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Name: p-Coumaric Acid
Chemical Formula: C9H8O3
Other Names: 4-Hydroxycinnamic acid
Appearance: Light yellow to off-white crystalline powder
Natural Occurrence: Found in plants such as peanuts, tomatoes, and carrots, this compound draws interest in food science, nutritional research, and pharmaceutical manufacturing. Recognizing this chemical goes beyond a technicality for safety—anyone working around plant extracts in labs or food processing should know what they're handling, not just for compliance.
Classification: Not classified as hazardous under GHS for routine use, but that never means throw out caution. It can irritate eyes, skin, or airways for those who spend long hours working with powders.
Potential Effects: Eye irritation, slight skin irritation, possible mild respiratory discomfort on inhaling fine dust, rarely any acute toxicity in small accidental exposures. Even though the risks seem mild, irritation can build up if ignored, which never feels minor when you’re on the receiving end in a lab shift.
Chemical Composition: p-Coumaric Acid is a single organic compound, not a mixture—C9H8O3.
Purity: Usually above 98% in research and industrial settings.
Impurities: Trace amounts of related phenolic acids sometimes present in extracts, but high-purity batches used in most labs avoid surprise contaminants.
Inhalation: Move to fresh air. If cough or throat irritation lingers, medical oversight is smart—downplaying repeated exposure can backfire, especially during allergy season.
Skin contact: Wash with plenty of water and soap. Prolonged exposure to powders dries skin out quickly, so don’t delay clean-up.
Eye contact: Flush with water for several minutes. Call for help if any discomfort refuses to fade.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, drink water. Because it’s a plant-based phenolic, accidental swallowing usually brings little risk but never assume absolute safety.
Suitable Extinguishing Methods: Water spray, dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide work well for small fires.
Combustion Risks: Produces carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and sometimes irritating smoke if burnt. Without attention, a dusty environment could see fire spread faster than many expect, especially in storerooms or production suites.
Protective Actions: Firefighters should always go in with full gear and breathing apparatus. Don’t play down risk just because a compound seems plant-based.
Personal Precautions: Wear gloves, dust mask, and goggles to avoid irritation or inhaling powders.
Environmental Precautions: Keep powder out of drains, watercourses, and soil because even benign acids mess with lab or workplace ecosystems.
Clean-Up: Sweep up gently, using wet methods if possible to avoid kicking up dust. Use labeled waste containers; don't just toss spilled powder in regular trash.
Handling: Always use protective gear—gloves, mask, and goggles. Work in ventilated spaces. Too many researchers make the mistake of skipping full PPE when dealing with “low risk” substances. Even a minor irritant piles up after hours at the bench.
Storage: Store in cool, dry, tightly sealed containers. Protect from direct sunlight and moisture because humidity wrecks purity and opens up risk for caking or loss of function. Don’t stack containers carelessly; glass or plastic jars may crack if shoved around on crowded shelves.
Engineering Controls: Use fume hoods or local exhaust to prevent inhalation of powder. Keep containers closed when not in use.
Personal Protection: Gloves and goggles as routine, face mask if dust is present. Lab coats keep powder off clothing and skin.
Exposure Limits: No government occupational exposure limit known, but sensible practice says limit exposure to dust at all times, as most fine powders bring cumulative effects.
Form: Crystalline powder
Color: Pale yellow to off-white
Odor: Faint aromatic
Melting Point: Around 210–213°C
Solubility: Slightly soluble in cold water, more in hot or in ethanol or DMSO
Boiling Point: Not applicable (compound decomposes)
Vapor Pressure: Negligible under lab conditions
Stability with Light and Air: Stable under normal handling except in humid or sunlight-rich rooms.
Chemical Stability: Stable in dry, sealed containers at room temperature, but humidity eventually leads to caking or mild hydrolysis.
Reactivity: Does not react strongly with acids or bases under common lab conditions.
Hazardous Decomposition: Heating above decomposition brings carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, possible phenolic fumes.
Incompatibility: Strong oxidizing agents or powerful bases make for trouble.
Acute Toxicity: Not highly toxic by oral, dermal, or inhalation routes in tested animals.
Chronic Effects: No evidence for carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity, which matches why it appears in so many food items.
Irritation: Skin and eye irritant if exposure goes unchecked.
Sensitization: Rare reports of allergies, but always wise to be aware if symptoms build over repeated exposures.
LD50 Data: Animal studies put LD50 (oral, rat) well above 1000 mg/kg.
Aquatic Toxicity: Low toxicity for aquatic organisms at environmental concentrations.
Persistence and Degradability: Readily broken down by natural microbes in soils and water. Prevents bioaccumulation headaches and limits long-term issues.
Mobility in Soil: Phenolic acids may move through soil moderately depending on pH and organic content, but generally don’t stick around long.
Precaution: Avoid release into major waterways—a few grams don’t create a crisis, but repeated or concentrated spills upset sensitive micro-ecosystems near research facilities.
Waste Treatment: Collect solid waste for chemical disposal, separate from household or municipal trash.
Residual Handling: Rinse glassware with plenty of water, avoid strong cleaners that generate more chemical waste.
Regulations: Most regions do not classify it as hazardous waste, but smart operators follow lab or plant rules—small scale producers should always link up with proper chemical collection programs.
UN Number: Not assigned
Transport Hazard Class: Not regulated as a dangerous good under international transport rules.
Packing Group: Not regulated, so long as it’s packed securely.
Special Precautions: Keep containers tightly sealed, cushioned from impact, and labeled. Even non-hazardous powders create a mess or bring inhalation risks if containers break open in transit. Transit labeling keeps regulators, transporters, and lab techs all on the same page.
GHS Status: Not classified as hazardous under GHS or EU criteria.
REACH: Listed but not subject to authorization or restriction because of widespread use in foods and its presence in the environment.
OSHA/NIOSH: Not listed on US-specific workplace hazard lists.
Inventory Listings: Found on most global chemical inventories, including TSCA and DSL.
