Furfuryl alcohol

Description

Furfural alcohol is a colorless to amber liquidthat darkens on exposure to light. It has a faint, burningodor. Molecular weight=98.11; Specific gravityFurfuryl alcohol 1371(H2O:1)=1.13; Boiling point: 171℃; Melting point:215℃; Vapor pressure=6 mmHg at 25℃; Flash point =65℃ (cc); 75℃ (oc); Autoignition temperature=491℃.Explosive limits: LEL=1.8%; UEL=16.3%. HazardIdentification (based on NFPA-704 M Rating System):Health 1, Flammability 2, Reactivity 1. Soluble in water.

Chemical properties

clear yellow liquid

Chemical properties

Furfural alcohol is a colorless to amber liquid that darkens on exposure to light. It has a faint, burning odor.

Chemical properties

Furfuryl alcohol has a very mild, warm, oily, “burnt” odor and a cooked sugar taste.

Physical properties

Clear, colorless to pale yellow liquid with an irritating odor. Darkens to yellowish-brown on exposure to air. A detection odor threshold concentration of 32 mg/m³ (8.0 ppm_v) was determined by Jacobson et al. (1958).

Occurrence

Reported found in roasted almonds, cooked apple, apple juice, roasted barley, beans, beef fat, canned beef stew, beer, brandy, white bread, cocoa, cocoa bean, roasted coffee, roasted flberts, honey, heated skim milk, dried mushrooms, roasted onion, yellow passion fruit, roasted peanuts, pineapple, popcorn, potato chips, roasted sesame seeds, cheeses, milk, meats, grape wines, cognac, whiskies, soybean products, coconut, corn oil, shrimps, clams and other sources

The Uses of Furfuryl alcohol

Colorless liquid that turns dark in air

The Uses of Furfuryl alcohol

Solvent; manufacture of wetting agents, resins.

The Uses of Furfuryl alcohol

Furfuryl Alcohol has been obtained by yeast reduction of furfural. Furfuryl Alcohol is used as solvent and in the manufacturing of wetting agents, resins.

What are the applications of Application

Furfuryl alcohol is used in the synthesis of continuous titanium carbide nanofibers/nanoribbon.

Definition

ChEBI: A member of the class of furans bearing a hydroxymethyl substituent at the 2-position.

Preparation

Usually prepared from furfural that is obtained by the processing of corncobs; oil obtained by steam distillation of roasted coffee bean meal consists of 50% furfuryl alcohol; prepared industrially by the catalytic reduction of furfural using nickel and Cu-CrO catalysts.

Aroma threshold values

Detection: 1 to 2 ppm.

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 50 ppm: burnt, sweet, caramellic and brown.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Synthesis, p. 246, 1977
Tetrahedron Letters, 33, p. 5417, 1992 DOI: 10.1016/S0040-4039(00)79109-X

General Description

A clear colorless liquid. Flash point 167°F. Boiling point 171°F. Denser than water. Contact may irritate skin, eyes and mucous membranes. May be toxic by ingestion and skin contact and moderately toxic by inhalation.

Air & Water Reactions

Slightly soluble in water.

Hazard

May react explosively with mineral acids and some organic acids. Toxic by inhalation and skin absorption. Approved for food products. Toxic by skin absorption.

Health Hazard

Inhalation causes headache, nausea, and irritation of nose and throat. Vapor irritates eyes; liquid causes inflammation and corneal opacity. Contact of skin with liquid causes dryness and irritation. Ingestion causes headache, nausea, and irritation of mouth and stomach.

Fire Hazard

Combustible material: may burn but does not ignite readily. When heated, vapors may form explosive mixtures with air: indoors, outdoors and sewers explosion hazards. Contact with metals may evolve flammable hydrogen gas. Containers may explode when heated. Runoff may pollute waterways. Substance may be transported in a molten form.

Chemical Reactivity

Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reactions; Stability During Transport: The product darkens and forms water insoluble material on exposure to air or acids. This reaction is accelerated at elevated temperatures; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Taste at 20-40ppm

Safety Profile

Poison by ingestion, skin contact, and subcutaneous routes.Moderately toxic by inhalation and intraperitoneal routes. Mutation data reported. An eye irritant. Flammable when exposed to heat or flame; can react with oxidtzing materials. Moderate explosion hazard when exposed to heat or flame. Reacts violently with acids (e.g., formic acid, cyanoacetic acid + heat). Ignites on contact with 85% hydrogen peroxide. To fight fire, use alcohol foam, CO2, dry chemical. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and fumes.

Potential Exposure

Used as a starting monomer in the production of furan resins and used to produce tetrahydro furfural alcohol (THFA).

First aid

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove anycontact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least15 min, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts theskin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediatelywith soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. Ifthis chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR ifheart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medicalfacility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and inducevomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.

Carcinogenicity

The NTP conducted a 2-year inhalation study on furfuryl alcohol. F344 rats and B6C3F1 mice were exposed to 0, 2, 8, or 32 ppm furfuryl alcohol for 6 h/day, 5 days/week. All rats exposed to 32 ppm died by week 99; survival of all other animals was similar to control animals. There were increased incidences of nasal tumors in the male rats and increased incidences of kidney tubule tumors in male mice. Increased incidences of nonneoplastic lesions of the nose and increased severities of nephropathy were observed in male and female rats and male mice. Nonneoplastic lesions of nose and corneal degeneration occurred in female mice.

Source

Furfuryl occurs naturally in yarrow, licorice, sesame seeds, clove flowers, and tea leaves (Duke, 1992). Also detected in barrel-aged red, white, and model wines. Concentrations ranged from 3.5 mg/L in white wine after 55 wk of aging to 9.6 mg/L after 11 wk of aging (Spillman et al., 1998). Identified as one of 140 volatile constituents in used soybean oils collected from a processing plant that fried various beef, chicken, and veal products (Takeoka et al., 1996).

Environmental Fate

Biological. In activated sludge inoculum, following a 20-d adaptation period, 97.3% COD removal was achieved. The average rate of biodegradation was 41.0 mg COD/g?h (Pitter, 1976).
Chemical/Physical. Easily resinified by acids (Windholz et al., 1983). Furfuryl alcohol will not hydrolyze because it has no hydrolyzable functional group.
In barrel-aged red, white, and model wines, naturally occurring furfuryl alcohol decreased in concentration with time. In red wine, furfuryl ethyl ether was identified as a degradation product after 55 wk of storage. The average percentage decrease of furfuryl alcohol was 73% (Spillman et al., 1998).

storage

Color Code—Blue: Health Hazard/Poison: Storein a secure poison location. Prior to working with thischemical you should be trained on its proper handling andstorage. Metal containers involving the transfer of=gallonsor more of ethyl acetate should be grounded and bonded.Drums must be equipped with self-closing valves, pressurevacuum bungs, and flame arresters. Use only nonsparkingtools and equipment, especially when opening and closingcontainers of ethyl acetate. Store in containers that are properly labeled with health hazard information and safe handling procedures. Wherever ethyl acetate is used, handled,manufactured, or stored, use explosion-proof electricalequipment and fittings. Furfuryl alcohol must be stored toavoid contact with strong oxidizers (such as chlorine, bromine, and fluorine) and any acid, since violent reactionsoccur. Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat. Sources of ignition, such assmoking and open flames, are prohibited where furfurylalcohol is used, handled, or stored in a manner that couldcreate a potential fire or explosion hazard. Wherever furfuryl alcohol is used, handled, manufactured, or stored, useexplosion-proof electrical equipment and fittings.

Shipping

UN2874 Furfuryl alcohol, Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials.

Purification Methods

Distil it under reduced pressure to remove tarry material, shake with aqueous NaHCO3, dry it with Na2SO4 and fractionally distil it under reduced pressure from Na2CO3. It can be further dried by shaking with Linde 5A molecular sieves. [Beilstein 17/3 V 338.]

Incompatibilities

Incompatible with oxidizers (chlorates, nitrates, peroxides, permanganates, perchlorates, chlorine, bromine, fluorine, etc.); contact may cause fires or explo sions. Keep away from alkaline materials, strong bases, strong acids, oxoacids, epoxides. Contact with acids can cause polymerization. Strong reaction with oxidizers. Incompatible with alkaline earth and alkali metals; strong caustics; aliphatic amines; isocyanates, acetaldehyde, benzoyl peroxide; chromic acid, chromium trioxide; cyanoacetic acid; dialkylzincs, dichlorine oxide; ethylene oxide; hydrogen per oxide; isopropyl chlorocarbonate; lithium tetrahydroalumi nate; nitric acid; nitrogen dioxide; pentafluoroguanidine, phosphorus pentasulfide; tangerine oil; triethylaluminum, trii sobutylaluminum. Attacks some plastics, coatings and rubber.

Waste Disposal

Incineration in admixture with a more flammable solvent.