Product Name: Proban THPC
Chemical Name: Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride
Synonyms: THPC, Proban, Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride
Recommended Use: Flame retardant for textile treatment
Manufacturer: Supplier-specific information required for full traceability, usually provided on packaging and commercial documentation
Contact Information: Manufacturer phone number, address, and available emergency contact numbers, including Poison Control Center access
Classification: Corrosive to skin and eyes, hazardous for aquatic environments, combustible under certain conditions
Label Elements: Corrosive pictogram, exclamation mark, aquatic hazard
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye injury, may cause respiratory irritation, harmful to aquatic life with long lasting effects, flammable liquid and vapor
Precautionary Statements: Wear protective gear, avoid breathing vapor or mists, keep away from heat or ignition sources, do not release into the environment, wash thoroughly after handling, respond immediately to skin or eye contact
Chemical Name: Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride
CAS Number: 124-64-1
Concentration: Typically ranges from 40–60% in formulated products
Impurities: Water, byproducts from manufacturing process, possible trace amounts of formaldehyde due to degradation
Formula: C4H12ClO4P
Other ingredients: None with relevant hazard classification reported in textile-grade material
Inhalation: Move immediately to fresh air, remove from exposure zone, monitor breathing and provide oxygen support if symptoms like coughing or shortness of breath occur, seek medical attention without delay
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, flush skin with running water for at least 20 minutes, do not neutralize with other chemicals, seek urgent medical help for burns, apply sterile dressing
Eye Contact: Flush eyes with lots of water for a minimum of 20 minutes, hold eyelids apart, remove contact lenses if worn, continue irrigation during transport to emergency services
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water, do not induce vomiting, never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person, call poison control or medical services immediately
Symptoms: Severe burning sensation, redness, blistering for skin/eyes, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, headache, dizziness or nausea if inhaled or ingested
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Water spray, foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide
Unsuitable Extinguishing Media: Do not use high-pressure water jet as it may spread the chemical
Hazardous Combustion Products: Releases toxic gases like phosphine, chlorine compounds, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide
Special Equipment: Firefighters need full-body chemical protection and self-contained breathing apparatus, stay upwind in case of smoke
Fire/Explosion Hazards: Generates toxic fumes, closed containers may rupture if exposed to intense heat, chemical can sustain combustion until source is removed
Advice for Firefighters: Take aggressive action only with full knowledge of chemical hazards, block off runoff to prevent environmental spread
Personal Protection: Immediately don chemical-resistant gloves, goggles or face shield, full protective clothing, and appropriate respirator
Environmental Protection: Prevent chemical from entering watercourses, drains, or soil, build dikes or absorbent walls using sand or inert materials
Containment: Transfer as much spilled chemical as possible into labeled corrosion-resistant containers, soak up remaining liquid with inert absorbent
Clean-up Methods: Use non-sparking tools, collect spilled residues in sealed containers for disposal per regulations, ventilate the area thoroughly during and after cleanup
Emergency Procedures: Evacuate unnecessary personnel and alert emergency responders, provide adequate ventilation, isolate area if large release
Safe Handling: Always use in well-ventilated workspaces, avoid skin and eye contact by wearing barrier protection, do not breathe mist or vapors, enforce no-smoking and no open flames policy
Storage Requirements: Keep containers closed tightly, store in original or compatible containers, keep out of reach of children and unauthorized personnel, maintain storage area temperatures between recommended ranges (often 5–25°C), avoid exposure to heat or direct sunlight
Incompatibilities: Avoid strong oxidizers, strong bases, certain metals, and reducing agents due to risk of violent reactions
Storage Precautions: Use ventilation in storage rooms, protect from freezing or extreme heat, monitor for any signs of leakage or deterioration of containers
Transfer Procedures: Ground and bond containers when transferring to avoid static discharge
Occupational Exposure Limits: No established regulatory exposure limits specifically for THPC; related phosphorus compounds may have guidance limits
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation, fume hoods for laboratory-scale use, chemical-safe work surfaces, emergency eyewash and shower stations
Personal Protection: Chemical splash goggles, face shield, full-length chemical-resistant gloves, impervious protective clothing, respiratory protection with approved filters if ventilation is not adequate
Hygiene Measures: Wash hands and face after handling, do not eat, drink, or smoke in handling area, remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse
Environmental Controls: Prevent spills and runoff using secondary containment, regularly inspect for leaks
Appearance: Clear to yellowish liquid
Odor: Faint chemical, sometimes sour or irritating
Odor Threshold: Not clearly defined or may not be easily sensed
pH: Strongly acidic, generally less than 3
Melting Point/Freezing Point: Data not precisely fixed, as product is aqueous
Initial Boiling Point and Range: Near 100°C due to high water content
Flash Point: Typically above 100°C, dependent on concentration and presence of water
Evaporation Rate: Moderate, depends on environmental factors
Flammability (solid, gas): Product is not classified as highly flammable, but vapor may support combustion in confined areas
Upper/Lower Flammability or Explosive Limits: Not well defined for aqueous mixtures
Vapor Pressure: Comparable to water
Vapor Density: Not relevant due to low volatility
Relative Density: From 1.2 to 1.4 depending on formulation
Solubility: Completely miscible with water
Partition Coefficient (n-octanol/water): Not determined
Auto-ignition Temperature: Not established for diluted product
Decomposition Temperature: Can break down at high temperatures with toxic fume emission
Viscosity: Slightly viscous liquid
Stability: Chemically stable under normal conditions for storage and handling, will break down under strong heating or exposure to light
Reactvity: Highly reactive with alkalis, oxidizers, and certain reducing agents
Conditions to Avoid: Exposure to direct sunlight, high temperatures, freezing conditions, and contact with incompatible materials like bases or strong oxidizers
Materials to Avoid: Metals such as aluminum and magnesium, alkaline substances, strong oxidizers which can trigger violent reactions or decomposition
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Phosgene, phosphine, formaldehyde, hydrochloric acid, carbon monoxide, and other volatile toxic compounds
Polymerization: Not expected under normal conditions
Acute Toxicity: Causes burns to skin and mucous membranes, toxic if swallowed, inhaled, or in contact with eyes
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Serious burns on skin contact, may result in deep tissue injury
Serious Eye Damage/Irritation: Irreversible effects possible including blindness
Respiratory Sensitization: Can cause coughing, burning of the throat, and long-term respiratory discomfort
Ingestion Effects: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, risk of systemic toxic effects
Chronic Effects: Repeated exposure may cause dermatitis, risk of sensitization unclear based on limited data
Carcinogenicity, Mutagenicity, Reproductive Toxicity: No categorization as carcinogenic by major regulatory authorities for THPC, but use caution due to aldehyde byproducts
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin, eyes, ingestion pose significant risk
Ecotoxicity: Harmful to aquatic life from short- and long-term exposure, possible disruption of water organisms at low concentrations
Persistence/Degradability: Can degrade slowly under environmental conditions, breakdown products may include persistent toxic substances
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low, but breakdown products could pose risk in the ecosystem
Mobility in Soil: High potential for leaching, especially in case of spills, can migrate into groundwater
Other Adverse Effects: Discharges must be controlled, regulatory monitoring recommended in production and use areas
Precautions: Use containment methods for effluent, always filter and neutralize before waste discharge
Product Disposal: Treat as hazardous waste according to local regulations, do not pour down drains or discard with regular waste
Contaminated Packaging: Dispose after triple-rinsing and puncturing, follow local requirements for hazardous containers
Recommended Methods: Chemical incineration in permitted facilities, authorized waste contractor collection, or controlled pH-neutralization with capture of byproducts
Regulatory Compliance: Documentation and chain-of-custody required for off-site disposal, comply with international and national laws governing hazardous material disposal
UN Number: UN 2922 (based on typical aqueous solutions, confirm specific regulatory listing)
Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, toxic, n.o.s. (contains Tetrakis(hydroxymethyl)phosphonium chloride)
Hazard Class: 8 (corrosive), 6.1 (toxic), applicable packing groups based on concentration
Packaging Instructions: Use corrosion-resistant drums or intermediate containers, secondary containment required, clear hazardous markings and emergency contact details on all shipping units
Additional Guidance: Emergency response guide required for common transport modes like road, rail, sea, air, shippers must review local exceptions and requirements
Environmental Hazards: Transport in quantities must remain below threshold for large spill risk, ensure emergency response instructions accompany bulk shipments
Labeling Requirements: Clearly defined hazard icons, precautionary statements, emergency contacts, handling instructions per regional standards
Occupational Safety Regulations: Compliance with OSHA (US), COSHH (UK), or equivalent authorities in other jurisdictions
Chemical Authorizations: Listed under REACH (EU), TSCA (US), or national chemical inventories, restricted use in consumer products
Environmental Regulation: Controlled under aquatic discharge laws, effluent permits needed in manufacturing settings
Special Provisions: Safety data must remain available to all handlers and emergency personnel, training in safe handling mandatory for all staff involved in storage, use, and transport
Other Legal Obligations: Mandatory reporting for large releases, regular review of compliance in line with updated safety guidance from regulatory agencies
