Product Name: Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride Trihydrate
Chemical Formula: C16H36FN•3H2O
Synonyms: TBAF Trihydrate
CAS Number: 87749-50-6
Manufacturer: Sourced through recognized chemical suppliers, detailed on product label
Product Use: Chemical reagent, fluoride ion source in organic synthesis, phase transfer catalyst
Emergency Contact: Local institutional safety office or listed emergency response provider
GHS Classification: Acute Toxicity (Oral): Category 3; Acute Toxicity (Dermal): Category 3; Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Category 1B; Serious Eye Damage/Irritation: Category 1
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Toxic if swallowed; Causes severe skin burns and eye damage; Harmful if inhaled; May cause respiratory irritation
Pictograms: Skull and crossbones, Corrosive
Precautionary Statements: Do not breathe dust, fumes, or vapors; Wash hands thoroughly after handling; Do not eat, drink, or smoke during handling; Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye, and face protection; Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area
Chemical Identity: Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride Trihydrate
CAS Number: 87749-50-6
Concentration: 98–100% Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride Trihydrate
Impurities: Trace organic solvents or degradation products; typically controlled under good laboratory or manufacturing process
General Advice: Move affected person to fresh air, avoid contact with contaminated clothing and skin
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air, keep at rest, seek medical attention
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse skin with water or shower for at least 15 minutes, seek immediate medical assistance
Eye Contact: Rinse cautiously with water for at least 15 minutes, remove contact lenses if present and easy, continue rinsing, seek medical attention without delay
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, do not induce vomiting, give water to drink, seek urgent medical assistance
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, water spray, carbon dioxide, foam
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Do not use direct water stream, as this may spread material
Hazardous Combustion Products: May produce toxic fumes of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen fluoride
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, chemical protective suit, and gloves
Special Procedures: Approach fire from upwind, contain runoff using sand or earth
Personal Precautions: Use personal protective equipment, avoid dust generation, ensure adequate ventilation, evacuate unnecessary personnel
Environmental Precautions: Prevent release into drains, sewers, waterways, and soil
Methods for Containment and Clean Up: Absorb spill with inert material such as dry sand or earth, collect in suitable containers, do not allow water to contact spilled material, ventilate area, avoid creating dust, dispose of in accordance with local, regional, national regulations
Safe Handling Recommendations: Handle in a chemical fume hood, use non-sparking tools, avoid contact with skin, eyes, and clothing, avoid inhalation of dust or fumes
Hygienic Practices: Wash thoroughly after handling and before eating or drinking, remove and wash contaminated clothing before reuse
Storage Conditions: Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area, away from incompatible materials (acids, oxidizers), keep container tightly closed, protect from moisture, segregate from food and drink supplies, clearly label containers to avoid accidental misuse
Exposure Limit Values: No established OSHA or ACGIH thresholds; good industrial hygiene practices advise minimizing exposure
Engineering Controls: Use chemical fume hood, mechanical exhaust, local ventilation at handling areas
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile gloves, lab coat, chemical splash goggles, face shield as needed, appropriate protective shoes, use respirator with suitable cartridge when exposure to dust or vapors exceeds control limits
Environmental Controls: Prevent spillage from reaching sewers or water sources, follow emissions regulations, maintain air monitoring where risk of vapor or dust release
Physical State: Solid, crystalline, hygroscopic
Color: White to off-white
Odor: Mild, amine-like
Melting Point: Decomposes at approximately 60–70°C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, soluble in polar organic solvents
Density: About 1.11 g/cm³ at 20°C
pH (10% solution): 10–12
Vapor Pressure: Not significant at room temperature
Partition Coefficient: Not determined
Evaporation Rate: Not relevant for solid
Stability: Stable under recommended storage conditions, degrades under moisture and heat
Reactivity: Reacts with acids producing toxic hydrogen fluoride gas, reacts with strong oxidizers
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Nitrogen oxides, carbon oxides, hydrogen fluoride, butylamine
Polymerization: Does not occur under normal handling
Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to moisture, heat, open flame, incompatibles
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin and eye contact
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 (rat): estimated at 52 mg/kg (based on structurally similar compounds)
Effects on Skin: Causes severe burns; possible delayed effects with blisters, tissue destruction
Effects on Eyes: Causes severe burns and irreversible eye damage
Inhalation: Inhalation may result in chemical pneumonitis, pulmonary edema, and severe respiratory irritation
Ingestion: Causes mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach burns, risk of circulatory collapse, toxic systemic fluoride effects
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause fluorosis, neurological symptoms, weight loss, bone changes
Carcinogenicity/Mutagenicity: Not classified as carcinogen or mutagen by ACGIH, IARC, NTP
Other Information: Seek medical attention for any exposure, especially large splashes or ingestion
Ecotoxicity: Releases of substantial quantity pose moderate to high hazard to aquatic organisms; TBAF acts as a persistent fluoride source, inhibits microbial metabolic processes
Mobility in Soil: Expected to be highly mobile in soil due to solubility; fluoride ions may leach into groundwater
Persistence: Not expected to undergo rapid biodegradation
Bioaccumulation: Low potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, though sustained exposure harms invertebrates
Aquatic Toxicity: Data limited, but related quaternary ammonium and fluoride compounds show LC50 values (fish) in low mg/L range
Other Harmful Effects: Long-term exposure changes water and soil chemistry, disrupting sensitive species
Waste Disposal: Treat and dispose of as hazardous chemical waste, follow institutional policies for fluoride and quaternary ammonium compounds, incineration at approved facility with flue gas scrubbing advised
Container Disposal: Triple rinse containers, then puncture and send to licensed waste handler
Precautions: Do not release to environment, never pour down the drain, keep waste away from acids and oxidizers, label waste containers clearly with contents and hazards
Transport to Disposal: Use secondary containment, ensure compatibility of packaging with waste
UN Number: UN2923
Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive solid, toxic, n.o.s. (contains Tetrabutylammonium Fluoride Trihydrate)
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive), 6.1 (Toxic)
Packing Group: II
Marine Pollutant: Not listed as marine pollutant, but caution needed due to aquatic toxicity
Special Transport Precautions: Secure containers, avoid exposure to moisture, notify carrier of toxic and corrosive nature, ensure documentation matches regulatory requirements
Emergency Response Guide: Reference ERG Guide 154 (Corrosive, Toxic Solids)
OSHA: Subject to Hazard Communication Standard, requires SDS and labeling
TSCA: Listed on Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) inventory
EPA: Regulated as hazardous under EPA guidelines due to fluoride release
REACH: Registered under European REACH legislation for laboratory and research chemical uses
SARA: May be subject to Section 313 (toxic chemicals), Section 302 (extremely hazardous)
WHMIS (Canada): Classified as D1A (Very Toxic Material), E (Corrosive Material)
Other Regulations: Comply with national and local environmental, workplace, and transport safety codes
