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Name: Titanium(IV) Butoxide
Chemical Formula: Ti(OBu)4
Common Uses: This chemical finds frequent use in laboratory and industrial settings, especially for sol-gel processes, producing titanium dioxide coatings, and acting as a catalyst in organic synthesis. Its oily, colorless to yellowish liquid form gives it particular handling considerations in any context where precision and safety are required.
Physical State: Liquid
Main Hazards: Irritation to eyes, skin, and mucous membranes can occur on contact. Inhalation of vapors or mists leads to respiratory tract irritation, coughing, and shortness of breath. Exposure to open flame or significant heat presents both fire and explosion risks, mainly because this liquid forms combustible vapors. Long-term or repeated skin contact can provoke dermatitis. The facts show titanium alkoxides react strongly with moisture, sometimes generating heat or releasing flammable byproducts.
Chemical: Titanium(IV) Butoxide
CAS Number: 5593-70-4
Purity: Usually above 98 percent for laboratory use
Other Substances: Negligible unless specified as commercial blend—impurities usually include trace alcohols or partially hydrolyzed compounds.
Inhalation: Remove affected individual to fresh air; provide respiration or oxygen if breathing is difficult; seek medical help for persistent symptoms.
Skin Contact: Use plenty of water and soap to wash off. Any sign of persistent burning, redness, or irritation deserves immediate medical evaluation.
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with water for several minutes, lifting upper and lower lids; call a doctor if discomfort continues.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water; avoid inducing vomiting. Emergency medical attention remains vital due to likely gastrointestinal irritation and the risk of aspiration into the lungs.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry powder, carbon dioxide, or foam. Water should be avoided unless used to cool containers from a safe distance, as reactivity with water can generate hazardous byproducts.
Specific Hazards: Fire releases acrid smoke, carbon oxides, and titanium oxides. Containers exposed to fire risk explosion due to pressure buildup.
Protective Equipment: Full firefighting gear and self-contained breathing apparatus safeguard responders from inhaling toxic fumes and hot vapors.
Personal Precautions: Protective gloves, goggles, and well-ventilated clothing reduce the risk of exposure. Remove non-essential personnel from the area.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into waterways or drains, which could threaten aquatic organisms due to toxicity and persistence.
Cleanup Methods: Contain spills with absorbent, nonreactive material such as vermiculite or sand. Collect absorbed material in a secure, labeled container for safe disposal in accordance with local regulations. Proper cleanup helps avoid slip hazards while reducing the risk of chemical exposure.
Handling: Use only in well-ventilated spaces, away from sources of ignition such as open flames, hot surfaces, or static discharge points. Avoid breathing vapors. Minimize direct contact by working with gloves, goggles, and protective clothing.
Storage: Store inside tightly sealed containers, under nitrogen or other inert gas, in a cool and dry location removed from food or incompatible chemicals like strong acids, bases, and oxidizers. The right storage temperature ranges from 2 to 8 degrees Celsius—lowering the risk of accidental hydrolysis or decomposition.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation or fume hoods limit workplace exposure. Eye-wash stations and emergency showers should remain readily accessible.
Personal Protective Equipment: Nitrile or butyl gloves, chemical splash goggles, and lab coats are essential. Where ventilation falls short, a respirator with organic vapor cartridges is helpful. Removing contaminated clothing and washing exposed areas right away drops the risk of irritation.
Appearance: Clear, slightly viscous liquid with a yellowish tint
Odor: Alcohol-like, flammable
Boiling Point: Around 150 degrees Celsius at reduced pressures
Melting Point: Data often unavailable, remains liquid at normal conditions
Solubility: Immiscible with water, reacts to produce titanium dioxide and butanol
Density: About 1.01 g/cm³
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature
Flash Point: Roughly 41 degrees Celsius
Stability: Exposure to water or moist air leads to hydrolysis
Chemical Stability: Stable if protected from moisture and air. Contact with water prompts exothermic hydrolysis, releasing hazardous fumes and potentially flammable alcohol vapors.
Incompatibility: Strong acids, bases, and oxidizing agents raise risks of fire and violent chemical reactions.
Hazardous Decomposition: Combustion or decomposition can yield titanium oxides, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and butanol vapors.
Inhalation Risks: Respiratory irritation, coughing, headache, and in severe cases, chemical pneumonitis or lung damage
Skin Contact: Redness, dryness, or cracking after repeated or prolonged exposure
Eye Contact: Immediate pain, redness, watering, and the risk of corneal damage
Ingestion: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and the chance of pulmonary aspiration if vomiting occurs
Chronic Effects: Sensitization not widely reported, but regular unprotected exposure is not advised. Limited data on long-term carcinogenicity or reproductive toxicity
Aquatic Toxicity: Spills into water disrupt aquatic life cycles, and hydrolysis products from Titanium(IV) Butoxide—primarily titanium dioxide and butanol—also present bioaccumulation and toxicity issues for sensitive organisms.
Persistence: Breakdown in the environment can be incomplete, and resulting compounds may last in soil or water for an extended time.
Mobility: The pure compound has low natural mobility due to hydrolysis, but vapors may travel; runoff after a spill depends on local rainfall and containment efforts.
Preferred Methods: Hazardous chemical waste should go to licensed disposal contractors. Incineration remains an option with scrubbers to control emissions, while small laboratory amounts often go through neutralization under expert guidance.
Container Disposal: Empty, uncontaminated containers can sometimes be recycled, but most should enter hazardous waste programs. Leaving residues in drains or standard trash harms treatment systems and ecology.
Proper Shipping Name: Titanium(IV) Butoxide
Class: Flammable Liquids
Packing Group: II or III, depending on flash point and specific regulations
Labeling Requirements: Flammable liquid symbol, with clear hazard communication to all handlers
Special Precautions: Use sealed drums or specialty carboys; keep upright and secure to reduce jostling and accidental spillage. Avoid transport during extreme temperature swings or alongside incompatible chemicals.
Status: Regulations vary by locality, but this chemical falls under strict controls due to its flammability and health risk profile. Occupational exposure limits exist in select jurisdictions, and handlers must comply with chemical hygiene plans. Community safety requires regular training and review, especially for those in academic, industrial, or emergency response settings.
