Section 2 - Composition, Information on Ingredients

CAS#	Chemical Name	Percent	EINECS/ELINCS
1634-04-4	tert-Butyl methyl ether	>98	216-653-1

Section 3 - Hazards Identification

Appearance: clear, colorless liquid. Flash Point: -28 deg C.
Danger! Extremely flammable liquid and vapor. Vapor may cause flash fire. Causes eye, skin, and respiratory tract irritation. Aspiration hazard if swallowed. Can enter lungs and cause damage. May cause central nervous system depression.
Target Organs: Kidneys, central nervous system, reproductive system.


Potential Health Effects
Eye: Causes eye irritation. Causes redness and pain.
Skin: Causes skin irritation. Causes symptoms similar to those of inhalation. May be harmful if absorbed through the skin.
Ingestion: Aspiration hazard. May cause effects similar to those for inhalation exposure. Aspiration of material into the lungs may cause chemical pneumonitis, which may be fatal. May cause unconsciousness. May cause central nervous system effects. May cause headache, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness.
Inhalation: May cause respiratory tract irritation. Exposure produces central nervous system depression. May cause kidney damage. May cause headache. Inhalation of vapors may cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.
Chronic: May cause cancer according to animal studies. Repeated inhalation may cause nasal and tracheal inflammation. Chronic exposure may cause liver damage. Adverse reproductive effects have been reported in animals. MTBE has been reported to induce lymphomas, leukemias, and testicular tumors in rats exposed by the oral route. It has induced liver tumors in mice by the inhalation route, while kidney tumors occurred in rats.

Section 4 - First Aid Measures

Eyes: Immediately flush eyes with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting the upper and lower eyelids. Get medical aid.
Skin: Get medical aid. Immediately flush skin with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes while removing contaminated clothing and shoes.
Ingestion: Possible aspiration hazard. Get medical aid immediately. Do NOT induce vomiting. If conscious and alert, rinse mouth and drink 2-4 cupfuls of milk or water.
Inhalation: Get medical aid immediately. Remove from exposure and move to fresh air immediately. If breathing is difficult, give oxygen. Do NOT use mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. If breathing has ceased apply artificial respiration using oxygen and a suitable mechanical device such as a bag and a mask.
Notes to Physician: Treat symptomatically and supportively.

Section 5 - Fire Fighting Measures

General Information: As in any fire, wear a self-contained breathing apparatus in pressure-demand, MSHA/NIOSH (approved or equivalent), and full protective gear. Combustion generates toxic fumes. Use water spray to keep fire-exposed containers cool. Containers may explode in the heat of a fire. May form explosive peroxides. Extremely flammable liquid and vapor. Vapor may cause flash fire. This liquid floats on water and may travel to a source of ignition and spread fire.
Extinguishing Media: Use water spray to cool fire-exposed containers. Water may be ineffective. This material is lighter than water and insoluble in water. The fire could easily be spread by the use of water in an area where the water cannot be contained. Use water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide, or chemical foam. Do NOT use straight streams of water.
Flash Point: -28 deg C ( -18.40 deg F)
Autoignition Temperature: 224 deg C ( 435.20 deg F)
Explosion Limits, Lower:1.6%
Upper: 15.1%
NFPA Rating: (estimated) Health: 2; Flammability: 3; Instability: 1

Section 6 - Accidental Release Measures

General Information: Use proper personal protective equipment as indicated in Section 8.
Spills/Leaks: Absorb spill with inert material (e.g. vermiculite, sand or earth), then place in suitable container. Avoid runoff into storm sewers and ditches which lead to waterways. Remove all sources of ignition. Use a spark-proof tool. Provide ventilation. A vapor suppressing foam may be used to reduce vapors.

Section 7 - Handling and Storage

Handling: Ground and bond containers when transferring material. Use spark-proof tools and explosion proof equipment. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing. Empty containers retain product residue, (liquid and/or vapor), and can be dangerous. Keep container tightly closed. Avoid ingestion and inhalation. If peroxide formation is suspected, do not open or move container. Do not pressurize, cut, weld, braze, solder, drill, grind, or expose empty containers to heat, sparks or open flames. Use only with adequate ventilation. Keep away from heat, sparks and flame. Do not allow to evaporate to near dryness.
Storage: Keep away from heat, sparks, and flame. Keep away from sources of ignition. Store in a tightly closed container. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from incompatible substances. Flammables-area. In the presence of atmospheric oxygen, ethers generally form unstable peroxides, but no peroxides were detected in unstabilized MTBE after storage for 52 months. MTBE has a significantly decreased formation of peroxides compared with other ethers.

Section 8 - Exposure Controls, Personal Protection

Engineering Controls: Facilities storing or utilizing this material should be equipped with an eyewash facility and a safety shower. Use adequate general or local explosion-proof ventilation to keep airborne levels to acceptable levels.
Exposure Limits

Chemical Name	ACGIH	NIOSH	OSHA - Final PELs
tert-Butyl methyl ether	50 ppm TWA	none listed	none listed

OSHA Vacated PELs: tert-Butyl methyl ether: No OSHA Vacated PELs are listed for this chemical.
Personal Protective Equipment
Eyes: Wear appropriate protective eyeglasses or chemical safety goggles as described by OSHA's eye and face protection regulations in 29 CFR 1910.133 or European Standard EN166.
Skin: Wear appropriate protective gloves to prevent skin exposure. Chemical-resistant nitrile rubber gloves should be worn during routine handling. Disposable nitrile gloves may be suggested for intermittent use. PVC, Neoprene, Viton, Butyl or natural rubber are NOT recommended.
Clothing: Wear appropriate protective clothing to prevent skin exposure.
Respirators: Follow the OSHA respirator regulations found in 29 CFR 1910.134 or European Standard EN 149. Use a NIOSH/MSHA or European Standard EN 149 approved respirator if exposure limits are exceeded or if irritation or other symptoms are experienced.

Section 9 - Physical and Chemical Properties

Physical State: Liquid
Appearance: clear, colorless
Odor: turpentine - mild odor
pH: Not available.
Vapor Pressure: 268 mbar @20 deg C
Vapor Density: 0.2 (air=1)
Evaporation Rate:Not available.
Viscosity: 0.36 mPa @20 deg C
Boiling Point: 54-56 deg C
Freezing/Melting Point:-110 deg C
Decomposition Temperature:Not available.
Solubility: 51 g/l (20°C)
Specific Gravity/Density:0.74 (water=1)
Molecular Formula:C5H12O
Molecular Weight:88.15

Section 10 - Stability and Reactivity

Chemical Stability: Stable at room temperature in closed containers under normal storage and handling conditions.
Conditions to Avoid: Incompatible materials, light, ignition sources, excess heat, prolonged exposure to air.
Incompatibilities with Other Materials: Oxidizing agents, strong acids, amines, ammonia, chlorinated solvents, plastics, aldehydes (e.g. acetaldehyde, acrolein, chloral, formaldehyde), caustics (e.g. ammonia, ammonium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide).
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, peroxides, formic acid, butyl formate, methyl radicals, acetone.
Hazardous Polymerization: Has not been reported.

Section 11 - Toxicological Information

RTECS#:      
CAS# 1634-04-4: KN5250000
LD50/LC50:
CAS# 1634-04-4:
     Inhalation, mouse: LC50 = 141 gm/m3/15M;
     Inhalation, mouse: LC50 = 28000 mg/m3/2H;
     Inhalation, rat: LC50 = 23576 ppm/4H;
     Inhalation, rat: LC50 = 41000 mg/m3/4H;
     Oral, mouse: LD50 = 5960 uL/kg;
     Oral, rat: LD50 = 4 gm/kg;
.

Carcinogenicity:
CAS# 1634-04-4:

• ACGIH: A3 - Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans
  
• California: Not listed.
  
• NTP: Not listed.
  
• IARC: Not listed.