© 2026 Nanjing Finechem Holdings Co., Ltd,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: 1,4-Dithio-DL-threitol
Common Name: Dithiothreitol
Chemical Formula: C4H10O2S2
Synonym: Cleland’s reagent
Recommended Use: Laboratory reducing agent, protein chemistry
Physical Form: Crystalline powder, white or off-white
Main Hazards: Causes skin and eye irritation upon contact. May cause respiratory tract irritation if inhaled as a dust. Handling without protection increases risk of acute symptoms, including coughing, headache, and nausea. Its odor often serves as an immediate indicator, but it is unwise to rely solely on that.
Component: Dithiothreitol
Concentration: Typically 98% or higher in laboratory grade
Impurities: Minor traces of related thiol compounds, depending on synthesis purity
CAS Number: 3483-12-3
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with running water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses to ensure thorough irrigation. Immediate medical attention matters, as eye exposure brings long-lasting discomfort.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash area with plenty of soap and water.
Inhalation: Move to area with fresh air. If cough or breathing difficulty continues, consult a healthcare professional.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth and drink water, monitor for symptoms like nausea and seek medical advice.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, carbon dioxide, foam, or dry chemical extinguishers, as the substance itself is not highly flammable but can give off noxious fumes when heated.
Hazardous Combustion Products: Sulfur oxides, carbon oxides. These can travel with smoke — responders need respiration protection.
Advice for Firefighters: Firefighters should wear self-contained breathing apparatus and full protective clothing. Avoid breathing vapors produced under fire conditions.
Personal Precautions: Don gloves, goggles, and if dust rises, use a dust mask. Avoid stirring up powder into the air. Restrict area to those equipped with personal protective gear.
Environmental Precautions: Sweep spilled material carefully to minimize dust. Do not let spill flow into water systems.
Cleanup Methods: Use damp paper towels or absorbent pads, store all cleanup materials in sealed bags for disposal. Air out area until smell dissipates.
Handling: Handle in areas with good ventilation. Punctilious hand-washing after use. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Never eat, drink, or smoke when using this chemical.
Storage: Store tightly closed, cool, and dry. Keep away from oxidizers and bases. Protect from direct sunlight or heat sources.
Exposure Limits: Specific limits are not often established, but always limit dust inhalation.
Engineering Controls: Fume hood or local exhaust for open use. Work on trays to contain spills.
Personal Protection: Chemical-resistant gloves, safety goggles, lab coat. Dust respirator if handling large amounts or powders.
Hygiene: Wash hands and any splashed skin thoroughly after handling.
Physical State: Solid
Color: Fine white to off-white powder
Odor: Mild, sulfur-like odor
Melting Point: Ranges from 40°C to 44°C
Solubility: Readily soluble in water and commonly used laboratory solvents
pH (1% solution): Slightly acidic, often about 5
Chemical Stability: Stable under recommended storage, but decomposition grows likely in the presence of heat or light.
Reactivity: Reacts with oxidants, bases, and strong acids. Unpleasant and dangerous fumes may evolve if improper contact occurs.
Acute Effects: Irritation of eyes, skin, and respiratory tract. Headaches and dizziness can follow inhalation exposure.
Chronic Exposure: No robust data supports chronic toxicity when standard precautions are followed, but skin sensitization is not unheard of with repeated contact.
Routes: Eyes and skin offer immediate routes, while ingestion or inhalation matter if major accidents happen in a lab setting.
Persistence: Rapid degradation under environmental conditions, but not enough data points to guarantee zero risk to aquatic life. Large spills can harm local waterways.
Mobility: Solubility in water means runoff potential after larger tank leaks.
Other Hazards: No known tendencies to bioaccumulate in higher organisms.
Waste Disposal: Small quantities collected with absorbent can go through laboratory chemical disposal. Local regulations determine method: incineration or professional waste handler preferred.
Contaminated Packaging: Bins for chemical waste; empty containers need triple rinsing.
UN Number: No listing in most common hazardous materials codes for limited quantities.
Recommended Shipping: Keep sealed, labelled, segregated from food and incompatible chemicals.
Precautions: Prevent vibration, breakage, heat exposure during transit.
Regulation Listings: Dithiothreitol does not land in most high-hazard regulatory lists, but workplace safety rules on respiratory and skin sensitizers apply. Country-specific chemicals inventories list it accurately.
Workplace Obligations: Training on safe use, spill response, and proper disposal forms the minimum baseline.
