Substance profile
Furfuryl Alcohol
Furfuryl Alcohol is a colorless to yellow liquid with a faint burning odor.
01 · Identification
What Furfuryl Alcohol is
Furfuryl Alcohol is a colorless to yellow liquid with a faint burning odor. It boils at 171 °C, melts at -14.6 °C, is soluble in water.
Under the GHS it carries the signal word Danger. It is classed as flammable agents - 2nd degree.
02 · GHS classification
Hazards and label elements
Harmonised classification under CLP Annex VI. This is the legally binding classification in the EU; other jurisdictions may differ.
| Code | Hazard statement |
|---|---|
| H351 | Suspected of causing cancer <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H331 | Toxic if inhaled. |
| H312 | Harmful in contact with skin. |
| H302 | Harmful if swallowed. |
| H335 | May cause respiratory irritation. |
| H373 | May cause damage to organs <or state all organs affected, if known> through prolonged or repeated exposure <state route of exposure if it is conclusively proven that no other routes of exposure cause the hazard>. |
| H319 | Causes serious eye irritation. |
Precautionary statements: P201, P260, P264, P270, P271, P280, P301, P302, P304, P305, P308, P310, P312, P313, P314, P330, P337, P338, P352
03 · Physical and chemical properties
Furfuryl Alcohol properties
Every value is shown with the conditions it was measured under and the source it came from. Where sources disagree, all values are listed rather than one being picked — the difference is usually a different form of the substance, not an error.
| Property | Value | Conditions | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boiling point | 171 °C (339.8 °F) | HSDB | |
| 170 °C (338 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 170 °C (338 °F) | at 760 mmHg | CAMEO | |
| Melting point | -14.6 °C (5.7 °F) | HSDB | |
| -14.44 °C (6 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| -31.11 °C (-24 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Density | 1.13 g/cm³ | NIOSH | |
| 1.1296 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | HSDB | |
| 1.13 g/cm³ | at 20 °C | CAMEO | |
| Solubility | Soluble in chloroform; very soluble in ethanol, ethyl ether | HSDB | |
| Soluble in alcohol, benzene; very soluble in ether | HSDB | ||
| Miscible with alcohol, ether, acetone, and ethyl acetate, and most organic solvents with the exception of paraffinic hydrocarbons | HSDB | ||
| Vapor pressure | 0.4 mmHg | at 20 °C | CAMEO |
| 0.3975 mmHg | at 20 °C | ICSC | |
| 0.6 mmHg | at 25 °C | NIOSH | |
| Flash point | 75 °C (167 °F) | Open cup | HSDB |
| 65 °C (149 °F) | NIOSH | ||
| 75 °C (167 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| Autoignition temperature | 490 °C (914 °F) | HSDB | |
| 391.11 °C (736 °F) | CAMEO | ||
| 390 °C (734 °F) | ICSC | ||
| Lower explosive limit (LEL) | 1.8 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Upper explosive limit (UEL) | 16.3 % by volume | HSDB | |
| Vapor density | 3.37 (air = 1) | HSDB | |
| 3.4 (air = 1) | CAMEO | ||
| Odor threshold | 50% response: 8 ppm | HSDB | |
| Odor Threshold Low: 8.0 [ppm] | Haz-Map | ||
| Detection odor threshold from AIHA (mean = 8.0 ppm) | Haz-Map |
Values compiled from PubChem Laboratory Chemical Safety Summary. Temperatures converted to Fahrenheit for reference.
04 · Handling and storage
Storing and handling Furfuryl Alcohol
Storage conditions
... SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL, WELL VENTILATED PLACE, OUT OF THE DIRECT RAYS OF THE SUN, AWAY FROM AREAS OF HIGH FIRE HAZARD ... .
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Incompatible materials
Strong oxidizers & acids [Note: Contact with organic acids may lead to polymerization].
Source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB)
Reactivity
Acetyl bromide reacts violently with alcohols or water, [Merck 11th ed., 1989]. Mixtures of alcohols with concentrated sulfuric acid and strong hydrogen peroxide can cause explosions. Example: An explosion will occur if dimethylbenzylcarbinol is added to 90% hydrogen peroxide then acidified with concentrated sulfuric acid. Mixtures of ethyl alcohol with concentrated hydrogen peroxide form powerful explosives. Mixtures of hydrogen peroxide and 1-phenyl-2-methyl propyl alcohol tend to explode if acidified with 70% sulfuric acid, [Chem. Eng. News 45(43):73(1967); J, Org. Chem. 28:1893(1963)].
Source: CAMEO Chemicals
Planning storage for a mix of chemicals? Check Furfuryl Alcohol in the storage compatibility matrix →