Product Name: Dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride
Other Names: Benzalkonium chloride, BZK
CAS Number: 139-07-1
Recommended Use: Disinfectant, bactericidal agent used in cleaning and sanitizing products including hospitals and homes
Manufacturer Information: Manufacturer name, full address, emergency phone number available on the product’s packaging, typically with round-the-clock hotline for workplace actions
Emergency Contact: Local poison control center and fire department can be contacted for urgent matters
Classification: Corrosive to skin and eyes, hazardous to aquatic life, causes acute toxicity on oral exposure
Label Elements: Pictograms include corrosive symbol, exclamation mark, dead fish and tree for environmental risk
Hazard Statements: Causes severe skin burns and eye damage, may cause respiratory irritation, highly toxic to aquatic organisms
Precautionary Statements: Avoid breathing mist or vapor, wear protective gloves, goggles, and face shield, do not allow release into the environment, wash hands thoroughly after handling, remove contaminated clothing immediately
Chemical Name: Dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium Chloride
CAS Number: 139-07-1
Concentration: Typically ranges from 10% to 80% depending on commercial grade and diluted use form
Other Ingredients: Water, surfactants, stabilizers or coloring agents added in various formulations, not considered hazardous unless noted by their own MSDS
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air immediately, keep at rest, seek medical attention if symptoms develop or persist, supply oxygen if breathing is difficult
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, rinse skin with water for at least 15 minutes, use mild soap, seek medical attention for irritation or burns
Eye Contact: Rinse with copious amounts of water for at least 15 minutes lifting eyelids occasionally, seek immediate medical help to reduce risk of lasting injury
Ingestion: Rinse mouth, drink small quantity of water, do not induce vomiting, call a poison center or doctor immediately, never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Foam, dry powder, carbon dioxide, water spray for cooling containers exposed to fire
Unsuitable Media: Direct water jet may spread fire or cause hazardous runoff
Fire Hazards: May form toxic fumes such as hydrogen chloride, nitrogen oxides, ammonia under combustion, vapors heavier than air
Protective Equipment: Firefighters wear full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus, keep non-emergency personnel away from the scene
Personal Precautions: Wear chemical resistant gloves, protective clothing, safety goggles; ensure adequate ventilation; avoid inhalation and skin contact
Environmental Precautions: Prevent product from entering drains, rivers, or soil
Methods for Cleaning Up: Absorb spill with inert material like sand or earth, shovel into suitable labeled container, wash area with water avoiding runoff, dispose via local hazardous waste protocols
Small Spills: Use absorbent towels and ventilate area
Large Spills: Evacuate non-essential personnel and involve trained response team
Safe Handling: Use in well-ventilated areas, avoid inhaling vapors, keep away from food and drink, wear PPE including gloves and goggles
Storage Conditions: Store in cool, well-ventilated dry place, away from heat, ignition sources, acids, or incompatible chemicals, keep containers tightly closed
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizers, strong acids, reducing agents, anionic surfactants
Hygiene Practices: Wash hands thoroughly after handling, do not smoke, eat, or drink in chemical use areas
Occupational Exposure Limits: Not formally established for this compound; minimize exposure as sensitization has been documented
Engineering Controls: Use fume extraction or local exhaust, provide eyewash stations and safety showers near workstations
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical resistant gloves (nitrile, rubber), goggles, faceshield, long-sleeved clothing, boots, use of a respirator when ventilation is inadequate or airborne particles may be present
Monitoring: Regular air sampling in high-use settings, biological monitoring for signs of reaction or toxicity advised in occupational settings
Appearance: Clear to yellowish liquid in typical ready-to-use form; solid white powder for pure product
Odor: Distinctive pleasant aromatic odor or mild ammonia scent
Molecular Formula: C21H38ClN
Molecular Weight: 340.0 g/mol
Solubility: Easily soluble in water and alcohol
Boiling Point: Above 100°C (water formulations); decomposition at elevated temperatures for pure substance
Melting Point: 153-154°C (pure solid)
pH: 6-8 (10% solution)
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient temperature
Density: Approximately 0.98-1.01 g/cm3 at 20°C
Flash Point: Over 100°C (not highly flammable in solution)
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal storage and handling conditions
Reactivity: Reacts with strong oxidants and anionic substances leading to inactivation
Decomposition Products: May evolve hydrogen chloride, benzyl chloride, ammonia, nitrogen oxides under fire or decomposition
Conditions to Avoid: Strong heat, sunlight, incompatible materials (especially acids and oxidizers)
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, ingestion, skin absorption, or eye contact
Acute Effects: Causes severe burns, pain, redness, blisters on contact with skin or eyes, oral ingestion results in gastrointestinal distress, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting
Chronic Effects: Risk of sensitization, allergic reactions, persistent dermatitis upon repeated contact
Inhalation: Irritation of respiratory tract, coughing, difficulty breathing possible at high concentrations
Eye Damage: Potential for vision loss or permanent eye injury
Carcinogenicity: Not listed as carcinogen by IARC, OSHA, NTP
LD50 (Oral, Rat): Around 240 mg/kg
Medical Conditions Aggravated: Pre-existing respiratory, reactive airway, or skin conditions may worsen with exposure
Aquatic Toxicity: Very toxic to aquatic life with possible long-term effects in watercourses
Persistence and Degradability: Slow degradation, persistent in environment if not treated
Bioaccumulative Potential: Low potential to bioaccumulate in aquatic organisms; breaks down more quickly in soil than in water
Mobility in Soil: Moderate mobility; can leach to groundwater in some cases
Other Adverse Effects: Disrupts beneficial wastewater treatment bacteria, not intended for discharge into sewers without right remediation
Product Disposal: Dispose of as hazardous chemical waste according to local, regional, national, or international regulations; avoid discharge to environment
Container Disposal: Triple rinse and render packaging unusable before landfill or recycling, follow hazardous material protocols
Incineration: Approved facility required, do not burn in open air
Waste Codes: Assign by local regulation; often classified under EPA hazardous code if application meets the threshold or additional ingredients are present
UN Number: 2922
UN Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive liquid, toxic, n.o.s. (contains dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride)
Transport Hazard Class: 8 (Corrosive), 6.1 (Toxic)
Packing Group: II or III depending on concentration and container size
Marine Pollutant: Yes
Special Precautions: Avoid load with incompatible materials, label clearly, ensure secure packing to prevent leaks or exposure
EPA Registration: Registered as an antimicrobial pesticide for use in disinfecting and sanitizing
OSHA Status: Regulated as highly hazardous under Hazard Communication Standard, requires training, labeling, and documented handling protocols
SARA Title III (Sections 311/312): Immediate (Acute) Health Hazard, Delayed (Chronic) Health Hazard
TSCA Inventory: Listed
Other Regulations: Subject to workplace controls, spills reporting, exposure limits may vary by jurisdiction; disposal governed by RCRA if hazardous mixes are present
