Propiolactone SDS/MSDS (Safety Data Sheet)

3.1 Substances
Product name: Propiolactone
CAS Number: 57-57-8
PubChem CID: 2365
Molecular formula: C3H4O2
Molecular weight: 72.06 g/mol
IUPAC name: oxetan-2-one

3.2 Mixtures
Not applicable (pure substance).

4.1 Description of first aid measures
Inhalation: Fresh air, rest. Artificial respiration may be needed. Refer immediately for medical attention.
Skin contact: Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower. Refer for medical attention .
Eye contact: First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.
Ingestion: Rinse mouth. Give one or two glasses of water to drink. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer for medical attention .

4.2 Most important symptoms and effects, both acute and delayed
See Section 11 (Toxicological Information).

4.3 Indication of any immediate medical attention and special treatment needed
Treat symptomatically. Contact a poison control center or physician for severe exposure.

5.1 Extinguishing media
Suitable: Water spray, dry chemical, carbon dioxide (CO2), alcohol-resistant foam.
Unsuitable: None known.

5.2 Specific hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Wear air mask, goggles or face shield, rubber gloves, and protective clothing to prevent all skin contact. Cool exposed containers with water.
Extinguish with alcohol foam, water, dry chemical, foam, or carbon dioxide. (EPA, 1998)
Use water spray, powder, alcohol-resistant foam, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.
USE ALCOHOL FOAM.

5.3 Advice for firefighters
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and full protective clothing.
Fight fire from upwind. Cool containers with water spray until fire is extinguished.
Flash point: 158 °F (EPA, 1998)

6.1 Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Wear appropriate personal protective equipment (see Section 8).
Avoid breathing dust/vapor. Ensure adequate ventilation.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas. Keep people away from and upwind of spill.
WARNING: Highly toxic — only trained personnel should handle spills.

6.2 Environmental precautions
Prevent product from entering drains, waterways, or soil.
Contain spill with inert absorbent material.

6.3 Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up
Excerpt from ERG Guide 153 [Substances - Toxic and/or Corrosive (Combustible)]:
IMMEDIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURE: Isolate spill or leak area in all directions for at least 50 meters (150 feet) for liquids and at least 25 meters (75 feet) for solids.
SPILL: Increase the immediate precautionary measure distance, in the downwind direction, as necessary.
FIRE: If tank, rail tank car or highway tank is involved in a fire, ISOLATE for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions; also, consider initial evacuation for 800 meters (1/2 mile) in all directions. (ERG, 2024)
Personal protection: self-contained breathing apparatus. Collect leaking liquid in sealable containers. Absorb remaining liquid in sand or inert absorbent. Then store and dispose of according to local regulations.
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": A high-efficiency particulate arrestor (HEPA) or charcoal filters can be used to minimize amt of carcinogen in exhausted air ventilated safety cabinets, lab hoods, glove boxes or animal rooms ... Filter housing that is designed so that used filters can be transferred into plastic bag without contaminating maintenance staff is avail commercially. Filters should be placed in plastic bags immediately after removal ... The plastic bag should be sealed immediately ... The sealed bag should be labelled properly ... Waste liquids ... should be placed or collected in proper containers for disposal. The lid should be secured & the bottles properly labelled. Once filled, bottles should be placed in plastic bag, so that outer surface ... is not contaminated ... The plastic bag should also be sealed & labelled. ... Broken glassware ... should be decontaminated by solvent extraction, by chemical destruction, or in specially designed incinerators. /Chemical Carcinogens/
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": There is no universal method of disposal that has been proved satisfactory for all carcinogenic compounds & specific methods of chem destruction ... published have not been tested on all kinds of carcinogen-containing waste. ... summary of avail methods & recommendations ... /given/ must be treated as guide only. /Chemical Carcinogens/
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": ... Incineration may be only feasible method for disposal of contaminated laboratory waste from biological expt. However, not all incinerators are suitable for this purpose. The most efficient type ... is probably the gas-fired type, in which a first-stage combustion with a less than stoichiometric air:fuel ratio is followed by a second stage with excess air. Some ... are designed to accept ... aqueous & organic-solvent solutions, otherwise it is necessary ... to absorb soln onto suitable combustible material, such as sawdust. Alternatively, chem destruction may be used, esp when small quantities ... are to be destroyed in laboratory. /Chemical Carcinogens/
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": HEPA (high-efficiency particulate arrestor) filters ... can be disposed of by incineration. For spent charcoal filters, the adsorbed material can be stripped off at high temp & carcinogenic wastes generated by this treatment conducted to & burned in an incinerator. ... LIQUID WASTE: ... Disposal should be carried out by incineration at temp that ... ensure complete combustion. SOLID WASTE: Carcasses of lab animals, cage litter & misc solid wastes ... should be disposed of by incineration at temp high enough to ensure destruction of chem carcinogens or their metabolites. /Chemical Carcinogens/
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": ... Small quantities of ... some carcinogens can be destroyed using chem reactions ... but no general rules can be given. ... As a general technique ... treatment with sodium dichromate in strong sulfuric acid can be used. The time necessary for destruction ... is seldom known ... but 1-2 days is generally considered sufficient when freshly prepd reagent is used. ... Carcinogens that are easily oxidizable can be destroyed with milder oxidative agents, such as saturated soln of potassium permanganate in acetone, which appears to be a suitable agent for destruction of hydrazines or of compounds containing isolated carbon-carbon double bonds. Concn or 50% aqueous sodium hypochlorite can also be used as an oxidizing agent. /Chemical Carcinogens/
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Carcinogens that are alkylating, arylating or acylating agents per se can be destroyed by reaction with appropriate nucleophiles, such as water, hydroxyl ions, ammonia, thiols & thiosulfate. The reactivity of various alkylating agents varies greatly ... & is also influenced by sol of agent in the reaction medium. To facilitate the complete reaction, it is suggested that the agents be dissolved in ethanol or similar solvents. ... No method should be applied ... until it has been thoroughly tested for its effectiveness & safety on material to be inactivated. For example, in case of destruction of alkylating agents, it is possible to detect residual compounds by reaction with 4(4-nitrobenzyl)-pyridine. /Chemical Carcinogens/
SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants.
... SUBSTITUTION OF LESS IRRITATING SUBSTANCES ... REDESIGN OF OPERATIONS ... PREVENT CONTACT, PROVISION OF A PHYSICAL BARRIER AGAINST CONTACT, PROPER WASHING FACILITIES, WORK CLOTHING AND STORAGE FACILITIES, PROTECTIVE CLOTHING, AND BARRIER CREAMS.
... MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN TO PREVENT CONTACT WITH SKIN OR EYE, ESPECIALLY WITH BETA-LACTONES. /LACTONES/
A PERSONAL MONITORING BADGE WAS DEVELOPED FOR THE DETECTION OF THE DIRECT-ACTING, ALKYLATING CARCINOGEN BETA-PROPIOLACTONE @ ATMOSPHERIC CONCN OF 6 PPB FOR 24 HR & 0.6 PPM FOR 0.25 HR IS DISCUSSED.
For more Preventive Measures (Complete) data for BETA-PROPIOLACTONE (18 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

7.1 Precautions for safe handling
Avoid contact with liquid. Keep people away. Stop discharge. Avoid inhalation. (EPA, 1998)
Separated from food and feedstuffs. Cooled. Well closed. Ventilation along the floor.
MATERIALS WHICH ARE TOXIC AS STORED OR WHICH CAN DECOMPOSE INTO TOXIC COMPONENTS ... SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL WELL VENTILATED PLACE, OUT OF THE DIRECT RAYS OF THE SUN, AWAY FROM AREAS OF HIGH FIRE HAZARD, AND SHOULD BE PERIODICALLY INSPECTED. INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS SHOULD BE ISOLATED ... .
SHOULD BE STORED @ LOW TEMP (O °C)
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Storage site should be as close as practical to lab in which carcinogens are to be used, so that only small quantities required for ... expt need to be carried. Carcinogens should be kept in only one section of cupboard, an explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer (depending on chemicophysical properties ...) that bears appropriate label. An inventory ... should be kept, showing quantity of carcinogen & date it was acquired ... Facilities for dispensing ... should be contiguous to storage area. /Chemical Carcinogens/

7.2 Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities
Separated from food and feedstuffs. Cooled. Well closed. Ventilation along the floor.
MATERIALS WHICH ARE TOXIC AS STORED OR WHICH CAN DECOMPOSE INTO TOXIC COMPONENTS ... SHOULD BE STORED IN A COOL WELL VENTILATED PLACE, OUT OF THE DIRECT RAYS OF THE SUN, AWAY FROM AREAS OF HIGH FIRE HAZARD, AND SHOULD BE PERIODICALLY INSPECTED. INCOMPATIBLE MATERIALS SHOULD BE ISOLATED ... .
SHOULD BE STORED @ LOW TEMP (O °C)
PRECAUTIONS FOR "CARCINOGENS": Storage site should be as close as practical to lab in which carcinogens are to be used, so that only small quantities required for ... expt need to be carried. Carcinogens should be kept in only one section of cupboard, an explosion-proof refrigerator or freezer (depending on chemicophysical properties ...) that bears appropriate label. An inventory ... should be kept, showing quantity of carcinogen & date it was acquired ... Facilities for dispensing ... should be contiguous to storage area. /Chemical Carcinogens/
Store away from incompatible materials (see Section 10).
[Note: Specific storage temperature not available in public databases. Refer to supplier Certificate of Analysis (COA) for exact storage conditions.]
Store in original container. Keep upright to prevent leakage.

9.1 Information on basic physical and chemical properties
a) Appearance: Beta-propiolactone appears as a colorless liquid with a slightly sweetish, pungent odor. Used as an intermediate in organic synthesis; disinfectant, sterilant for blood plasma, tissue grafts, vaccines, enzymes and surgical instruments. (EPA, 1998)
b) Odor: PUNGENT
c) Odor threshold: No data available
d) pH: No data available
e) Melting point/freezing point: -27 °F (EPA, 1998)
f) Initial boiling point and boiling range: 324 °F at 760 mmHg decomposes (EPA, 1998)
g) Flash point: 158 °F (EPA, 1998)
h) Evaporation rate: No data available
i) Flammability (solid, gas): No data available
j) Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: No data available
k) Vapor pressure: 3.4 mmHg at 77 °F (EPA, 1998)
l) Vapor density: No data available
m) Relative density: 1.146 at 68 °F (EPA, 1998) - Denser than water; will sink
n) Water solubility: 10 to 50 mg/mL at 66 °F (NTP, 1992)
o) Partition coefficient: n-octanol/water: Log P (n-octanol/water): -0.2
p) Auto-ignition temperature: No data available
q) Decomposition temperature: No data available
r) Viscosity: No data available
s) Explosive properties: No data available
t) Oxidizing properties: No data available

9.2 Other information
Topological Polar Surface Area (TPSA): 26.3 Ų
Complexity: 57

11.1 Information on toxicological effects
Acute toxicity:
No acute toxicity data available.
Skin corrosion/irritation:
Causes skin irritation (H315).
Serious eye damage/eye irritation:
Causes serious eye damage (H318).
Respiratory or skin sensitization:
May cause an allergic skin reaction (H317).
Germ cell mutagenicity:
May cause genetic defects (H340).
Carcinogenicity:
May cause cancer (H350).
Reproductive toxicity:
No data available.
Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure):
No data available.
Specific target organ toxicity (repeated exposure):
No data available.
Aspiration hazard:
No data available.

11.2 Additional information
Carcinogen classification:
beta-Propiolactone
Group 2B: Possibly carcinogenic to humans
Volume 4: (1974) Some Aromatic Amines, Hydrazine and Related Substances, N-Nitroso Compounds and Miscellaneous Alkylating Agents
Volume Sup 7: Overall Evaluations of Carcinogenicity: An Updating of IARC Monographs Volumes 1 to 42, 1987; 440 pages; ISBN 92-832-1411-0 (out of print)
Volume 71: (1999) Re-evaluation of Some Organic Chemicals, Hydrazine and Hydrogen Peroxide (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)
1999
1998
Exposure routes:
The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation and by ingestion.
inhalation, skin absorption, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact
Signs and symptoms of exposure:
Burning sensation. Cough. Sore throat. Headache. Nausea. Shortness of breath. Vomiting.
Redness.
Redness. Pain. Burns.
See Inhalation.
Skin irritation, blistering, burns; corneal opacity; frequent urination; dysuria; hematuria (blood in the urine); [potential occupational carcinogen]
Data source: Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB) via PubChem.

12.1 Toxicity
Environmental effects from the substance have not been investigated adequately.
beta-Propiolactone may be released to the environment in waste streams from factories where it is made or used. If released to water, hydrolysis will be the dominant environmental fate process. The aqueous hydrolysis half-life at 25 °C is approximately 3.5 hr. If released to soil, relatively rapid hydrolysis can be expected to occur in the presence of moisture. Significant evaporation may occur from dry surfaces. If released to the atmosphere, beta-propiolactone is expected to exist in the gas-phase where it may be relatively persistent. The half-life for the reaction with photochemically produced hydroxyl radicals can be estimated to occur at the relatively slow rate of 45 days in the atmosphere. Physical removal from air via wet deposition may be possible since beta-propiolactone is very water soluble. Occupational exposure may be possible through inhalation and dermal contact at sites where beta-propiolactone is used as a chemical intermediate. (SRC)
beta-Propiolactone has not been reported to occur as such in nature(1).
beta-Propiolactone may be present in waste streams from plants where it is made or used(1).
TERRESTRIAL FATE: The important environmental fate processes for beta-propiolactone in the terrestrial environment are expected to be hydrolysis and volatilization. beta-Propiolactone has an aqueous hydrolysis half-life of approximately 3.5 hr at 25 °C(2); therefore, relatively rapid hyd

12.2 Persistence and degradability
No data available.

12.3 Bioaccumulative potential
Log P (n-octanol/water): -0.2
Low potential for bioaccumulation (Log P < 3).

12.4 Mobility in soil
No data available.

12.5 Results of PBT and vPvB assessment
PBT/vPvB assessment not available.

12.6 Other adverse effects
No other adverse ecological effects identified.

13.1 Waste treatment methods
Waste Treatment Methods: Waste material must be disposed of in accordance with national and local regulations. Leave chemicals in original containers and do not mix with other waste. Handle uncleaned containers in the same manner as the product itself.

14.1 UN number
Not regulated as dangerous goods (research quantities typically exempt).

14.2 UN proper shipping name
Not subject to transport regulations (small quantities for research use).

14.3 Transport hazard class(es)
Class 6.1
DOT label: Poison

14.4 Packing group
Packing group I

14.5 Environmental hazards
Marine pollutant: No (not classified as environmentally hazardous per GHS).

14.6 Special precautions for user
Transport in original packaging. Ensure containers are tightly sealed.
For bulk or commercial quantities, consult applicable transport regulations (DOT, IATA, IMDG).

14.7 Transport in bulk according to Annex II of MARPOL 73/78 and the IBC Code
Not applicable.

15.1 Safety, health and environmental regulations/legislation specific for the substance or mixture
US EPA / TSCA: Subject to EPA TSCA regulations
EU ECHA / REACH: Registered (REACH Active)

SARA 302 Components:
No chemicals in this material are subject to the reporting requirements of SARA Title III, Section 302.
SARA 313 Components:
This material does not contain any chemical components with known CAS numbers that exceed the threshold (De Minimis) reporting levels established by SARA Title III, Section 313.
SARA 311/312 Hazards:
Acute (short-term) health hazard
Chronic (long-term) health hazard
Fire hazard

Massachusetts Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Massachusetts Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
Pennsylvania Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.
New Jersey Right To Know Components:
This material contains components subject to the New Jersey Right to Know Act. See Section 2 for hazard classification.

California Prop. 65 Components:
This product does not contain any chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects, or any other reproductive harm.

Other regulatory listings:
- The Australian Inventory of Industrial Chemicals: Chemical: 2-Oxetanone
- California Safe Cosmetics Program (CSCP) Reportable Ingredient: Hazard Traits - Carcinogenicity; Ocular Toxicity; Respiratory Toxicity Authoritative List - CA TACs; EC Annex VI CMRs - Cat. 1B; IARC Carcinogens - 2B; NTP RoC - reasonable; Prop 65 Report - regardles
- New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act: The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)
- Atmospheric Standards: Listed as a hazardous air pollutant (HAP) generally known or suspected to cause serious health problems. The Clean Air Act, as amended in 1990, directs EPA to set standards requiring major sources to sharply reduce routine emissions of toxic pollutants. EPA is required to establish and phase in spec
- CERCLA Reportable Quantities: Releases of CERCLA hazardous substances are subject to the release reporting requirement of CERCLA section 103, codified at 40 CFR part 302, in addition to the requirements of 40 CFR part 355. Propiolactone, beta- is an extremely hazardous substance (EHS) subject to reporting requirements when store

15.2 Chemical safety assessment
A chemical safety assessment has not been carried out for this substance.
For research-use-only compounds, no CSA is required under REACH Annex I.

Revision Date: 2026/09/08
Further Information: The information provided is believed to be correct but is not exhaustive and should be used only as a guideline based on current knowledge. It does not represent a guarantee of the properties of the product. Selleck Chemicals Corporation and its Affiliates shall not be held liable for any damage resulting from handling or contact with the product.