I'd like to add to Richard Laursen's information about using CNBr
Disposal is important - you cannot just flush this stuff down the sink. It
requires inactivation by dilution into household bleach solution. I would
also rinse all tips and tubes used in bleach before rinsing with water and
then dipose or wash. Always work in a hood. When removing CNBr under
vacuum, use a NaOH trap.
Here's an MSDS on CNBr
Len
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MSDS for CYANOGEN BROMIDE Page 1
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1 - PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
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PRODUCT NAME: CYANOGEN BROMIDE
FORMULA: BRCN
FORMULA WT: 105.93
CAS NO.: 00506-68-3
NIOSH/RTECS NO.: GT2100000
COMMON SYNONYMS: BROMINE CYANIDE; BROMOCYAN; BROMOCYANOGEN; CYANOBROMIDE
PRODUCT CODES: F946
EFFECTIVE: 03/05/87
REVISION #03
PRECAUTIONARY LABELLING
BAKER SAF-T-DATA(TM) SYSTEM
HEALTH - 3 SEVERE (POISON)
FLAMMABILITY - 0 NONE
REACTIVITY - 3 SEVERE (WATER REACTIVE)
CONTACT - 3 SEVERE (CORROSIVE)
HAZARD RATINGS ARE 0 TO 4 (0 = NO HAZARD; 4 = EXTREME HAZARD).
LABORATORY PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
GOGGLES; LAB COAT; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES
PRECAUTIONARY LABEL STATEMENTS
POISON DANGER
CAUSES SEVERE IRRITATION
MAY BE FATAL IF SWALLOWED OR INHALED
REACTS VIOLENTLY WITH WATER AND ACIDS.
DO NOT GET IN EYES, ON SKIN, ON CLOTHING.
KEEP IN TIGHTLY CLOSED CONTAINER. KEEP FROM ANY POSSIBLE CONTACT WITH
WATER. WASH THOROUGHLY AFTER HANDLING. IN CASE OF FIRE, SMOTHER WITH DRY
SODA ASH. NEVER USE WATER OR CHEMICAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.
SAF-T-DATA(TM) STORAGE COLOR CODE: WHITE STRIPE (STORE SEPARATELY)
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2 - HAZARDOUS COMPONENTS
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COMPONENT % CAS NO.
CYANOGEN BROMIDE 90-100 506-68-3
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3 - PHYSICAL DATA
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BOILING POINT: 62 C ( 144 F) VAPOR PRESSURE(MM HG): 100
MELTING POINT: 52 C ( 126 F) VAPOR DENSITY(AIR=1): 3.6
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MSDS for CYANOGEN BROMIDE Page 2
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SPECIFIC GRAVITY: 2.02 EVAPORATION RATE: N/A
(H2O=1) (BUTYL ACETATE=1)
SOLUBILITY(H2O): APPRECIABLE (MORE THAN 10 %) % VOLATILES BY VOLUME: 100
APPEARANCE & ODOR: WHITE CRYSTALLINE SOLID WITH A PUNGENT ODOR.
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4 - FIRE AND EXPLOSION HAZARD DATA
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FLASH POINT (CLOSED CUP N/A NFPA 704M RATING: 3-0-2
FLAMMABLE LIMITS: UPPER - N/A % LOWER - N/A %
FIRE EXTINGUISHING MEDIA
USE DRY CHEMICAL OR CARBON DIOXIDE. DO NOT USE WATER.
SPECIAL FIRE-FIGHTING PROCEDURES
FIREFIGHTERS SHOULD WEAR PROPER PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND SELF-CONTAINED
BREATHING APPARATUS WITH FULL FACEPIECE OPERATED IN POSITIVE PRESSURE MODE.
MOVE EXPOSED CONTAINERS FROM FIRE AREA IF IT CAN BE DONE WITHOUT RISK.
USE WATER TO KEEP FIRE-EXPOSED CONTAINERS COOL; DO NOT GET WATER INSIDE
CONTAINERS.
UNUSUAL FIRE & EXPLOSION HAZARDS
REACTS VIOLENTLY WITH WATER PRODUCING HIGHLY TOXIC FUMES.
TOXIC GASES PRODUCED
HYDROGEN CYANIDE, HYDROGEN BROMIDE, BROMINE
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5 - HEALTH HAZARD DATA
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PERMISSIBLE EXPOSURE LIMIT (PEL): 5 MG/M3 ( PPM)
CARCINOGENICITY: NTP: NO IARC: NO Z LIST: NO OSHA REG: NO
EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE
INHALATION AND INGESTION ARE HARMFUL AND MAY BE FATAL.
VAPORS MAY BE IRRITATING TO SKIN, EYES, AND MUCOUS MEMBRANES.
INHALATION OF DUST MAY CAUSE HEADACHE, COUGHING, DIFFICULTY IN BREATHING,
CHEST PAIN, SEVERE LUNG IRRITATION, OR PULMONARY EDEMA.
INHALATION AND INGESTION MAY CAUSE CYANOSIS. THE EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE MAY
INCLUDE HEADACHE, NAUSEA, VOMITING, DIZZINESS, WEAKNESS, RAPID INEFFECTIVE
BREATHING, LOW BLOOD PRESSURE, LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS, OR CONVULSIONS.
CONTACT WITH SKIN OR EYES MAY CAUSE SEVERE IRRITATION OR BURNS.
INGESTION MAY CAUSE IRRITATION AND BURNING TO MOUTH AND STOMACH.
TARGET ORGANS
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM, CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, LIVER, KIDNEYS, SKIN
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MSDS for CYANOGEN BROMIDE Page 3
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MEDICAL CONDITIONS GENERALLY AGGRAVATED BY EXPOSURE
KIDNEY DISORDERS, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM DISEASE, SKIN DISORDERS,
THYROID DISORDERS
ROUTES OF ENTRY
INHALATION, INGESTION, SKIN CONTACT, EYE CONTACT
EMERGENCY AND FIRST AID PROCEDURES
CALL A PHYSICIAN.
KEEP CYANIDE ANTIDOTE KIT ON HAND AT ALL TIMES IF SWALLOWED, IF UNCON-
SCIOUS, BREAK AN AMYL NITRITE PEARL IN A CLOTH AND HOLD LIGHTLY UNDER
NOSE FOR 15 SECONDS. WHEN CONSCIOUSNESS RETURNS, INDUCE VOMITING.
IF INHALED, BREAK AN AMYL NITRITE PEARL IN A CLOTH AND HOLD LIGHTLY UNDER
NOSE FOR 15 SECONDS. REPEAT 5 TIMES AT ABOUT 15 SECOND INTERVALS. IF
NOT BREATHING, GIVE ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION.
IN CASE OF CONTACT, IMMEDIATELY FLUSH EYES OR SKIN WITH PLENTY OF WATER FOR
AT LEAST 15 MINUTES.
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6 - REACTIVITY DATA
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STABILITY: STABLE HAZARDOUS POLYMERIZATION: WILL NOT OCCUR
CONDITIONS TO AVOID: MOISTURE, HEAT
INCOMPATIBLES: MINERAL ACIDS, ORGANIC ACIDS, WATER, STRONG ACIDS
DECOMPOSITION PRODUCTS: HYDROGEN CYANIDE, HYDROGEN BROMIDE, BROMINE
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7 - SPILL AND DISPOSAL PROCEDURES
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STEPS TO BE TAKEN IN THE EVENT OF A SPILL OR DISCHARGE
WEAR SELF-CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS AND FULL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING. DO
NOT USE WATER.
WITH CLEAN SHOVEL, PLACE MATERIAL INTO CLEAN, DRY METAL CONTAINER AND
COVER WITH DRY SAND, LIME OR SODA ASH. KEEP CONTAINER TIGHTLY COVERED.
DISPOSAL PROCEDURE
DISPOSE IN ACCORDANCE WITH ALL APPLICABLE FEDERAL, STATE, AND LOCAL
ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS.
EPA HAZARDOUS WASTE NUMBER: U246 (TOXIC WASTE)
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8 - PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
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VENTILATION: USE ADEQUATE GENERAL OR LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION
TO KEEP FUME OR DUST LEVELS AS LOW AS POSSIBLE.
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MSDS for CYANOGEN BROMIDE Page 4
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RESPIRATORY PROTECTION: NONE REQUIRED WHERE ADEQUATE VENTILATION
CONDITIONS EXIST. IF AIRBORNE CONCENTRATION IS
HIGH, A CHEMICAL CARTRIDGE RESPIRATOR WITH ACID
CARTRIDGE IS RECOMMENDED. IF CONCENTRATION
EXCEEDS CAPACITY OF CARTRIDGE RESPIRATOR, A SELF-
CONTAINED BREATHING APPARATUS IS ADVISED.
EYE/SKIN PROTECTION: SAFETY GOGGLES, UNIFORM, APRON, RUBBER GLOVES ARE
RECOMMENDED.
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9 - STORAGE AND HANDLING PRECAUTIONS
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SAF-T-DATA(TM) STORAGE COLOR CODE: WHITE STRIPE (STORE SEPARATELY)
SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS
KEEP CONTAINER TIGHTLY CLOSED. STORE AWAY FROM WATER OR LOCATIONS WHERE
WATER MAY BE USED TO EXTINGUISH FIRE.
PRODUCT MUST BE REFRIGERATED AT 2 - 8 C (36 - 46 F).
HANDLING OPERATIONS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED IN A HOOD. PRODUCT MAY DECOMPOSE
UPON PROLONGED STORAGE, RESULTING IN AN EXPLOSIVE MIXTURE.
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10 - TRANSPORTATION DATA AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
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DOMESTIC (D.O.T.)
PROPER SHIPPING NAME CYANOGEN BROMIDE
HAZARD CLASS POISON B
UN/NA UN1889
LABELS POISON
REPORTABLE QUANTITY 1000 LBS.
INTERNATIONAL (I.M.O.)
PROPER SHIPPING NAME CYANOGEN BROMIDE
HAZARD CLASS 6.1, 8
UN/NA UN1889
LABELS POISON, CORROSIVE
*********************************************************************
Dr Len C. Packman
Assistant Director of Research
Protein and Nucleic Acid Chemistry Facility
Department of Biochemistry
University of Cambridge
80 Tennis Court Road
Old Addenbrookes Site
Cambridge, CB2 1GA, UK
Tel: +44 (1223) 333639
FAX: +44 (1223) 766002
e-mail: lcp2@mole.bio.cam.ac.uk
Visit my WWW page at http://www.bio.cam.ac.uk/proj/adr/PNAC/pnac.html