) MAINE 1430 ug/l /Aluminum/

Aluminum is poorly absorbed following either oral or inhalation exposure and is essentially not absorbed dermally. The bioavailability of aluminum is strongly influenced by the aluminum compound and the presence of dietary constituents which can complex with aluminum and enhance or inhibit its absorption. Aluminum binds to various ligands in the blood and distributes to every organ, with highest concentrations found in bone and lung tissues. In living organisms, aluminum is believed to exist in four different forms: as free ions, as low-molecular-weight complexes, as physically bound macromolecular complexes, and as covalently bound macromolecular complexes. Absorbed aluminum is excreted principally in the urine and, to a lesser extent, in the bile, while unabsorbed aluminum is excreted in the faeces. (L739)

Used to make organo-tin compounds and as a catalyst for polyolefin plastics and synthetic rubbers; [HSDB] Organic aluminum compounds are some of the most important, highest volume, highest value organometallic compounds in production. [Ullmann]

Production of organo-tin compounds

UNISOLATED CHEM INT FOR 1-BUTENE & N-BUTANOL

CATALYST FOR POLYOLEFIN PLASTICS & SYNTHETIC RUBBERS

Catalyst; with compounds of early transition metals as Ziegler-Natta polymerization catalysts; intermediates in organic syntheses. /Aluminum alkyls/

For more Uses (Complete) data for TRI-N-BUTYLALUMINUM (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

2023: 10,000,000 - <50,000,000 lb

(1977) AT LEAST 4.5X10+8 G (CAPTIVE PRODN)

Exchange reaction of butene-1 & isobutyl aluminum.

REACTION OF ALUMINUM, HYDROGEN, & 1-BUTENE BY THE ZEIGLER CATALYZED PROCESS.

The trialkylaluminums are prepared from aluminum, hydrogen and olefins; this improved "direct synthesis" was developed by Ziegler and co-workers. /Trialkylaluminums/