sulfolane

H302: Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

P264, P270, P301+P317, P330, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

H302 (100%): Harmful if swallowed [Warning Acute toxicity, oral]

H360 (22.7%): May damage fertility or the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

H360FD (28.3%): May damage fertility; May damage the unborn child [Danger Reproductive toxicity]

P203, P264, P270, P280, P301+P317, P318, P330, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 467 reports by companies from 9 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Information may vary between notifications depending on impurities, additives, and other factors. The percentage value in parenthesis indicates the notified classification ratio from companies that provide hazard codes. Only hazard codes with percentage values above 10% are shown. For more detailed information, please visit ECHA C&L website.

Not Classified

H320: Causes eye irritation [Warning Serious eye damage/eye irritation]

H361: Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child [Warning Reproductive toxicity]

P203, P264+P265, P280, P305+P351+P338, P318, P337+P317, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

INGESTION: induce vomiting.

SKIN OR EYE CONTACT: flush with water. (USCG, 1999)

Fire Extinguishing Agents: Water, foam, dry chemicals, or carbon dioxide (USCG, 1999)

Water or foam may cause frothing.

Wear goggles and self-contained breathing apparatus. Extinguish with water, foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide.

Poisonous gases are produced in fire.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 171 [Substances (Low to Moderate Hazard)]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.

SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.

FIRE: If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)

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.

Excerpt from ERG Guide 171 [Substances (Low to Moderate Hazard)]:

Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. Prevent dust cloud. For Asbestos, avoid inhalation of dust. Cover spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading. Do not clean up or dispose of, except under supervision of a specialist.

SMALL DRY SPILL: With clean shovel, place material into clean, dry container and cover loosely; move containers from spill area.

SMALL SPILL: Pick up with sand or other non-combustible absorbent material and place into containers for later disposal.

LARGE SPILL: Dike far ahead of liquid spill for later disposal. Cover powder spill with plastic sheet or tarp to minimize spreading. Prevent entry into waterways, sewers, basements or confined areas. (ERG, 2024)

8.0 [mg/m3]

88 [mg/m3]

530 [mg/m3]

Goggles or face shield; rubber gloves. (USCG, 1999)

Sulfolane is a colorless oily liquid with a weak oily odor. Solidifies (freezing point is 79 °F) and sinks on first contact with water, then mixes with water. (USCG, 1999)

Liquid; Other Solid

Liquid; mp = 27.4-27.8 deg C; [Merck Index] White solid; [HSDB] Colorless liquid; mp = 26 deg C; [CAMEO] Colorless solid; mp = 27 deg C; [SIDS UNEP] Colorless crystalline solid; mp = 25-28 deg C; [Alfa Aesar MSDS]

White or creamy white, crystalline powder

Odorless

Slightly bitter taste

545 °F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)

285 °C @760 [mm Hg]

79 °F (USCG, 1999)

27.4-27.8 °C

330 °F (USCG, 1999)

177 °C (350 °F) (OPEN CUP)

Partially miscible with octanes, olefins, naphthenes; miscible with water, Acetone, toluene at 30 °C

Freely soluble in alcohol, soluble in dilute mineral acids

1.26 at 86 °F (USCG, 1999) - Denser than water; will sink

1.2606 at 30 °C/4 °C

1.261 @25 °C

0.0062 [mmHg]

Vapor pressure: 5 mm @ 118 °C

0.0062 mm Hg at 27.6 °C /Extrapolated/

log Kow= -0.77

When heated to decomposition it emits toxic fumes of /sulfur oxide/.

10.34 centipoises at 30 °C

-9,500 Btu/lb= -5,300 Cal/g

35.5 dyn/cm

Index of refraction: 1.481 at 30 °C/D

HIGHLY POLAR CMPD WITH OUTSTANDING SOLVENT PROPERTIES

Heat of solution = -22 Btu/lg = -12 Cal/g

Heat of fusion: 11.44 kJ/kg; dielectric constant: 43.3

Schoenflies notation

Activity

Azeotropes

Boiling point

Chemical bond

Chemical shift

Dielectric constant

Excess enthalpy

Excess volume

Heat capacity

Heat of solution

Water soluble.

Sulfonates, Phosphonates, and Thiophosphonates, Organic

Mixing SULFOLANE in equal molar portions with any of the following substances in a closed container caused the temperature and pressure to increase: chlorosulfonic acid and oleum [NFPA 1991]. With nitrating agents (nitronium tetrafluoroborate in sulfolane) very highly exothermic reactions are known to occur [J. Org. Chem., 1978, 43, 4677].

Nitronium tetrafluoroborate /is potentially explosive/ in sulfolane.

Neurotoxin - Other CNS neurotoxin

Sulfolane

1 x 10^-3 mg/kg-day

1 x 10^-2 mg/kg-day

2 x 10^-2 mg/m^3

PDF Document

Inadequate information to assess carcinogenic potential

SCREEN Current

PPRTV Current

LC50 (rat) > 12,000 mg/m3/4h

LD50 Rat oral 1941 mg/kg

LD50 Rat ip 1600 mg/kg

LD50 Rat sc 1606 mg/kg

LC50 Rat inhalation >12 mg/L/4 hr

For more Non-Human Toxicity Values (Complete) data for SULFOLANE (14 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

After oral or parenteral admin to rodents, analeptic effects of sulfolane were nearly additive with those of metrazol. When injected simultaneously with phenobarbital, it decr phenobarbital sleeping time in mice, but incr time when admin 1 hr before.

Rats receiving sulfolane at 240-300 mg/kg, ip, 20 min before irradiation showed 3 times as many bone marrow karyocytes as did control animals after receiving 300-900 rads gamma-irradiation. Mice receiving 120-240 mg/kg showed twice as many as controls.

Basic treatment: Establish a patent airway. Suction if necessary. Watch for signs of respiratory insufficiency and assist ventilations if needed. Administer oxygen by nonrebreather mask at 10 to 15 L/min. Monitor for pulmonary edema and treat if necessary ... . Monitor for shock and treat if necessary ... . Anticipate seizures and treat if necessary ... . For eye contamination, flush eyes immediately with water. Irrigate each eye continuously with normal saline during transport ... . Do not use emetics. For ingestion, rinse mouth and administer 5 ml/kg up to 200 ml of water for dilution if the patient can swallow, has a strong gag reflex, and does not drool ... . Cover skin burns with dry sterile dressings after decontamination ... . /Poison A and B/

Advanced treatment: Consider orotracheal or nasotracheal intubation for airway control in the patient who is unconscious, has severe pulmonary edema, or is in respiratory arrest. Positive pressure ventilation techniques with a bag valve mask device may be beneficial. Monitor cardiac rhythm and treat arrhythmias as necessary ... . Start an IV with D5W /SRP: "To keep open", minimal flow rate/. Use lactated Ringer's if signs of hypovolemia are present. Watch for signs of fluid overload. Consider drug therapy for pulmonary edema ... . For hypotension with signs of hypovolemia, administer fluid cautiously. Watch for signs of fluid overload ... . Treat seizures with diazepam (Valium) ... . Use proparacaine hydrochloride to assist eye irrigation ... . /Poison A and B/

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ Death, apparently from anoxia, occurred within 24 hr of oral administration of sulfolane to mice. When applied to skin of rats at 3.8 g/kg for 24 hr under an impermeable cover, it produced no systemic effects. It did not irritate or sensitize skin of rabbits.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ The mean survival time of rats exposed to 11,000 mg of aerosolized sulfolane/cu m was 19.4 hr and all rats convulsed during exposure. Concentration expected to yield mean survival time of 24 hr was 4700 mg/cu m.

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ After <24 hr of exposure, leukopenia and convulsions were observed in rats (3600 mg/cu m) or squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) (4850 mg/cu m).

/LABORATORY ANIMALS: Acute Exposure/ ...Tested full strength on rabbit eyes was only mildly irritating, producing conjunctival reaction which lasted only a few hours, and no injury of the cornea.

For more Non-Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for SULFOLANE (18 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

The mutagenicity of sulfolane was evaluated in Salmonella tester strains TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98 and TA100 (Ames Test), Escherichia coli tester strains WP2 and WP2 urvA, and in Saccharomyces cerevisiae tester strain JD1 with and without Aroclor-induced rat liver S9 metabolic activation. Bacterial cultures were tested at concentrations up to 4000 ug/plate using the plate incorporation technique. Yeast liquid suspension cultures were tested at concentrations up to 5.0 mg/mL. Sulfolane did not produce a positive response in any of the bacterial strains with or without metabolic activation. Sulfolane did not produce a consistent increase in the rate of mitotic gene conversion in Saccharomyces with or without metabolic activation.

The ability of sulfolane to cause chromosome aberrations in cultures of rat liver (RL4) cells was evaluated in the absence of added metabolic activation. Monolayer slide cultures of RL4 cells were exposed to 0, the test material at 250, 500 or 1000 ug/mL for 24 hrs and 100 cells/culture were scored for chromosome aberrations. None of the cultures produced frequencies of chromosome aberrations statistically greater than those produced by the controls (sterile distilled water vehicle).

LC50 Carassius auratus (Goldfish, 6.2 +/-0.7 cm, approx 3.3 g) 4800 mg/L/24 hr; static, aerated, dissolved oxygen >/= 4 mg/L, pH 6-8, 20 °C

LC50 Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish) 1930 mg/L/96 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

EC50 Selenastrum capricornutum (Algae; growth inhibition) >1000 mg/L/96 hr; static, 24 +/- 1 °C, constant illumination

EC50 Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oyster, embryo; embryo larval test) 460 mg/L/24 hr; static, artificial sea water, dissolved oxygen 6.8-7.1 mg/L, pH 7.9, 25 °C

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for SULFOLANE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

6.30e+01

8.20e+02

2.10e+00

8.80e+00

2.00e+01

1.00e+02

4.40e-03

1.00e-03

2.00e-03

LC50 Carassius auratus (Goldfish, 6.2 +/-0.7 cm, approx 3.3 g) 4800 mg/L/24 hr; static, aerated, dissolved oxygen >/= 4 mg/L, pH 6-8, 20 °C

LC50 Gambusia affinis (Mosquitofish) 1930 mg/L/96 hr /Conditions of bioassay not specified in source examined/

EC50 Selenastrum capricornutum (Algae; growth inhibition) >1000 mg/L/96 hr; static, 24 +/- 1 °C, constant illumination

EC50 Crassostrea gigas (Pacific oyster, embryo; embryo larval test) 460 mg/L/24 hr; static, artificial sea water, dissolved oxygen 6.8-7.1 mg/L, pH 7.9, 25 °C

For more Ecotoxicity Values (Complete) data for SULFOLANE (6 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

6.30e+01

8.20e+02

2.10e+00

8.80e+00

2.00e+01

1.00e+02

4.40e-03

1.00e-03

2.00e-03

Volatile

1.90e+02

2.50e+03

6.30e+00

2.60e+01

6.00e+01

Sulfolane's use as a solvent for the extraction of benzene, toluene, and xylene from mixtures with aliphatic hydrocarbons and its use in the extraction of acidic components, such as hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon dioxide and mercaptans, from sour gas streams, may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If released to the atmosphere, a vapor pressure of 0.0062 mm Hg at 25 °C indicates that sulfolane will exist solely in the vapor phase. Vapor phase sulfolane is degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 29 hours. If released to soil, sulfolane is expected to have very high mobility based upon Koc values in the range of 4-35. Volatilization from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.8X10-6 atm-cu m/mole. Sulfolane was degraded readily under aerobic conditions (half-lives of 2-3 days) using microcosms constructed of groundwater and sediment obtained from natural gas plants, but was generally recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions. If released into water, sulfolane is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment based upon the Koc values. Volatilization from water surfaces is expected to be an important fate process based upon this compound's estimated Henry's Law constant. Estimated volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 6 and 64 days, respectively. BCF values of <13 measured in carp suggest that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Hydrolysis of sulfolane and photolysis in sunlit surface waters are not expected since sulfolane lacks functional groups that are susceptible to hydrolysis or photolysis under environmental conditions. Occupational exposure to sulfolane may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where sulfolane is produced or used. (SRC)

Sulfolane's use as a solvent for the extraction of benzene, toluene, and xylene from mixtures with aliphatic hydrocarbons and its use in the extraction of acidic components, eg, hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, carbonyl sulfide, carbon dioxide and mercaptans, from sour gas streams(1), may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams(SRC).

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), Koc values in the range of 4-35 measured in aquifer material from a natural gas plant(2), indicates that sulfolane is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC). Volatilization of sulfolane from moist soil surfaces is expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 4.8X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), using a fragment constant estimation method(3). Sulfolane is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces given a vapor pressure of 0.0062 mm Hg(4). Microcosms constructed of groundwater and sediment obtained from natural gas plants suggest that sulfolane degrades readily under aerobic conditions (half-lives of 2-3 days), but was shown to be recalcitrant under anaerobic conditions(5,6).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), Koc values in the range of 4-35 measured in aquifer material from a natural gas plant(2), indicates that sulfolane is not 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 4.8X10-6 atm-cu m/mole (SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(4). Using this Henry's Law constant and an estimation method(3), volatilization half-lives for a model river and model lake are 6 and 64 days, respectively(SRC). Sulfolane is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in water due to the lack of hydrolyzable functional groups(3). According to a classification scheme(5), BCF values of <13, measured in carp(6) suggest that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC). Sulfolane did not pass the OECD ready biodegradation test(6), suggesting that biodegradation will not be fast. However, aquifer slurries constructed with soil and groundwater from a natural gas plant were shown to be capable of degrading sulfolane under aerobic conditions (half-lives of approximately 2-3 days); no degradation was observed under anaerobic conditions(7,8).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), sulfolane, which has a vapor pressure of 0.0062 mm Hg at 25 °C (2), is expected to exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase sulfolane 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 29 hours(SRC), calculated from its rate constant of 1.3X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) that was derived using a structure estimation method(3).

AEROBIC: In a 5-day standard BOD test using acclimated or unacclimated sewage as microbial inoculum, no biodegradation of sulfolane was observed(1,2). Sulfolane, present at 100 mg/L, reached 10.1% of its theoretical BOD in 2 weeks using an activated sludge inoculum at 30 mg/L and the Japanese MITI test(3). On the other hand, more than 99% of sulfolane at an initial concn of 100 mg/L biodegraded by activated sludge cultures in 1 day in a batch die-away test(4). In a bench scale aerated lagoon reactor, more than 90% degradation of sulfolane occured at an initial concn 20-80 mg/L biodegraded at hydraulic retention time of 2-2.4 days(4). Inorganic sulfate has been identified as the biodegradation product of sulfolane(4). Aquifer slurries using sediment and groundwater from a sour natural gas plant were shown to be capable of degrading sulfolane at 26 and 8 °C under aerobic conditions(5). Following a 10 day acclimation period, sulfolane added at 20 mg/L to aquifer slurries degraded with half-lives of approximately 2-3 days at 26 °C depending upon whether nitrogen and phosphorous containing nutrients were added(5). At 8 degrees C, sulfolane degradation proceeded at a slower rate, particularly in the absence of nutrients; however, complete degradation was observed within 20 days(5).

ANAEROBIC: Under anaerobic conditions, little or no sulfolane degradation was observed at both 8 and 26 degrees C using aquifer sediments from sour natural gas plants(1).

The rate constant for the vapor-phase reaction of sulfolane with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals has been estimated as 1.3X10-11 cu cm/molecule-sec at 25 °C(SRC) using a structure estimation method(1). This corresponds to an atmospheric half-life of about 29 hours at an atmospheric concentration of 5X10+5 hydroxyl radicals per cu cm(1). Sulfolane is not expected to undergo hydrolysis in the environment due to the lack of hydrolyzable functional groups(2) nor to directly photolyze due to the lack of absorption in the environmental UV spectrum (>290 nm).

BCFs of <1.3 and <13 were measured for sulfolane at concentrations of 2.5 mg/L and 0.25 mg/L, respectively, using carp which were exposed over a 6-week period(1). According to a classification scheme(2), these BCF data suggest that bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low(SRC).

Sulfolane exhibited very high mobility in batch adsorption experiments using aquifer material from 3 natural gas plants in Canada(1). In each experiment, the soil adsorption isotherms were linear and the soil adsorption coefficient (Kd) of sulfolane was very low (Kd < 1). The corresponding Koc values in these low organic (0.2-0.9% organic carbon) materials were in the range of 4-35. The Koc value of sulfolane using a humus rich soil (pH = 6.9, 3.6% organic carbon) was 3(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this range of Koc values suggests that sulfolane is expected to have very high mobility in soil(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for sulfolane is estimated as 4.8X10-6 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) using a fragment constant estimation method(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that sulfolane is expected to volatilize from water surfaces(2). Based on this Henry's Law constant, the volatilization half-life from a model river (1 m deep, flowing 1 m/sec, wind velocity of 3 m/sec)(2) is estimated as 6 days(SRC). The volatilization half-life from a model lake (1 m deep, flowing 0.05 m/sec, wind velocity of 0.5 m/sec)(2) is estimated as 64 days(SRC). Sulfolane's Henry's Law constant indicates that volatilization from moist soil surfaces may occur(SRC). Sulfolane is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon a vapor pressure 0.0062 mm Hg(3).

Sulfolane was detected in effluents of advanced waste water treatment plants in Orange county, CA(1). Sulfolane was detected in landfill leachate from municipal waste in Japan at 1200 ug/L(2).

NIOSH (NOES Survey 1981-1983) has statistically estimated that 6,461 workers (315 of these are female) are potentially exposed to sulfolane in the US(1). Occupational exposure to sulfolane may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where sulfolane is produced or used(SRC).

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.