Chemical Name: Uridine 5'-Diphosphoglucuronic Acid
Common Names: UDP-Glucuronic Acid
Chemical Formula: C15H22N2O18P2
CAS Number: 63700-19-6
Physical Appearance: Usually a white or off-white powder, sometimes hygroscopic. Molecular weight lands near 580 grams per mole, making it heftier compared to typical table-top chemicals. Purity and exact source can swing a batch, but standard handling assumes research-lab quality.
GHS Classification: Not classified as hazardous under GHS criteria for laboratory quantities.
Health Hazards: May cause mild irritation upon contact with eyes or skin for some individuals. Inhalation of powdered form could agitate the respiratory tract, especially for those with sensitivities. Symptoms might include sneezing or coughing if handled carelessly without proper protection. No reliable evidence suggests severe toxicity from routine lab use, but exposure routes should still be minimized.
Environmental Hazards: Not expected to pose significant risks to aquatic or terrestrial environments in small, controlled doses. Bulk handling or discharge directly to drains risks contamination of water sources, so careful containment remains the responsible choice.
Label Elements: Labs often forego heavy labeling for compounds without acute risks, but prudent workplaces keep a small pictogram noting irritant potential.
Main Ingredient: Uridine 5'-Diphosphoglucuronic Acid, with purity usually upwards of 95 percent.
Contaminants: Common contaminants sometimes include salts or residual solvents, but most reputable suppliers produce it in high-grade form suitable for sensitive biochemical assays.
Additives: None intentionally added; users should check documentation if additional stabilizers appear.
Skin Contact: Rinse the affected skin thoroughly with water. Use soap to remove any adherent material if irritation persists. Sensitive persons sometimes notice mild redness or itching, which can be soothed with standard skin creams.
Eye Contact: Flush with water for several minutes, keeping eyelids open to ensure complete rinsing. Laboratory eye-wash stations work best for quick response. Persistent discomfort needs medical evaluation.
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Most exposures involve only a puff of airborne dust, rarely threatening breathing. Seek attention if irritation, coughing, or shortness of breath develops.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water. No routine evidence links swallowed quantities to major illness, but stomach discomfort may prompt consulting a healthcare provider where any symptoms arise.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use water spray, dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide. This compound does not fuel combustion, but dense organic compounds still produce smoke when burning.
Specific Hazards: Only under intense heat will this material break down and possibly form irritating fumes containing nitrogen oxides and phosphorus oxides. No risk of explosive decomposition under normal storage.
Protective Equipment: Firefighters working near stored chemicals use self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical-resistant suits—a sensible move for all chemistry incidents, whether or not the material itself poses a hazard.
Personal Precautions: Gloves, goggles, and masks greatly reduce exposure possibilities. Spilled powder can spread fine particles, making cleanup trickier.
Spill Cleanup Methods: Scoop up any dry material with a dedicated lab scoop and collect into sealable container. Wipe up residues with damp paper towel or absorbent pad. Wet surfaces prevent recirculation of airborne dust. Wash the spill site with detergent to clear up.
Environmental Precautions: Keep the material out of drains and open soil to minimize unnecessary introduction into water systems. Place collected waste into chemical disposal containers for proper processing downstream.
Handling: Work in ventilated spaces, using gloves and, if significant dust forms, breathing protection. Avoid eating or drinking around open containers, as small amounts sit easily on hands or clothing before finding their way into mouths or eyes.
Storage: Store in tightly-sealed containers, preferably in cool, dry cabinets. Humid environments may let the powder absorb moisture and clump. Label containers clearly, and keep incompatible compounds—strong acids or bases, for instance—separate to keep reactions at bay.
Ventilation: Work with open bottles and powder inside chemical fume hoods or, at minimum, beside bench-top exhausts. Routine air turnover helps sweep away stray dust particles.
Protection: Nitrile or latex gloves protect hands, safety glasses shield eyes, and either a surgical mask—or better yet, a filtering dust respirator—keeps particles out of lungs when pouring or transferring major amounts.
Exposure Limits: Regulatory bodies have not set occupational exposure limits specific to this compound; the general rule is to treat it with the same respect as any biologically active nucleotide or sugar derivative.
Appearance: White or faintly yellow powder, sometimes clumpy if improperly sealed.
Odor: Essentially odorless.
Solubility: Freely soluble in water; tends to form slightly cloudy solutions at higher concentrations, but stirs in well at research-scale levels.
Melting Point: Data sparse, as decomposition often occurs before true melting can be observed.
pH: Neutral to slightly acidic in water.
Other: Stable under shelf conditions, less so under strong heat or exposure to moisture.
Chemical Stability: Stable at room temperature, if dryness maintained.
Conditions to Avoid: Steer clear of high humidity or temperatures above 30°C over long stretches, unless data says otherwise.
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids or bases, oxidizers.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Burning produces carbon oxides, nitrogen oxides, and phosphorus oxides, dusty residues may also irritate airways.
Acute Toxicity: No strong evidence points to acute toxicity in animal or cell culture models at laboratory concentrations. Avoiding unnecessary exposures remains good sense, as data do exist showing nucleotide analogs sometimes alter cell mechanics in ways still under investigation.
Chronic Effects: Repeated or prolonged contact may irritate skin or respiratory tract, especially for sensitive users.
Carcinogenicity: No classification by IARC, NTP, or OSHA reflecting any tumorigenic potential for this compound.
Sensitization: No recognized risk of allergic sensitization, but avoid long-term skin contact regardless.
Persistence and Degradability: Nature breaks down nucleotides over time, but concentrated spills in watercourses can introduce organic loads that nudge local biochemistry.
Bioaccumulation Potential: Not expected to concentrate in wildlife; small molecules like these are usually metabolized.
Other Environmental Notes: Always avoid direct dumping; proper waste collection and disposal routines keep research safe and the municipal water system clean.
Waste Disposal: Collect and store waste material in sealed, clearly labeled chemical waste containers. Small lab amounts can sometimes be destroyed using defined chemical degradation procedures, but large quantities must go to licensed waste handlers.
Container Disposal: Rinse containers that held powder thoroughly, remove labels, and dispose of as laboratory glass or plastic waste per local rules. Never pour leftover solutions down the drain.
UN Number: Not classified as hazardous for major international shipping routes. Keep product in sturdy packaging with clear labels.
Transport Considerations: Guard against leaks and spills, particularly in bulk shipments.
Special Precautions: Avoid extremes of heat or moisture during transit to preserve integrity.
OSHA Status: Not listed as a hazardous chemical under US workplace rules.
TSCA Listing: Not explicitly listed, as specialty biochemical reagents often receive unique treatment.
Other Regulations: In Europe and Japan, not flagged as a hazardous substance under agency guidelines, but always check local and state specifics for biotechnology research materials.
Recommendations: Keep paperwork current, as import, export, or specialized research regulations may evolve with new findings or changing legal landscapes.