191-24-2

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Vigorous reactions, sometimes amounting to explosions, can result from the contact between aromatic hydrocarbons, such as 1,12-BENZOPERYLENE, and strong oxidizing agents. They can react exothermically with bases and with diazo compounds. Substitution at the benzene nucleus occurs by halogenation (acid catalyst), nitration, sulfonation, and the Friedel-Crafts reaction.

Health Hazard

Inhalation of material may be harmful. Contact may cause burns to skin and eyes. Inhalation of Asbestos dust may have a damaging effect on the lungs. Fire may produce irritating, corrosive and/or toxic gases. Some liquids produce vapors that may cause dizziness or suffocation. Runoff from fire control may cause pollution.

Fire Hazard

Some may burn but none ignite readily. Containers may explode when heated. Some may be transported hot.

Safety Profile

Questionable carcinogen.Mutation data reported. When heated to decomposition itemits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Carcinogenicity

Subcutaneous or dermal administration (repeated administration and initiation–promotion protocols) of benzo[ghi]perylene to mice gave negative results. Intrapulmonary injection into rats gave results considered to be inadequate for evaluation.

Source

Drinking water standard: No MCLGs or MCLs have been proposed (U.S. EPA, 2000). Detected in 7 of 8 diesel fuels at concentrations ranging from 0.008 to 0.35 mg/L with a mean value of 0.113 mg/L (Westerholm and Li, 1994). Identified in Kuwait and South Louisiana crude oils at concentrations of <1 and 1.6 ppm, respectively (Pancirov and Brown, 1975) and in fresh motor oil (120 μg/kg) and used motor oil (108.8–289.4 mg/kg) (quoted, Verschueren, 1983). Detected in asphalt fumes at an average concentration of 22.76 ng/m3 (Wang et al., 2001). The concentration of benzo[ghi]perylene in coal tar and the maximum concentration reported in groundwater at a mid-Atlantic coal tar site were 1,200 and 0.002 mg/L, respectively (Mackay and Gschwend, 2001). Based on laboratory analysis of 7 coal tar samples, benzo[ghi]perylene concentrations ranged from ND to 1,900 ppm (EPRI, 1990). Benzo[ghi]perylene was reported in a high-temperature coal tar pitch used in roofing at concentrations ranging from 754 to 3,980 mg/kg (Malaiyandi et al., 1982). Nine commercially available creosote samples contained benzo[ghi]perylene at concentrations ranging from 1 to 45 mg/kg (Kohler et al., 2000). Schauer et al. (2001) measured organic compound emission rates for volatile organic compounds, gas-phase semi-volatile organic compounds, and particle-phase organic compounds from the residential (fireplace) combustion of pine, oak, and eucalyptus. The particle-phase emission rates of benzo[ghi]perylene were 0.437 mg/kg of pine burned and 0.173 mg/kg of eucalyptus burned. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without catalytic converters were 0.26 and 10.7 μg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).

Environmental fate

Biological. Based on aerobic soil die away test data at 10 to 30 °C, the estimated half-lives ranged from 590 to 650 d (Coover and Sims, 1987). Groundwater. Based on aerobic soil die away test data at 10 to 30 °C, the estimated half-lives ranged from 3.23 to 3.56 yr (Coover and Sims, 1987). Photolytic. The atmospheric half-life was estimated to range from 0.321 to 3.21 h (Atkinson, 1987). Behymer and Hites (1985) determined the effect of different substrates on the rate of photooxidation of benzo[ghi]perylene using a rotary photoreactor. The photolytic half-lives of benzo[ghi]perylene using silica gel, alumina, and fly ash were 7.0, 22, and 29 h, respectively. Chemical/Physical. At influent concentrations of 1.0, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 mg/L, the GAC adsorption capacities were 10.7, 4.6, 2.0, and 0.85 mg/g, respectively (Dobbs and Cohen, 1980).

Purification Methods

It forms light green crystals on recrystallisation from *C6H6 or xylene and sublimes at 320-340o/0.05mm [UV: Hopff & Schweizer Helv Chim Acta 42 2315 1959, Clar Chem Ber 65 846 1932, Fluoresc. Spectrum: Bowen & Brocklehurst J Chem Soc 3875 1954]. It also recrystallises from propan-1-ol [Altman & Ginsburg J Chem Soc 466 1959]. The 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene complex has m 310-313o (deep red crystals from *C6H6), the picrate has m 267-270o (dark red crystals from *C6H6), and the styphnate (2,4,6-trinitroresorcinol complex) has m 234o (wine red crystals from *C6H6). [Beilstein 5 IV 2766.]

General Description

Colorless to white crystalline solid. Water insoluble.