Epichlorohydrin

Chemical Description

• Epichlorohydrin is an organic compound with the chemical formula c3h5clo. It is a colorless liquid with an odor similar to chloroform.
• It is an important raw material and intermediate for organic synthesis. It can be used to produce epoxy resin and as a diluent of epoxy resin. It is also used to manufacture glycerin, nitroglycerin explosives, glass fiber reinforced plastics, glyceryl methacrylate, chlorohydrin rubber, glycidyl derivatives, surfactants, electrical insulation products, etc.
• It is also a common raw material for manufacturing a variety of adhesives, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, plasticizers and ion exchange resins. As well as solvents for adhesives, coatings, paints, Rubbers, resins, cellulose esters and cellulose ethers.
• It is toxic, belonging to medium toxicity. Animal experiments have proved that it has a potential carcinogenic effect. Long term exposure should be avoided.
• Epichlorohydrin is a kind of organochlorine compound as well as epoxide. It can be used as an industrial solvent. It is a highly reactive compound, and can be used for the production of glycerol, plastics, epoxy glues and resins, and elastomers.
• It can also be used for the production of glycidyl nitrate and alkali chloride, used as the solvent of cellulose, resins, and paint as well as being used as an insect fumigant. In biochemistry, it can be used as a crosslinking agent for the production of Sephadex size-exclusion chromatography resins. However, it is a potential carcinogen, and can cause various kinds of side effects on respiratory tract and kidneys. It can be manufactured through the reaction between allyl chloride with hypochlorous acid as well as alcohols.
• Epichlorohydrin is mainly used in the production of epoxy resins. It was also used as a solvent for paints, varnishes, lacquers, cellulose esters and ethers, and gums. Epichlorohydrin was historically used as an insecticide fumigant.
• Epichlorohydrin (molecular weight = 92.53 g/mol) is a colorless liquid with a sweet or garlic-like pungent odor. It is soluble in water (6.6 × 104 mg/l at 25 °C) and miscible with most organic solvents.