Talk:Acetonitrile/Archive 1

Metabolism
with the possible exception of your reference 1. all the referenced materials AND Mallinckrodt MSDS clearly indicate that Acetonitrile IS metabolized into cyanide and that this is it's main health hazard. This is the only online publication that I could easily find stating it is not. I work with Acetonitrile daily. The position of my father (a PhD Chemist - Berkeley '69), My boss (Phd Physicist - Wisconsin '04) and his boss (MD. PhD Biochemist - UCLA 1980's) is the same as is NIOSH, National Inventory of Pollutants and OSHA. Get linked references that state otherwise or this could be dangerous to folks like me and the naive public. Please replace with the passage from NIP (Alrready Referenced below)It seems simple and easily understood. Acetoniotrile is Methyl Cyanide and if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin can be metabolized into cyanide and the effects appear delayed. If I am wrong I apologize. Why take the chance with hazardous substances unless the stated reference can be verified immediately?: From NIP: <<Acetonitrile is toxic to humans. Ingestion is highly unlikely under normal conditions. Inhalation of acetonitrile may cause irritation of mucous membranes and inhalation of higher concentrations can produce flushing of the face, chest tightness, weakness, nausea, vomiting, convulsions, shortness of breath and death. Cyanosis (blue-grey discolouration of the skin and lips) may be a delayed symptom. Chronic (long-term) inhalation exposure to acetonitrile results in cyanide poisoning from metabolic release of cyanide after absorption. The major effects consist of those on the central nervous system (CNS), such as headaches, numbness and tremors. Other manifestations of repeated exposure may be enlargement of the thyroid gland or damage to liver and kidneys. Skin contact may also produce cyanide poisoning and dermatitis. Acetonitrile vapour can cause redness of the eyes.>>

IR8D8RIR8D8R (talk) 06:02, 9 March 2008 (UTC)

Safety
I'm moving this chunk from the article. It looks fine, but it needs refs rather than vague "in a well-conducted study in mice". --Rifleman 82 (talk) 22:19, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

The range of oral LD50 values for acetonitrile in mammals is between 140 - 6762 mg/kg body weight. In a well-conducted study in mice, the oral LD50 was calculated to be 617 mg/kg. Inhalation is the greatest hazard due to the high volatility of acetonitrile. Skin contact is the second most-prevalent route of exposure, as standard latex gloves provide no protection, and nitrile gloves are not significantly better. Neoprene, butyl rubber, or polyvinyl acetate gloves are recommended, though for low concentrations, a double layer of nitrile should be adequate.

Acetonitrile breaks down slowly in the body; it takes from two to eight hours for symptoms to become noticeable as the acetonitrile is metabolized to cyanide. Exposure to small amounts, as by incidental inhalation or skin contact, may lead to chest tightness, shortness of breath, and redness/inflammation at the point of contact (if on the skin). Inhalation of vapors from very high concentrations of acetonitrile can result in respiratory tract irritation or lung damage. Early symptoms include weakness, headache, giddiness, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, nausea and vomiting (as with cyanide poisoning). In severe cases, breathing is rapid, then becomes slow and gasping. It would be unusual, though certainly possible, for fatal poisoning to occur.

Application
Acetonitrile is a highly important solvent in HPLC and UPLC. Should this be added to the application section, and if so, how much discussion of the point is necessary?

RHWoodman (talk) 14:14, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

It's mentioned already "Its low viscosity and low chemical reactivity make it a popular choice for liquid chromatography." Certainly not ordinary column chromatography. I suppose we can change it to HPLC, with UPLC being a special type which does not get a mention here. --Rifleman 82 (talk) 21:13, 22 October 2010 (UTC)

Simplest organic nitrile?
In the aritcle it says: This colourless liquid is the simplest organic nitrile. Acetonitrile is NOT the simplest organic nitrile. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) (Formonitrile) is a simpler alkanenitrile. Please discuss. Radiotrefoil (talk) 09:14, 13 July 2012 (UTC)

Update: I just realised HCN is not strictly an "organic" nitrile as cyanides are determined as inorganic. Radiotrefoil (talk) 03:41, 16 July 2012 (UTC)