2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Guidance on Safe Use

First-aid measures

Inhalation:

Inhaled vapour is toxic, may cause irritation of the respiratory system (eg coughing and sneezing), and may cause narcosis (symptoms such as headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea and in cases of gross overexposure collapse).  Remove patient from exposure into fresh air, and keep at rest.  Obtain medical aid if symptoms occur.

Eye contact:

May cause severe irritation (eg burns, redness, tears, conjunctivitis).  Irrigate eyes with eyewash solution or clean water, holding the eyelids apart, for at least fifteen minutes (do not let run-off water contaminate unaffected eye); remove contact lenses if present and easy to do whilst rinsing. Obtain immediate medical aid.  

Skin contact:

May cause irritation (eg reddening of skin, itching).  Remove contaminated clothing and wash affected area thoroughly with soap and water.  Report for medical attention.  

Ingestion:

Toxic if swallowed and may cause gastric disturbance (eg vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps).   Do not induce vomiting.  Give patient plenty of water to drink if conscious, keep warm and at rest.  If unconscious, place/transport patient in secured side recovery position.  Obtain immediate medical aid.

Physician:

Treatment should be symptomatic and supportive.

Fire-fighting measures

Extinguishing media:

Use alcohol resistant foam, dry powder or CO2.

Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture:

May produce toxic and corrosive fumes of organic compounds, fluorine compounds (eg corrosive hydrogen fluoride) and carbon monoxide.

Advice for fire-fighters:

Wear chemical resistant protective clothing and breathing apparatus.  If without risk remove packages from exposure to fire (risk of sealed packages eg drums exploding).  Spay unopened drums with water to keep cool.  Beware of vapour (heavier than air) creeping along ground or through drains or collecting in low areas and accumulating into flammable/explosive concentrations.  Prevent leaking product and fire-fighting water from contaminating drains or water courses (cover drains or bund area if practicable).

Accidental release measures

Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures:

Prevent build up of vapour by ensuring adequate ventilation.  Keep all sources of ignition away.  Beware of vapour (heavier than air) creeping along ground or through drains or collecting in low areas and accumulating into flammable/explosive concentrations.   Keep people and animals away.  If the accidental release is significant, consider evacuating workplace or exposed area.  Wear protective clothing as specified in Section 8.

      

Environmental precautions:

Prevent spilt material or contaminated wash or fire-fighting water entering drains or watercourses – contain by portable bunding if necessary and protect drains with covers.  Prevent material or clean-up waste from contaminating land.  Collect up spillages without delay.

Methods and material for containment and cleaning up:

Contain larger spillages with barriers/bunding if possible and transfer to suitable drum for recovery, recycling or disposal as waste.  Otherwise, contain/absorb spillages preferably with industrial absorbent or sand then collect up and transfer using non-metal shovel to suitable drum for disposal.  Subsequently wash down affected area with water then collect up and transfer to suitable drum for disposal.  Only use non-sparking tools and equipment.  For safe disposal of material, contaminated absorbent or wash water see Section 13.  Prevent chemical or contaminated wash water from entering drains or watercourses.

Handling and storage

Precautions for safe handling:

Generally handle material in ways which minimise vapour build up; where vapour release is likely ensure adequate ventilation and keep all ignition sources away.  No smoking.

In a materials handling context (eg process facility) take precautions against static discharge such as grounding containers.

Avoid spillages especially in the presence of ignition sources, oxidising agents, drains and watercourses.  Avoid damaging packages.  See Section 8 for occupational hygiene and exposure prevention measures.  

      

Consideration for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:

Material is a relatively stable organic liquid which can release flammable vapours.  Store in a designated, well ventilated, dry room or other suitable area at ambient temperatures.  Storage areas or buildings should comply with official requirements for the storage of highly flammable liquids.  Material should be protected from light (artificial or sunlight) to prevent discoloration.  Keep segregated from oxidising agents.

Transport information

Land transport (UN RTDG/ADR/RID)

UN number:

1986

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

ALCOHOLS, FLAMMABLE, TOXIC, NOS (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol)

Chemical name:

2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Language:

English

Labels:

Substance is severely corrosive to eyes

SpecialProvisions

Inland waterway transport (UN RTDG/ADN(R))

UN number:

1986

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

ALCOHOLS, FLAMMABLE, TOXIC, NOS (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol)

Chemical name:

2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Language:

English

Labels:

Substance is severely corrosive to eyes

Remarks

Marine transport (UN RTDG/IMDG)

UN number:

1986

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

ALCOHOLS, FLAMMABLE, TOXIC, NOS (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol)

Chemical name:

2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Labels:

Substance is severely corrosive to eyes

Remarks

Air transport (UN RTDG/ICAO/IATA)

UN number:

1986

Shipping information

Proper shipping name and description:

ALCOHOLS, FLAMMABLE, TOXIC, NOS (2,2,2-trifluoroethanol)

Chemical name:

2,2,2-trifluoroethanol

Labels:

Substance is severely corrosive to eyes

Remarks

SpecialProvisions

Exposure controls / personal protection

General:

Check workplace instructions/procedures and risk assessments for any exposure control and person protective equipment requirements (eg COSHH assessments in the UK).  Exposure control measures and personal protective equipment specified in these risk assessments should take precedence over the more general recommendations below because they take into account highly variable factors specific to the workplace and activity concerned which cannot be anticipated in a safety data sheet.  Otherwise:

Engineering controls:

If significant exposure to liquid or vapour is likely it should be minimised by the use of appropriate containment, engineering control and ventilation measures.  Where ventilation is used, adequate local exhaust ventilation is preferred where appropriate for some operations as it removes vapour at source and minimises dispersal into the workplace. (Ensure control measures are spark proof and that precautions have been taken against static charge build-up).

Respiratory protection:

Depending upon workplace/incident circumstances use filtering respirator with filter cartridge Type A (organic vapour) or combination including A, or breathing apparatus – see note below for types available.  In an emergency or where the concentration of vapour is unknown but could be high use clean air supplied breathing apparatus.  Do not use a filtering respirator in: atmospheres containing <19.5% oxygen; poorly ventilated areas; confined spaces; when concentration of vapour is unknown, is ‘immediately dangerous to life or health’ or is above any workplace exposure limit; for fire-fighting.    

Eye protection:

Wear safety glasses with side pieces or safety goggles to EN166.

Skin protection:

Wear chemical resistant protective gloves (eg rubber, neoprene, butyl, PVC or nitrile) to EN374.  Do not wear heavily contaminated or damaged gloves, and decontaminate before removal.  Check condition regularly, especially for abrasion damage.  Wear standard workplace protective clothing (eg laboratory coat, washable or disposable overalls, protective footwear).

Environmental:

Measures based on adequate handling practices and facilities, containment and filtered extraction intended to minimise exposure to the material should also minimise release of it to the environment. See also Section 6.2.

General hygiene:

Remove overalls and personal protective equipment before eating, drinking or smoking and before entering office, eating or other ‘clean’ areas.  Wash hands immediately after any contact with chemical.  Contaminated clothing and personal protective equipment should be cleaned before removal where practicable and before re-use; if not possible it should be disposed of as chemical waste (see Section 13).

Additional information on respiratory protective equipment referred to above:

Respirator types – valve filtering half mask EN405, half mask EN140, full face mask EN136, powered (hood or helmet) EN146 and EN12941 or powered (full face mask) EN147; breathing apparatus types – fresh air hose EN138/269, light duty compressed airline (mask) EN12419, light duty compressed airline (hoods, helmets, visors) EN1835, constant flow compressed (hood, mask) EN270/271 and EN139, demand flow compressed airline (mask) EN139 or self-contained (SCBA) EN137.  The type and effectiveness of the respiratory protective equipment to be selected cannot be prescribed in a safety data sheet as they depend upon highly variable factors (eg concentration of vapour at the workplace/incident) and circumstances (eg quantity, type of work/incident, location) – consult in-house specialist, workplace procedure or in-house risk assessment.

Stability and reactivity

Reactivity:

Not reported to be particularly reactive under normal circumstances, although gives off a highly flammable vapour.  Can react with oxidising agents and may ignite.  May react violently with bases, sodium and potassium.

Chemical stability:

Not reported to be unstable under normal circumstances.

Possibility of hazardous reactions:

Not reported to undergo hazardous reactions although like most organic substances may react and ignite with oxidising agents.  Will not polymerise although like many substances may initiate polymerisation or catalyse decomposition of certain organic liquids (eg monomers) if allowed to contaminate them.  Reported to also react dangerously with bases, sodium and potassium.

Conditions to avoid:

None other than those generally applicable to organic and flammable chemicals (eg heat).

Incompatible materials:

Oxidising agents.  Also bases, sodium and potassium.

Hazardous decomposition products:

None expected in a use, storage or spillage situation (see Section 5 for fire-related hazards).

Disposal considerations

Handling:

Material is hazardous – see Section 3, 11, 12 and 15 for hazard information, and Sections 7 and 8 for safe handling advice.

Material:

Re-use uncontaminated material if possible, otherwise dispose of at a licensed waste disposal site capable of accepting chemical waste in compliance with local regulations.  The preferred method of disposal of this organic powder at such facilities is incineration at >1100°C with a minimum residence time of 13 seconds, with off-gas scrubbing.  Do not allow material to contaminate ground, watercourses, sewers or drains.

Packaging:

Contaminated packaging may be recycled by draining thoroughly, rinsing with plenty of water then checking condition; alternatively it may be disposed of at an approved landfill site in compliance with local regulations.  Uncontaminated packaging should normally be reused.

Regulations:

Some or all of the following legislation may be applicable: (UK) Environmental Protection Act 1990, Part II; Environmental Protection (Duty of Care) Regulations 1991; The Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994 (as amended); Hazardous Waste Regulations 2005 (Replacing Special Waste Regulations 1996 as amended).  (EU) Landfill Directive; Regulation on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer 1994 (EEC/3093/94).