Triisobutyl phosphate

Description

Advances in technological development over the last couple of centuries have led to the use of synthetic carbon-based polymers for everyday household and office items, where once wood or metal were desired. The high fuel values for some of these materials could pose danger where risk of combustion is high; therefore, flame retardants have been introduced into and coating for electronic devices. These substances have a broad application field and good fire safety performance.

The Uses of Triisobutyl phosphate

Phosphate esters are used as flame retardants, plasticizers, hydraulic fluids, solvents, extraction agents, antifoam agents,
Partition behavior in water, sediment, and soil
Phosphate ester flame retardants enter the environment from industrial sources and disposal of consumer products containing flame retardants. These anthropogenic compounds have been detected in water, soil, and air owing to widespread use following their fast emergence and popularization during 1970s. Occurrence of these phosphate ester flame retardants is widespread in surface water and groundwater because of the leaching of PVC plastics and polyurethane foams, effluent from industrial sources, and spills of hydraulic fluids. This primary contaminated water is then transported to a secondary source, such as drinking water. Hydrolysis, although slow because of poor solubility and pH dependence, is the most important abiotic elimination process. In soil and sediment, phosphate ester flame retardants are persistent because they have the tendency to adsorb strongly. Volatilization and biodegradation are potential elimination processes for phosphate esters adsorbed to soil.
Environmental persistency (degradation/speciation)
These retardants can change chemical composition in the environment. Generally, most phosphate esters are poorly soluble in water and adsorb strongly to soils. These compounds are considered emerging pollutants because of their prevalence and persistence in the environment. Particulate-phase phosphate esters are subject to wet and dry deposition, whereas semi-volatile phosphate esters have the potential to hydrolyze to diesters, monoesters, and phosphoric acid. There is no information available that suggests that selected phosphate ester flame retardants undergo transformation or degradation in the atmosphere.
Long-range transport
This is highly dependent on the specific compound.
Bioaccumulation and biomagnification
Phosphate esters are subject to biodegradation in aquatic and terrestrial environments.