N-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone

Synonyms

Ethyl pyrrolidone; 1-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidinone; N-Ethylpyrrolidinone; N-Ethylpyrrolidone; 1-Ethylpyrrolidin-2-one; 2-Pyrrolidinone, 1-ethyl-; [ChemIDplus] NEP; [ECHA - Proposal for Harmonised Classification and Labelling] N- Ethylpyrrolidone-2; [EPA - TSCATS]

Category

Other Solvents

Description

Clear colorless to light yellow liquid with an amine odor; [ECHA - Proposal for Harmonised Classification and Labelling] Colorless liquid; [Taminco MSDS]

Sources/Uses

Used as a solvent, catalyst, and cationic surfactant; [ECHA - Proposal for Harmonised Classification and Labelling] Used as a solvent; [EPA - TSCATS] Used to make fine and large scale chemicals, in industrial coatings, cleaning agents, binders and release agents, functional fluids, laboratories, water treatment chemicals, polymer processing, and oil field drilling and production; [ECHA REACH Registrations]

Comments

"N-Ethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NEP) is a low volatility aprotic solvent classified as a reproductive toxicant." [ACGIH] An irritant that may cause serious eye injury; Suspected of being toxic the developing child; [ECHA REACH Registrations] Mild developmental toxicity observed in dermal study of rats in the presence of maternal toxicity; Developmental toxicity (in 1 of the 2 studies) and teratogenicity (both studies) observed in rabbits at oral doses producing marked maternal toxicity; [EPA - TSCATS] A skin and moderate eye irritant; Animal studies have demonstrated corrosive injuries to eyes, no skin irritation, no sensitization, the liver and kidney as target organs of toxicity, no mutagenic or carcinogenic effects, and reproductive toxicity; [Taminco MSDS] See "N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone."

Biomedical References

5-Hydroxy-N-ethyl-2-pyrolidone (5-HNEP) in urine (without hydrolysis) at end of shift = nonquantitative; [TLVs and BEIs)

5 ppm

0.103 mm Hg

LC50 (rat) > 5,100 mg/m3/8hr

Explanatory Notes

The Guide in the Emergency Response Guidebook is for "Combustible liquid, n.o.s."

Acute solvent syndrome

Hepatoxic (a) from occupational exposure (secondary effect) or (b) in animal studies or in humans after ingestion

Yes

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Painting (Solvents)
• Petroleum Production and Refining