Hexane Safety Data Sheets

Flammable liquids, Category 2

Skin irritation, Category 2

Aspiration hazard, Category 1

Specific target organ toxicity – single exposure, Category 3

Specific target organ toxicity – repeated exposure, Category 2

Hazardous to the aquatic environment, long-term (Chronic) - Category Chronic 2

Reproductive toxicity, Category 2

If inhaled

Following skin contact

Following eye contact

Following ingestion

INHALATION causes irritation of respiratory tract, cough, mild depression, cardiac arrhythmias. ASPIRATION causes severe lung irritation, coughing, pulmonary edema; excitement followed by depression. INGESTION causes nausea, vomiting, swelling of abdomen, headache, depression. (USCG, 1999)

Behavior in Fire: Vapors may explode (USCG, 1999)

Use powder, AFFF, foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Consult an expert! Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Remove all ignition sources. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

Consult an expert! Personal protection: filter respirator for organic gases and vapours adapted to the airborne concentration of the substance. Remove all ignition sources. Do NOT wash away into sewer. Do NOT let this chemical enter the environment. Collect leaking and spilled liquid in sealable containers as far as possible. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.

In the event of spillage, naked flames, sparks, and heat should be avoided; approved, efficient, protective clothing and respirators should be provided. Small-scale spillage should be absorbed on paper towels or sawdust; sand or earth can be used for larger spills. Fire-fighting foam can be used in large spillages to reduce evaporation. If possible, liquid spills should be recovered for recycling.

NO open flames, NO sparks and NO smoking. Closed system, ventilation, explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting. Do NOT use compressed air for filling, discharging, or handling. Use non-sparking handtools. Handling in a well ventilated place. Wear suitable protective clothing. Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid formation of dust and aerosols. Use non-sparking tools. Prevent fire caused by electrostatic discharge steam.

Fireproof. Separated from strong oxidants. Well closed.Drums should be stored in a well-ventilated area in fire-resistant containers. Metal containers should be electrically-grounded, when liquid is being transferred.

Occupational Exposure limit values

Biological limit values

Eye/face protection

Skin protection

Respiratory protection

Thermal hazards

1100 ppm (Based on 10% of the lower explosion limit for safety considerations even though the relevant toxicological data indicated that irreversible health effects or impairment of escape existed only at higher concentrations.)

Reacts with strong oxidants. This generates fire and explosion hazard. Attacks some plastics, rubber and coatings.

no data available

Flammable. Flashback along vapor trail may occur.The vapour is heavier than air and may travel along the ground; distant ignition possible.HEXANE may be sensitive to light. It may also be sensitive to prolonged exposure to heat. This compound can react vigorously with oxidizing materials. This would include compounds such as liquid chlorine, concentrated O2, sodium hypochlorite and calcium hypochlorite. It is also incompatible with dinitrogen tetraoxide. It will attack some forms of plastics, rubber and coatings. (NTP, 1992).

no data available

Forms explosive mixture with air. Contact with strong oxidizers may cause fire and explosions. contact with dinitrogen tetreoxide may explode at 28 deg C. Attacks some plastics, rubber and coatings. may accumulate static electrical charges, and may cause ignition of its vapor.

When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes.

Acute toxicity

• Oral: LD50 Mouse oral 5000 mg/kg bw
• Inhalation: LC50 Rat inhalation 48000 ppm/< 4 hr
• Dermal: no data available

Skin corrosion/irritation

Serious eye damage/irritation

Respiratory or skin sensitization

Germ cell mutagenicity

Carcinogenicity

Reproductive toxicity

STOT-single exposure

STOT-repeated exposure

Aspiration hazard

• Toxicity to fish: LC50; Species: Pimephales promelas (Fathead Minnow) age 31 days, length 20.4 mm, weight 0.123 g; Conditions: freshwater, flow through, 25.6 deg C, pH 7.4, hardness 44.7 mg/L CaCO3, alkalinity 43.9 mg/L CaCO3, dissolved oxygen 7.5 mg/L; Concentration: 2500 ug/L for 96 hr (95% confidence interval: 2100-2980 ug/L) /99+% purity
• Toxicity to daphnia and other aquatic invertebrates: EC50; Species: Daphnia magna (Water Flea) age 4-6 days, length 1.5 mm; Conditions: freshwater, static, 23 deg C, pH 6-7, dissolved oxygen 5-9 mg/L; Concentration: 45 mmol/cu m for 48 hr (95% confidence interval: 30-66 mmol/cu m); Effect: intoxication, immobilization /> or =97% purity formulation
• Toxicity to algae: EC50; Species: Chlamydomonas angulosa (Green Algae) age 3-4 days, exponential growth phase 5x10+4 cells/mL; Conditions: static, 19 deg C, pH 6.5; Concentration: 94 mmol/cu m for 3 hr; Effect: physiology, photosynthesis /formulation
• Toxicity to microorganisms: no data available

The degradation of n-alkanes by microorganisms is similar to the degradation of fatty acids. The terminal methyl group is enzymatically oxidized by incorporation of molecular oxygen by a monooxygenase producing a primary alcohol with further oxidation to an acid group, although involvement of a dioxygenase is also postulated. Once the fatty acid is produced, it is degraded into 2-carbon units via the beta-oxidation pathway. ... Another pathway for n-alkane degradation that is encountered less often is the oxidation of both terminal carbons to form a dioic acid with subsequent beta-oxidation. Subterminal oxidation of the 2-carbon atom is seen mainly in C3-C6 alkanes, although it does occur in longer chain alkanes also. ... A dehydrogenation of the n-alkane may also occur yielding an alkene which is then converted to an alcohol, although there is little evidence for this theory. Some microorganisms have been shown to have both terminal and subterminal oxidation, each having very different rates of activity. The different chain lengths of n-alkanes are degraded to different extents . /In a study comparing/ ... growth on long an short chain alkanes by some bacteria ... the initial oxygenase had a broad specificity and would oxidize C1-C8 alkanes ... /but/ cells grown on C4-C8 alkanes did not oxidize the shorter chain alkanes to a significant extent. ... n-Alkanes

An estimated BCF of 170 was calculated in fish for n-hexane(SRC), using a log Kow of 3.90(1) and a regression-derived equation(2). According to a classification scheme(3), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is high(SRC), provided the compound is not metabolized by the organism(SRC).

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of n-hexane can be estimated to be 130(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that n-hexane is expected to have high mobility in soil.

no data available

Product

Contaminated packaging

no data available

no data available

Information on revision

Abbreviations and acronyms

• CAS: Chemical Abstracts Service
• ADR: European Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road
• RID: Regulation concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Rail
• IMDG: International Maritime Dangerous Goods
• IATA: International Air Transportation Association
• TWA: Time Weighted Average
• STEL: Short term exposure limit
• LC50: Lethal Concentration 50%
• LD50: Lethal Dose 50%
• EC50: Effective Concentration 50%

References

• IPCS - The International Chemical Safety Cards (ICSC), website: http://www.ilo.org/dyn/icsc/showcard.home
• HSDB - Hazardous Substances Data Bank, website: https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/hsdb.htm
• IARC - International Agency for Research on Cancer, website: http://www.iarc.fr/
• eChemPortal - The Global Portal to Information on Chemical Substances by OECD, website: http://www.echemportal.org/echemportal/index?pageID=0&request_locale=en
• CAMEO Chemicals, website: http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/search/simple
• ChemIDplus, website: http://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/chemidlite.jsp
• ERG - Emergency Response Guidebook by U.S. Department of Transportation, website: http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat/library/erg
• Germany GESTIS-database on hazard substance, website: http://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gestis-stoffdatenbank/index-2.jsp
• ECHA - European Chemicals Agency, website: https://echa.europa.eu/

Other Information

Depending on the degree of exposure, periodic medical examination is suggested.