Product Name: Sodium Cresolate
Chemical Family: Alkali salt of cresol
Molecular Formula: C7H7NaO
Synonyms: Sodium cresylate, Sodium cresylic acid
CAS Number: 26264-05-1
Recommended Uses: Disinfectant, preservative for wood, chemical intermediate
Manufacturer contact: Emergency phone numbers and company address should remain accessible on the primary container or company SDS portal to facilitate immediate communication during unplanned incidents.
Classification: Corrosive to skin and eyes, harmful if swallowed, toxic by inhalation
GHS Label Elements: Danger pictogram with corrosive and health hazard symbols
Hazard Statements: Causes severe burns to skin and serious eye damage, toxic to aquatic life
Precautionary Statements: Avoid all direct contact, keep out of reach of children or unauthorized people, wear specialized protective equipment when handling, do not breathe vapors or dust
Other Hazards: Inhalation can lead to damage of mucous tissues, environmental persistence expected if not properly treated
Emergency Overview: Solids and concentrated solutions pose a direct hazard to skin and can cause permanent sight loss on contact with eyes.
Chemical Name: Sodium Cresolate
Concentration: Usually 90–98% pure in commercial form
Impurities: Trace cresols, inorganic salts
Additional Ingredients: None usually present at significant concentration
CAS Components: Single substance, minor variances depend on manufacturing process
Information on Ingredients: No non-hazardous diluents expected in properly labeled containers.
Inhalation: Move affected person to fresh air immediately, offer oxygen if breathing is difficult, obtain medical help for persistent symptoms
Ingestion: Rinse mouth thoroughly, do not induce vomiting, seek medical attention right away
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing, wash area with copious running water for at least 15 minutes, get help if irritation persists
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes under lukewarm water for 20+ minutes, hold eyelids open, consult ophthalmologist or emergency medical care
Most Important Symptoms: Severe pain, blistering, tissue destruction, respiratory distress possible with substantial exposure
Special Notes for Doctors: Treatment based on clinical judgment, treat effects of corrosive substances; delayed effects possible from severe tissue destruction.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Use foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide extinguishers as water jets may spread material or cause violent spattering
Unsuitable Media: Direct streams of water
Specific Hazards: Combustion releases toxic fumes including phenolic compounds, carbon monoxide, and sodium oxides
Protective Equipment: Wear self-contained breathing apparatus and chemical resistant clothing
Firefighting Instructions: Approach fire from upwind, contain runoff to avoid environmental contamination, alert firefighters to risk of caustic splashes
Thermal Hazards: Sodium cresolate can produce highly corrosive smoke and toxic gases under fire conditions.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate area, ventilate, keep unprotected persons away, prevent dust development
Environmental Precautions: Prevent entry into waterways, soil, or drains; contain leaks with absorbent materials such as sand or earth
Cleanup Methods: Collect spilled material in containers for proper disposal, avoid sweeping dust, wash residues with dilute acid followed by copious water
Emergency Procedures: Use appropriate respiratory protection and chemical-resistant gloves, avoid contact with skin and eyes
Disposal of Cleanup Materials: Place collected waste in compatible, labeled containers for hazardous waste disposal.
Handling: Use in well-ventilated places, always wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles, and protective clothing, never eat, drink, or smoke around the product, close containers tightly after use, use tools and equipment designed to minimize spills or splashing
Storage: Store away from acids, oxidizing agents, and moisture, keep containers securely closed in a cool, dry location, use secure secondary containment for bulk volumes
Incompatibilities: Reacts violently with acids, strong oxidizers, most metals under certain conditions
Special Requirements: Avoid storage near areas with significant fire hazard or where accidental water entry could occur, label all secondary containers with hazard information.
Exposure Limits: Occupational exposure limits typically recommend keeping vapor, mist, or dust below 2 mg/m3 as an 8-hour TWA (time-weighted average)
Engineering Controls: Work in chemical fume hoods or areas with local exhaust ventilation, use splash guards on sinks and bench areas, provide eyewash stations and safety showers
Personal Protective Equipment: Use heavy-duty nitrile, neoprene, or butyl gloves, chemical safety goggles, full face shield, long sleeves, and chemical-resistant aprons
Respiratory Protection: Use NIOSH-approved respirators for vapor or particulate exposure above established limits
Hygiene Measures: Change contaminated clothing immediately, never reuse clothing without decontaminating, wash hands with soap and water before breaks or after use
Monitoring: Regular air measurements in workplaces recommended, observe symptoms among staff for early signs of exposure.
Appearance: White to off-white solid, often supplied as flakes or powder
Odor: Mild phenolic
pH (1% solution): Basic, usually pH 10–12
Melting Point: Varies with specific formulation, typical range 190–200 °C
Boiling Point: Decomposes before boiling
Solubility: Highly soluble in water
Flash Point: Not flammable, may decompose at higher temperatures
Autoignition Temperature: No data available, decomposition can produce combustible gases
Vapor Pressure: Negligible at ambient temperature
Density: Around 1.1–1.3 g/cm3 (solid)
Stability: Stable under recommended handling and storage conditions
Reactivity: Highly reactive with acids, producing exothermic reactions and toxic vapors; can corrode some metals
Hazardous Polymerization: Does not occur
Conditions to Avoid: Contact with heat, acids, or oxidizers, exposure to moisture
Decomposition Products: Includes phenol vapors, sodium oxides, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide
Incompatible Materials: Strong acids (e.g., hydrochloric, sulfuric), anhydrides, strong oxidizers.
Long-Term Effects: May degrade container materials depending on duration and quality of storage.
Acute Toxicity: Oral LD50 in rats ranges 400–700 mg/kg, corrosive to all tissues
Skin Corrosion/Irritation: Severe burns may develop on contact
Eye Damage/Irritation: Permanent eye injury can result from direct exposure
Respiratory Sensitization: Respiratory irritation and long-term pulmonary damage possible
Chronic Effects: Repeated skin contact can lead to dermatitis; chronic inhalation may damage the respiratory tract
Carcinogenicity: Not classed as carcinogenic under current international regulations
Mutagenicity: No clear evidence in test systems
Reproductive Toxicity: Insufficient evidence to classify.
Aquatic Toxicity: Acute toxicity toward aquatic organisms such as fish and invertebrates; LC50 values in river species can be under 10 mg/L
Persistence and Degradability: Not readily biodegradable, may persist in soil and sediment without remediation
Bioaccumulation: Potential exists, especially for fish and aquatic organisms when discharges are repeated
Mobility in Soil: High in solution; run-off can contaminate distant waterways
Effect on Sewage Systems: May destroy beneficial microbes in wastewater treatments, reducing plant effectiveness.
Waste Treatment Method: Dispose as hazardous waste, using incineration or chemical neutralization in accordance with local, state, and federal regulations
Packaging Disposal: Containers require thorough rinsing and destruction before landfill or recycling, labels must be defaced
Precautions for Disposal: Never release to surface water, soil, or municipal sewage
Recommended Disposal Container: Corrosion-resistant drums or intermediate bulk containers with full hazard labeling
Transport of Waste: Engage licensed hazardous waste contractors, document all waste movements and retain manifests for record-keeping.
UN Number: UN 2923
UN Proper Shipping Name: Corrosive solid, basic, organic, n.o.s. (contains Sodium Cresolate)
Transport Hazard Classes: Class 8 (Corrosive substance)
Packing Group: II or III depending on concentration and form
Labeling Requirements: Corrosive hazard symbol, clear identification of key hazards
Special Transport Precautions: Protect from water and moisture, do not transport with acids or oxidizers, secure all containers upright
Transport Regulations: Subject to international, national and local transport rules (such as DOT, ADR, IMDG, IATA).
Inventory Status: Listed in major chemical inventories (US TSCA, EU REACH, Canadian DSL, Australian AICS)
OSHA HazCom: Treated as a hazardous chemical requiring workplace labeling and training, included in hazardous communication programs
SARA Title III (Sections 311/312): Immediate health, delayed health, and environmental hazard
RCRA: Waste containing sodium cresolate falls under hazardous waste codes for discarded commercial chemical products
State Regulations: Regulations in place for reporting and safety in states like California (Proposition 65), New Jersey, Massachusetts
EU Regulations: Subject to CLP (Classification, Labeling and Packaging) and REACH requirements; Safety Data Sheet (SDS) distribution mandatory for commercial customers
Labeling: Containers must carry hazard pictograms, signal words, risk, and precautionary phrases consistent with local requirements.
