Furfuryl alcohol

Synonyms

2-Furancarbinol; 2-Furanmethanol; 2-Furanylmethanol; 2-Furfuryl alcohol; 2-Furfurylalkohol [Czech]; 2-Furylcarbinol; 2-Furylmethanol; 2-Hydroxymethylfuran; 5-Hydroxymethylfuran; Furfural alcohol; Furfuralcohol; Furfuranol; Furfuryl alcohol; Furfurylcarb; Furyl alcohol; Furylcarbinol (VAN); Methanol, (2-furyl)-; alpha-Furylcarbinol; [ChemIDplus] UN2874

Category

Alcohols and Polyols, Other

Description

Colorless to amber liquid with a faint, burning odor. [Note: Darkens on exposure to light.]; [NIOSH]

Sources/Uses

Used as a solvent and as an intermediate in the manufacturing of resins and wetting agents; [Merck Index # 4305] Used as a solvent for tanning agents, dyes, and resins; also used in sealants, cements, and furan and urea-formaldehyde polymers; [HSDB] The most important use is in making poly(furfuryl alcohol) resins to bind sand-based cores and molds in foundries and to produce plastics, cements, mortars, binders, and adhesives. Resins made from furfuryl alcohol are chemical-resistant and nonburning. [ACGIH]

Comments

Asthma reported in a foundry mold making worker; [Malo] Furfuryl alcohol causes hypoactivity and respiratory tract lesions in high-dose inhalation studies of rats and mice. It causes liver damage in animals fed 1 mg/day for 60 days. Potential for sensitization, but insufficient data for DSEN or RSEN notations; [ACGIH] A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [ICSC] Causes lacrimation and defatting of skin; [ICSC]

Reference Link #1

Biomedical References

Yes

0.2 ppm

50 ppm

75 ppm

Excerpts from Documentation for IDLHs

Other animal data: Exposure of rats to 100 ppm for 6 hours per day, 5 days per week for 16 weeks resulted in decreased weight gain and biochemical changes in the brain (i.e., increased cerebral glial acid­proteinase and phosphohydrase activity) [Savolainen and Pfaffli 1983]. \ Human data: No discomfort was reported from concentrations up to 10.8 ppm for 15 minutes, but severe lacrimation occurred at 15.8 ppm [Apol 1973]. It has also been reported that there is no hazard from exposures up to 16 ppm [Burton and Rivera 1972].

0.61 mm Hg

8 ppm

LC50 (rat) = 233 ppm/4 hr

Explanatory Notes

Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 8.0 ppm); Flash point = 75 deg C; VP from HSDB;

high ambient temp required

Yes

Yes

Acute solvent syndrome

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

Possible (2b)

Confirmed Animal

Diseases

Occupational diseases associated with exposure to this agent:

• Asthma, occupational
• Solvents, acute toxic effect

Processes

Industrial Processes with risk of exposure:

• Leather Tanning and Processing
• Molding and Core Making
• Plastic Composites Manufacturing
• Working with Glues and Adhesives