Trimethylamine

Synonyms

Dimethylmethaneamine; Methanamine, N,N-dimethyl-; N,N-Dimethylmethanamine; N-Trimethylamine; [ChemIDplus] UN1083; UN1297

Category

Amines, Aliphatic

Description

Colorless gas with a fishy, amine odor; Note: A liquid below 37 degrees F. Shipped as a liquefied compressed gas; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used in organic synthesis, as an insect attractant, and as a warning gas in natural gas; [Merck Index] Also used as a flotation agent; It is a natural decomposition product of plants and animals; [ACGIH]

Comments

Has a highly offensive odor at < 1 ppm; "TLV Basis" is irritation (skin, eyes, and upper respiratory tract); [ACGIH] Liquid causes first degree burns on short exposure. [CHRIS ] Corrosive to skin; [Quick CPC] Possible frostbite from contact with liquid; [NIOSH] May cause permanent eye injury; Transient visual effects ("blue haze" or "halo vision") occur at low concentrations; [CHEMINFO] May cause respiratory tract irritation and pulmonary edema; [ICSC]

Biomedical References

Insufficient data

5 ppm

15 ppm

2 ppm

0.0002 ppm

Odor Threshold High

0.00087 ppm

LCLo (rat) = 3,500 ppm/4h

Explanatory Notes

Odor threshold from AIHA; The Guide from the Emergency Response Guidebook is for anhydrous trimethylamine.

Reference Link #2

burn readily

0.1 ppm

100 ppm

500 ppm

1 ppm

Yes

Skin burns

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Metal Extraction and Refining