Product Name: Dinitrotoluene Chemical Formula: C7H6N2O4 CAS Number: Includes isomers such as 2,4-Dinitrotoluene (CAS 121-14-2) and 2,6-Dinitrotoluene (CAS 606-20-2) Common Uses: Intermediates for polyurethane foam, plasticizers, explosives manufacturing Appearance: Pale yellow crystalline solid, faint aromatic odor Synonyms: DNT
Hazard Class: Toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact Risk Phrases: Harmful if swallowed; may cause damage to blood, liver, and kidneys; suspected carcinogen Signal Word: Danger according to many chemical safety frameworks Label Elements: Skull and crossbones for toxicity, exclamation mark for irritancy Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion Hazard Overview: Extended handling or accidental exposures tend to stain skin yellow, persist in air and dust, and can permeate gloves over time
Main Constituent: Dinitrotoluene (predominantly 2,4-isomer in technical grades, some 2,6-DNT present) Typical Purity: 97-99% active compound in high-grade batches Impurities: Trace mononitrotoluene, trinitrotoluene, and water detected especially in older storage Additives: None customarily added in industrial production
Inhalation: Move affected personnel to fresh air, supply oxygen if breathing becomes difficult, immediate medical evaluation in severe cases Skin Contact: Flush exposed skin with soap and water thoroughly, remove contaminated clothing swiftly, observe for irritation or staining Eye Contact: Flush eyes with water for not less than 15 minutes, lift eyelids to ensure complete rinsing Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting, encourage personnel to seek urgent medical attention Delayed Effects: Monitor for signs of methemoglobinemia; blood work may be required after substantial exposure
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, foam, or CO2 preferred over water due to risk of runoff contamination Fire Hazards: Thermal decomposition releases nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and hazardous organic vapors Protective Equipment: Use full protective gear, including self-contained breathing apparatus Combustion Products: Fumes released are both toxic and irritating, best to prevent materials reaching combustion temperatures Special Risks: Dust clouds may be explosive; avoid stirring up fine particulates in enclosed firefighting operations
Personal Precautions: Don chemical-resistant gloves and goggles, avoid direct contact, respirator advised if airborne dust or vapor is evident Spill Response: Sweep up carefully, minimize dust, contain with inert absorbent; prevent entry into drains or watercourses Clean-Up: Collect and place in chemical waste container with a tight-fitting lid, label accordingly for hazardous disposal Environmental Protection: Spilled DNT lingers in surfaces and drains; persistent character means accidental releases create long-term traceability issues especially outdoors
Safe Handling: Work with DNT in ventilated areas, wear impervious gloves and protective clothing, decontaminate surfaces post-handling Storage Requirements: Store in sealed, chemical-resistant drums, away from strong oxidizers, acids, direct sunlight and open flames Segregation Guidance: DNT must never be stored alongside food, feed, or combustible acids Routine Precautions: Vent storage areas, track inventories diligently, and rotate older stock to avoid degradation
Occupational Exposure Limits: Some jurisdictions set strict airborne concentrations, often lower than 2 mg/m³ (8-hour TWA), enforce regular air monitoring Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or neoprene gloves, solvent-resistant coveralls, safety goggles, sometimes supplied-air respirators for drum opening or confined space work Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation at transfer and mixing points, completely enclosed systems preferred for bulk transfers Hygiene Measures: Wash hands after use, prohibit food and drink in production zones; regular blood testing for chronic workplace exposure
Molecular Weight: 182.14 g/mol Boiling Point: Above 300°C (572°F) for pure isomers Melting Point: Ranges 70–71°C for 2,4-DNT; higher for 2,6-DNT Density: Approximately 1.53 g/cm³ at 20°C Vapor Pressure: Very low at room temperature; potential for vapor emission spikes with heating Solubility: Poorly soluble in water, soluble in acetone, ether, benzene Appearance: Yellow solid in flakes, powder, or granulated form Odor: Mild aromatic, sometimes mistaken for plastic or mild organic chemical
Chemical Stability: Stable at ambient conditions if kept dry and away from reactive chemicals Reactivity: Reacts vigorously with strong acids, reducing agents, and bases; hazard grows with heat or shock Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, alkali metals, acids, reducing metals Hazardous Decomposition: Releases toxic vapors of nitrogen oxide and carbon-containing residues on breakdown Polymerization: Not known to polymerize under normal manufacturing storage conditions
Acute Effects: Short-term exposure can cause headaches, dizziness, cyanosis, and gastrointestinal upset; pronounced methemoglobinemia risk Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposures often linked to anemia, liver enzyme elevations, and increased cancer risk (IARC classifies 2,4-DNT as possibly carcinogenic to humans) Absorption Routes: All major routes (inhalation, skin, oral) known to be significant in manufacturing settings Symptoms of Exposure: Yellow skin or urine discoloration develops after regular or accidental contact, at times combined with fatigue or confusion
Persistence: Molecule does not readily degrade in surface waters or soils; detected downstream years after releases Mobility: Limited in soil, persists attached to organic matter; potential for slow leaching to groundwater Bioaccumulation: Bioaccumulation potential exists, mostly in aquatic invertebrates, some evidence of elevated food chain transfer Aquatic Toxicity: Toxic to fish and invertebrates, observed effect levels in low mg/L range; wastewater treatment protocols require extra steps to break it down
Special Handling: Waste DNT sent for incineration at specialized hazardous waste facilities with scrubbing for exhaust; landfill is undesirable Container Management: Empty drums and packaging are still hazardous; industrial decontamination needed before recycling or disposal Waste Code: Meets definitions for hazardous organic waste under major regulatory frameworks due to persistent toxicity
UN Number: Subject to domestic dangerous goods regulations, often under UN 1600 for Dinitrotoluenes Packaging Group: Typically Group II: moderate danger Labels: Toxic, potentially combustible if mixed with other hazardous substances Special Precautions: All shipments in sealed, corrosion-resistant containers; full documentation required for overland and maritime transport
Classification: Included in the lists of regulated industrial toxicants in many chemical control frameworks globally Permissible Exposures: Strict workplace and environmental standards limit worker exposure and industrial emissions Reporting: Regular reporting of inventories, releases, and waste streams mandated in regions with integrated chemical safety laws Environmental Controls: Permit systems enforce monitoring of air and water release, sometimes requiring best-available-technology for emissions control at production sites
