Product Name: O-Cresolsulfonic Acid
Chemical Family: Sulfonic acids
Chemical Formula: C7H8O4S
CAS Number: 88-43-7
Synonyms: 2-Hydroxy-4-methylbenzenesulfonic acid, o-Cresol-4-sulfonic acid
Recommended Use: Intermediate for dyes, pharmaceuticals, and other chemical manufacturing
Manufacturer Details: Available through a range of specialty chemical suppliers. Contact information varies by source. Emergency phone lines operate through local poison control and fire authorities, usually listed in local chemical storage documents.
Hazard Classification: Corrosive, harmful if inhaled, may cause severe burns to skin and eyes
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage. Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Inhalation leads to respiratory tract irritation and chemical pneumonitis in extreme exposure. Contact with metals can release flammable hydrogen gas.
Pictograms: Corrosive (GHS05), Exclamation mark (GHS07)
Precautionary Statements: Wear protective gloves, eye protection, and face shields. Do not breathe mist or vapors. Wash exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Avoid release to the environment. Use with proper exhaust ventilation.
Chemical Name: O-Cresolsulfonic Acid
Concentration: 97-100%
Chemical Formula: C7H8O4S
Impurities: Trace water, possible residual cresol or sulfuric acid
Other Ingredients: Not present in significant concentrations
Inhalation: Remove to fresh air. Seek immediate medical attention if symptoms develop or persist. Provide oxygen or artificial respiration if breathing is difficult.
Skin Contact: Flush affected area with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes. Seek immediate medical attention.
Eye Contact: Rinse immediately with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes. Hold eyelids apart to ensure thorough rinsing. Do not allow victim to rub eyes. Seek urgent ophthalmological care.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth with water. Do not induce vomiting. If conscious, provide small quantities of water or milk. Contact poison control and obtain medical attention.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical, carbon dioxide, alcohol-resistant foam. Water spray recommended to keep containers cool, but avoid direct streams on product.
Special Hazards: Produces hazardous fumes of sulfur oxides and toluene derivatives on combustion. Reacts with many metals to produce hydrogen gas.
Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus, acid-resistant turnout gear, and gloves suited for chemical fires. Do not enter confined fire spaces without proper protection.
Fire-fighting Instructions: Approach from upwind. Do not allow contaminated runoff to enter water systems. Evacuate unprotected personnel from danger zone.
Personal Precautions: Use full chemical protective clothing and self-contained breathing apparatus. Evacuate area.
Environmental Precautions: Prevent release to soil, drains, and waterways. Notify authorities if any large-scale spill threatens the environment.
Methods for Cleaning Up: Absorb with inert material such as clay, dry sand, or earth. Shovel into approved containers. Neutralize small spills with dilute sodium bicarbonate solution before flushing area with copious water. Wash spill site after material pickup.
Handling: Avoid breathing vapors, mists, or dust. Do not get on skin, eyes, or clothing. Only open containers in well-ventilated environments. Maintain sealed packaging until use.
Storage: Store away from incompatible substances like bases, oxidizers, and metals. Use corrosion-resistant containers kept tightly closed. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. Do not store near food or animal feed.
Exposure Limits: No established OSHA PEL or ACGIH TLV for o-cresolsulfonic acid; use lowest feasible exposure criteria.
Engineering Controls: Use local exhaust ventilation, acid-resistant process enclosures, and facilities for safety shower/eyewash nearby.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves (butyl or neoprene), full-length acid suit, splash-proof chemical goggles, face shield.
Respiratory Protection: NIOSH-approved acid vapor respirators under routine conditions. Use self-contained apparatus during emergency or large-scale releases.
Appearance: Brown to reddish-brown solid or viscous liquid
Odor: Characteristic, phenolic
Boiling Point: Decomposes above 300°C
Melting Point: 110-140°C (dependent on purity and hydrous form)
pH: Acidic in water
Solubility: Highly soluble in water, alcohols
Flash Point: Not easily flammable, precise value not available
Density: 1.4 – 1.5 g/cm³ at 20°C
Vapor Pressure: Low at room temperature
Stability: Stable under standard conditions, reacts with bases/metals
Chemical Stability: Stable in sealed containers at room temperature
Reactivity: Violent reaction with strong bases, oxidizers; attacks metals with evolution of flammable hydrogen
Decomposition Products: Sulfur oxides, toluene derivatives, carbon oxides on heating
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, reducing agents, alkalis, reactive metals (aluminum, zinc)
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin, eyes, ingestion
Acute Effects: Causes burns to skin, eyes, respiratory tract; ingestion damages mucous membranes and digestive tract
Chronic Effects: Prolonged exposure increases the risk of dermatitis, respiratory problems, and sensitization
LD50/LC50 Data: Rat: oral LD50 approximately 1260 mg/kg (data vary by purity)
Target Organs: Skin, eyes, upper respiratory tract, digestive system
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as carcinogen by IARC, NTP, or OSHA
Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life at high concentrations, harmful to invertebrates and aquatic plants
Persistence and Degradability: Readily bioavailable for microbial breakdown, but large releases overwhelm natural systems
Bioaccumulation: Unlikely due to high solubility and rapid breakdown
Mobility in Soil: High; leaches rapidly from surface soils into groundwater if spilled
Other Adverse Effects: Sulfonated aromatic acids affect aquatic oxygen demand and pH, impacting downstream environments
Waste Management: Consult local, regional, and national regulations before disposal. Waste must be neutralized and diluted before discharge, or handled as hazardous chemical waste.
Container Disposal: Triple-rinse empty containers, then dispose through licensed chemical waste contractor. Do not reuse packaging.
Special Instructions: Wastewater contaminated with o-cresolsulfonic acid should be treated with basic neutralization and released only if permitted.
UN Number: 2585
Proper Shipping Name: Cresolsulfonic acid, solid or solution
Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive substance)
Packing Group: II or III (depending on concentration, consult current regulations)
Label Requirements: Corrosive, Environmentally Hazardous
Transport Precautions: Ship in tightly sealed, corrosion-resistant containers. Avoid shipment with incompatible materials. Emergency measures should specify isolation and evacuation zones.
Additional Information: Comply with IATA, IMDG, and DOT regulations for corrosive chemicals.
TSCA Status: Listed on US TSCA inventory
SARA Status: Not subject to SARA 313 reporting but may require accident reporting under SARA Title III
REACH: Registered under relevant European Union regulations; potential for restriction based on downstream use
OSHA Hazard Communication: Classified as hazardous; safety training and documentation required
Other Regulatory Concerns: Subject to CERCLA for large spills, Clean Water Act reporting due to toxicity, EU CLP for labeling
Workplace Controls: Full hazard communication program, regular health monitoring for exposed employees, requirement for exposure records and control measures
