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Chemical Datasheet

METHYLAMINE, ANHYDROUS

2.1 - Flammable gas

Chemical Identifiers

CAS Number UN/NA Number DOT Hazard Label USCG CHRIS Code
  • 74-89-5   (METHYLAMINE)
  • 1061
  • Flammable Gas
  • MTA
NIOSH Pocket Guide International Chem Safety Card
Methylamine
  • METHYLAMINE
  • METHYLAMINE (40% aqueous solution)
NFPA 704
Diamond Hazard Value Description
4
3 0
Blue Health 3 Can cause serious or permanent injury.
Red Flammability 4 Burns readily. Rapidly or completely vaporizes at atmospheric pressure and normal ambient temperature.
Yellow Instability 0 Normally stable, even under fire conditions.
White Special
(NFPA, 2010)
General Description
A colorless gas or a liquid. Pungent fishy odor resembling odor of ammonia. The liquid boils at 20.3°F hence vaporizes rapidly when unconfined. Vapors are heavier than air and may collect in low-lying areas. Easily ignited under most conditions. Under prolonged exposure to intense heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. Used for making pharmaceuticals, insecticides, paint removers, surfactants, rubber chemicals.

Hazards

Reactivity Alerts
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Very soluble in water; the solutions are strongly basic and therefore corrosive. Liquid fumes in air.
Fire Hazard
FLAMMABLE. POISONOUS GASES MAY BE PRODUCED IN FIRE. Containers may explode in fire. Flashback along vapor trail may occur. Vapor may explode if ignited in an enclosed area. Toxic nitrogen oxides may be formed. Vapors are heavier than air and may travel considerable distance to a source of ignition and flash back. (USCG, 1999)
Health Hazard
VAPOR: Irritating to eyes, nose and throat. If inhaled will cause coughing or difficult breathing. LIQUID: Will burn skin and eyes. (USCG, 1999)
Reactivity Profile
METHYLAMINE neutralizes acids in exothermic reactions to form salts plus water. May be incompatible with isocyanates, halogenated organics, peroxides, phenols (acidic), epoxides, anhydrides, and acid halides. Flammable gaseous hydrogen is generated in combination with strong reducing agents, such as hydrides.
Belongs to the Following Reactive Group(s)
Potentially Incompatible Absorbents

Use caution: Liquids with this reactive group classification have been known to react with the absorbent listed below.

Response Recommendations

Isolation and Evacuation
For spills, see ERG Table 1 - Initial Isolation and Protective Action Distances on the UN/NA 1061 datasheet.

Excerpt from 118 Polymerizable warning [Gases - Flammable - Corrosive]:

IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area for at least 100 meters (330 feet) in all directions.

LARGE SPILL: Consider initial downwind evacuation for at least 800 meters (1/2 mile).

FIRE: If tank, rail car or tank truck is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 1600 meters (1 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2020)
Firefighting
Excerpt from 118 Polymerizable warning [Gases - Flammable - Corrosive]:

DO NOT EXTINGUISH A LEAKING GAS FIRE UNLESS LEAK CAN BE STOPPED.

SMALL FIRE: Dry chemical or CO2.

LARGE FIRE: Water spray, fog or regular foam. If it can be done safely, move undamaged containers away from the area around the fire. Damaged cylinders should be handled only by specialists.

FIRE INVOLVING TANKS: Fight fire from maximum distance or use unmanned master stream devices or monitor nozzles. Cool containers with flooding quantities of water until well after fire is out. Do not direct water at source of leak or safety devices; icing may occur. Withdraw immediately in case of rising sound from venting safety devices or discoloration of tank. ALWAYS stay away from tanks engulfed in fire. (ERG, 2020)
Non-Fire Response
Excerpt from 118 Polymerizable warning [Gases - Flammable - Corrosive]:

ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area. All equipment used when handling the product must be grounded. Do not touch or walk through spilled material. Stop leak if you can do it without risk. If possible, turn leaking containers so that gas escapes rather than liquid. Use water spray to reduce vapors or divert vapor cloud drift. Avoid allowing water runoff to contact spilled material. Do not direct water at spill or source of leak. Isolate area until gas has dispersed. (ERG, 2020)
Protective Clothing
Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Methylamine:

Skin:
• PREVENT SKIN CONTACT (SOLUTION) - If this chemical is in solution, wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent skin contact.
• FROSTBITE - Compressed gases may create low temperatures when they expand rapidly. Leaks and uses that allow rapid expansion may cause a frostbite hazard. Wear appropriate personal protective clothing to prevent the skin from becoming frozen.

Eyes:
• PREVENT EYE CONTACT (SOLUTION) - If this chemical is in solution, wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact.
• FROSTBITE - Wear appropriate eye protection to prevent eye contact with the liquid that could result in burns or tissue damage from frostbite.

Wash skin: WHEN CONTAMINATED (SOLUTION) - If this chemical is in solution, the worker should immediately wash the skin when it becomes contaminated.

Remove: WHEN WET (FLAMMABLE) - Work clothing that becomes wet should be immediately removed due to its flammability hazard (i.e., for liquids with a flash point <100°F).

Change: No recommendation is made specifying the need for the worker to change clothing after the workshift.

Provide: FROSTBITE WASH - Quick drench facilities and/or eyewash fountains should be provided within the immediate work area for emergency use where there is any possibility of exposure to liquids that are extremely cold or rapidly evaporating. (NIOSH, 2023)
DuPont Tychem® Suit Fabrics
Normalized Breakthrough Times (in Minutes)
Chemical CAS Number State QS QC SL C3 TF TP RC TK RF
Methyl amine (40%) 74-89-5 Liquid 140 261 261 261
Methyl amine (50%) 74-89-5 Liquid 232 232 232
Methyl amine (gaseous) 74-89-5 Vapor >480 >480 105 >480 105
> indicates greater than.

Special Warning from DuPont: Tychem® and Tyvek® fabrics should not be used around heat, flames, sparks or in potentially flammable or explosive environments. Only...

(DuPont, 2023)

First Aid
EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

SKIN: IMMEDIATELY flood affected skin with water while removing and isolating all contaminated clothing. Gently wash all affected skin areas thoroughly with soap and water. IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital for treatment after washing the affected areas.

INHALATION: IMMEDIATELY leave the contaminated area; take deep breaths of fresh air. If symptoms (such as wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, or burning in the mouth, throat, or chest) develop, call a physician and be prepared to transport the victim to a hospital. Provide proper respiratory protection to rescuers entering an unknown atmosphere. Whenever possible, Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) should be used; if not available, use a level of protection greater than or equal to that advised under Protective Clothing.

INGESTION: DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. Corrosive chemicals will destroy the membranes of the mouth, throat, and esophagus and volatile chemicals have a high risk of being aspirated into the victim's lungs during vomiting. Thus, the risk of increasing the medical problems by inducing vomiting of a volatile corrosive chemical is very high. If the victim is conscious and not convulsing, give 1 or 2 glasses of water to dilute the chemical and IMMEDIATELY call a hospital or poison control center. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. If the victim is convulsing or unconscious, do not give anything by mouth, ensure that the victim's airway is open and lay the victim on his/her side with the head lower than the body. DO NOT INDUCE VOMITING. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim to a hospital. (NTP, 1992)

Physical Properties

Chemical Formula:
  • CH3NH2
Flash Point: 14°F (Liquid) (NIOSH, 2023)
Lower Explosive Limit (LEL): 4.3 % (USCG, 1999)
Upper Explosive Limit (UEL): 21 % (USCG, 1999)
Autoignition Temperature: 806°F (USCG, 1999)
Melting Point: -134.5°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Pressure: 1972.92 mmHg at 60°F (USCG, 1999)
Vapor Density (Relative to Air): 1.1 (USCG, 1999) - Heavier than air; will sink
Specific Gravity: 0.693 at 20.3°F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float
Boiling Point: 20.3°F at 760 mmHg (USCG, 1999)
Molecular Weight: 31.1 (USCG, 1999)
Water Solubility: greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 70°F (NTP, 1992)
Ionization Energy/Potential: 8.97 eV (NIOSH, 2023)
IDLH: 100 ppm (NIOSH, 2023)

AEGLs (Acute Exposure Guideline Levels)

Interim AEGLs for Methyl amine (74-89-5)
Exposure Period AEGL-1 AEGL-2 AEGL-3
10 minutes 15 ppm 160 ppm 910 ppm
30 minutes 15 ppm 92 ppm 510 ppm
60 minutes 15 ppm 64 ppm 350 ppm
4 hours 15 ppm 31 ppm 170 ppm
8 hours 15 ppm 21 ppm 110 ppm
Level of Distinct Odor Awareness = 0.56 ppm
(NAC/NRC, 2023)

ERPGs (Emergency Response Planning Guidelines)

Chemical ERPG-1 ERPG-2 ERPG-3
Monomethylamine (74-89-5) 4 ppm star-in-circle icon indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1. 20 ppm 60 ppm
star-in-circle icon indicates that odor should be detectable near ERPG-1.
(AIHA, 2022)

PACs (Protective Action Criteria)

Chemical PAC-1 PAC-2 PAC-3
Monomethylamine; (Methylamine) (74-89-5) 15 ppm 64 ppm 350 ppm LEL = 49000 ppm
(DOE, 2018)

Regulatory Information

EPA Consolidated List of Lists

Regulatory Name CAS Number/
313 Category Code
EPCRA 302
EHS TPQ
EPCRA 304
EHS RQ
CERCLA RQ EPCRA 313
TRI
RCRA
Code
CAA 112(r)
RMP TQ
Methanamine 74-89-5 100 pounds 10000 pounds
Monomethylamine 74-89-5 100 pounds 10000 pounds

(EPA List of Lists, 2022)

CISA Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS)

RELEASE THEFT SABOTAGE
Chemical of Interest CAS Number Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Min Conc STQ Security
Issue
Methylamine; [Methanamine] 74-89-5 1.00 % 10000 pounds flammable

(CISA, 2007)

OSHA Process Safety Management (PSM) Standard List

Chemical Name CAS Number Threshold Quantity (TQ)
Methylamine, Anhydrous 74-89-5 1000 pounds

(OSHA, 2019)

Alternate Chemical Names