BHT butylated hydroxytoluene 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (DBPC)

[MSDS below]

April 19, 1999

 

PRODUCER	CAPACITY*
Merisol Antioxidants, Oil City, Pa.	12
PMC Specialties, Fords, N.J.	10
Uniroyal Chemical, Geismar, La.	5
Total	27

*Millions of pounds per year of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Chemically designated as 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol (DBPC), the product can be made by alkylation of p-cresol with isobutene or by dibutylation of m,p-cresol mixtures and separation of the resulting butylates. Merisol, a joint venture of Merichem Company and Sasol Chemical Industries, acquired the Oil City BHT plant of Rhodia, Inc., in early 1998. Merisol Antioxidants LLC was set up to operate the BHT business within the new Merichem-Sasol venture. In addition to its position in BHT, Merisol's Oil City plant is the only North American facility producing monobutyl-m-cresol (MBMC), an intermediate used largely in the production of three other antioxidant chemicals. Merisol Antioxidants has taken over marketing of MBMC from Merichem, which had marketed the plant's output of the material since 1993. The Oil City plant also makes purified m-cresol. Profile last published 7/29/96; this revision, 4/19/99.

DEMAND
1998: 17 million pounds;
1999: 17 million pounds;
2003: 20 million pounds.

GROWTH
Historical (1989-1998): 0 to 1 percent per year;
future: 1 percent per year through 2003.

PRICE
Historical (1983-1998): High, $1.91 per pound, tech., t.L., bgs., dlvd.; $1.91 per pound, food grade, same basis. Low, $1.26 per pound, Tech.; $1.28 per pound, food grade, same basis.
Current: $1.91 per pound, same basis.

USES
Plastics antioxidant, 50 percent; elastomer antioxidant, 25 percent; petroleum (cubes, greases and waxes) additive, 12 percent; miscellaneous, including adhesives and food and feed antioxidant, 13 percent.

STRENGTH
As a workhorse phenolic antioxidant for thermoplastics, BHT finds its main uses in polyolefins, high-impact polystyrene and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Although elastomer markets are slow-growing, they make up a quarter of BHT's end-use pattern and include polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene and polyisoprene.

WEAKNESS
BHT is a mature product with minimal growth prospects in its major markets and is under pressure on both prices and volumes. Other less volatile hindered phenol antioxidants have gained market share at BHT's expense, particularly in conversions from low-density polyethylene to the higher processing temperatures used for production of linear low-density and high-density polyethylene. In addition, BHT has lost market share to higher molecular weight products as a polyol stabilizer in urethane foams.

OUTLOOK
BHT has been formulated out of some plastics applications and more recently has sustained losses in blown urethane foams. Very recently, however, doubts have been expressed as to the validity of the scientific methods and conclusions that led to the elimination of BHT from certain PU systems in the first place. Further, although not all sources agree, there is some reported switch back to BHT. There is general agreement that US annual consumption of BHT is probably in the 16 million to 18 million pound range now, down from 20 million to 22 million pounds per year in the mid-1990s.

source: http://www.chemexpo.com/news/PROFILE990419.cfm

MSDS - BHT

Ingredients/Identity Information
Proprietary: NO Ingredient: P-CRESOL, 2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-; (4-METHYL-2,6-DI-TERT-BUTYL-PHENOL) Ingredient Sequence Number: 01 Percent: >99 NIOSH (RTECS) Number: GO7875000 CAS Number: 128-37-0 OSHA PEL: 10 MG/M3 (MFR) ACGIH TLV: 10 MG/M3 (MFR)

Physical/Chemical Characteristics
Appearance And Odor: WHITE GRANULAR, FAINT ODOR. Boiling Point: 509F,265C Melting Point: 157F,69C Vapor Pressure (MM Hg/70 F): N/A Vapor Density (Air=1): 7.6 Specific Gravity: 0.899 (H*20=1) Evaporation Rate And Ref: NOT APPLICABLE Solubility In Water: INSOLUBLE Percent Volatiles By Volume: N/A Magnetism (Milligauss): N/P

Fire and Explosion Hazard Data
Flash Point: >260F,>127C Flash Point Method: COC Lower Explosive Limit: N/A Upper Explosive Limit: N/A Extinguishing Media: FOAM, CARBON DIOXIDE, DRY CHEMICAL, WATER. Special Fire Fighting Proc: WEAR NIOSH/MSHA APPROVED SCBA AND FULL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (FP N). MOVE EXPOSED CONTAINERS FROM FIRE AREA IF POSS. USE WATER TO KEEP FIRE EXPOSED CNTNRS COOL. Unusual Fire And Expl Hazrds: CONTACT WITH STRONG OXIDIZERS MAY CAUSE FIRE. CLOSED CONTAINERS MAY EXPLODE DUE TO PRESSURE BUILDUP WHEN EXPOSED TO EXTREME HEAT. Report for NIIN: 00N033724

Reactivity Data
Stability: YES Cond To Avoid (Stability): NOT APPLICABLE. Materials To Avoid: OXIDIZING AGENTS, STRONG ACIDS. Hazardous Decomp Products: CO*2, CO. Hazardous Poly Occur: NO Conditions To Avoid (Poly): NOT RELEVANT

Health Hazard Data
LD50-LC50 Mixture: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER. Route Of Entry - Inhalation: YES Route Of Entry - Skin: NO Route Of Entry - Ingestion: YES Health Haz Acute And Chronic: ACUTE: INHALATION: CAN CAUSE IRRITATION OF NASAL AND RESPIRATORY PASSAGES. EYES: CONTACT MAY CAUSE SEVERE IRRITATION OR BURNS. SKIN: PROLONGED CONTACT MAY CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. INGESTION: IF LARGE QUANTITIES, MAY CAUSE DIARRHEA, RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION, TREMORS, CHRONIC PULMONARY EDEMA OR CONJECTION (EFTS OF OVEREXP) Carcinogenicity - NTP: NO Carcinogenicity - IARC: NO Carcinogenicity - OSHA: NO Explanation Carcinogenicity: NOT RELEVANT Signs/Symptoms Of Overexp: HLTH HAZ: AND HEMORRAGE. CHRONIC: STUDIES INDICATE SOME EFFECT ON NEWBORN IN LABORATORY ANIMALS SO MATERIAL IS AN EXPERIMENTAL TERATOGEN. LIMITED ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS SUGGEST LIMITED TOXICITY. Med Cond Aggravated By Exp: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER. Emergency/First Aid Proc: INHAL: REMOVE VICTIM FROM EXPOS, RESTORE BRTHG IF NEC, & CONT PHYS IMMED. EYE: FLUSH WITH COPIOUS AMTS OF H*2O FOR AT LEAST 15 MIN. CONT AN OPHTHALMOLOGIST/PHYS IMMED. SKIN: WASH AFFECTED AREA W/SOAP & H*2O FOR 15 MIN. IF IRRIT OCCURS CONT PHYS. INGEST: IF VICTIM IS CONSCIOUS, IMMED GIVE 2-4 GLASSES OF H*2O. INDUCE VOMIT BY TOUCHING FINGER TO BACK OF THROAT. CONT PHYS/POIS CNTRL CENTER IMMED

Precautions for Safe Handling and Use
Steps If Matl Released/Spill: PROVIDE VENTILATION AND REMOVE ANY HEAT OR FLAME. SWEEP UP WITH A MINIMUM OF DUSTING OR VACUUM WITH A FILTERED OUTLET VACUUMING SYSTEM. PUT RESULTING WASTE INTO A REMOVABLE HEAD STEEL DRUM. Neutralizing Agent: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER. Waste Disposal Method: FOR DISPOSAL, CONTRACT WITH A LICENSED CHEMICAL WASTE DISPOSAL AGENCY. DISCHARGE, TREATMENT, OR DISPOSAL MAY BE SUBJECT TO FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL REGULATIONS. DISPOSE OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL REGULATIONS (FP N). Precautions-Handling/Storing: STORE IN COOL, DRY, WELL VENTILATED STORAGE AREA. DO NOT STORE NEAR OXIDIZING AGENTS OR STRONG ACIDS. Other Precautions: DO NOT STORE NEAR FOOD PRODUCTS. WASH HANDS THOROUGHLY BEFORE EATING, DRIKING, OR USING REST ROOM. Report for NIIN: 00N033724

Control Measures
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH/MSHA APPROVED DUST/MIST/ORGANIC VAPOR RESPIRATOR IF CONCENTRATIONS EXCEED ACCEPTABLE LIMITS OR IRRITATION OCCURS. Ventilation: LOCAL EXHAUST RECOMMENDED. Protective Gloves: NEOPRENE OR RUBBER GLOVES. Eye Protection: CHEMICAL WORKERS GOGGLES (FP N). Other Protective Equipment: SAFETY SHOWER, EYE WASH STATION. Work Hygienic Practices: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER. Suppl. Safety & Health Data: NONE SPECIFIED BY MANUFACTURER.

Transportation Data
Trans Data Review Date: 93040 DOT PSN Code: ZZZ DOT Proper Shipping Name: NOT REGULATED BY THIS MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IMO PSN Code: ZZZ IMO Proper Shipping Name: NOT REGULATED FOR THIS MODE OF TRANSPORTATION IATA PSN Code: ZZZ IATA Proper Shipping Name: NOT REGULATED BY THIS MODE OF TRANSPORTATION AFI PSN Code: ZZZ AFI Prop. Shipping Name: NOT REGULATED BY THIS MODE OF TRANSPORTATION Additional Trans Data: NOT REGULATED FOR TRANSPORTATION Report for NIIN: 00N033724

Disposal Data
None

Label Data
Label Required: YES Technical Review Date: 08SEP92 Label Date: 20AUG92 Label Status: M Common Name: CAO-3 BHT Chronic Hazard: YES Signal Word: WARNING! Acute Health Hazard-Slight: X Contact Hazard-Moderate: X Fire Hazard-Slight: X Reactivity Hazard-None: X Special Hazard Precautions: STORE IN COOL, DRY, WELL VENTILATED STORAGE CONTACT MAY CAUSE SEVERE IRRITATION OR BURNS. SKIN: PROLONGED CONTACT MAY Report for NIIN: 00N033724 CAUSE SKIN IRRITATION. INGESTION: IF LARGE QUANTITIES, MAY CAUSE DIARRHEA, RESPIRATORY DEPRESSION, TREMORS, CHRONIC PULMONARY EDEMA OR CONJECTION AND HEMORRAGE. CHRONIC: STUDIES INDICATE SOME EFFECT ON NEWBORN IN LABORATORY ANIMALS SO MATERIAL IS AN EXPERIMENTAL TERATOGEN. LIMITED ANIMAL EXPERIMENTS SUGGEST LIMITED TOXICITY. Protect Eye: Y Protect Skin: Y Protect Respiratory: Y