Technical information GPS Safety Summary Potassium cyanide Substance name Potassium cyanide CAS-No. 151-50-8 General statement Consumer risk and exposure is very unlikely as this substance is manufactured and handled in industrial settings. The environmental effects, ecotoxicology and toxicology information available for this chemical is provided based on studies and/or a reliable evaluation of its hazardous properties. See Health and Environmental Effects. This chemical should not enter surface water, groundwater and soil. General and substance specific operational conditions and risk management measures are in place preventing exposure of workers and release to the environment. Chemical identity Product names Potassium cyanide Chemical name (IUPAC) Potassium cyanide CAS number 151-50-8 EC number 205-792-3 Synonyms / Formula KCN Evonik Industries AG | GPS Safety Summary | November 2011 | Version 1 | page 1/6 Uses and application Potassium cyanide is used primarily as a processing aid in electroplating. The substance is used for extraction and recycling of precious metals, as starting material in the manufacture of other chemicals and as a surface treatment agent in metal hardening. Physical/chemical properties Potassium cyanide is a white crystalline solid with a faint bitter-almond like odour. The solid has a density higher than water. The melting point of this substance is 635 °C and the boiling point 1625°C. Alkali cyanide salts are soluble in water liberating HCN unless pH is strongly alkaline. Property Value Density 1.55 g/cm3 (20°C) Melting / Boiling point 635°C / 1625°C Molecular weight 65.12 g/mol Health effects Based on available data, potassium cyanide is fatal if swallowed, inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Standard tests indicate the substance is not mutagenic or genotoxic. Data shows no evidence of reproductive toxicity or carcinogenicity. Effect Assessment Result Acute toxicity (oral, dermal Fatal if swallowed, inhaled and and inhalation) absorbed through the skin. Eye / Skin irritation Due to the acute toxicity the irritative effect on the eye and skin cannot be determined. Sensitization Due to the acute toxicity the sensitizing potential cannot be determined. Toxicity after repeated Acutely toxic effects are exposure predominant via oral, dermal and inhalative route. Repeated exposure is correlated with thyroid enlargement. Genotoxicity / mutagenicity Not mutagenic / not genotoxic Carcinogenicity No evidence that the material is carcinogenic based on available data. Toxicity for reproduction No evidence that the material is a reproductive toxin based on available data. Evonik Industries GmbH | GPS Safety Summary| November 2010 page 2/6 Environmental effects Based on available data, potassium cyanide is considered very toxic to the environment. The substance is readily biodegradable and no bioaccumulation is expected. Cyanide is a naturally occurring substance produced by certain plants, algae and bacteria. Effect Assessment Result Aquatic toxicity Very toxic to water organisms Fate and Behavior Result Biodegradation Readily biodegradable Bioaccumulation potential No bioaccumulation potential PBT / vPvB conclusion Not considered to be either PBT or vPvB Exposure Human health Consumers will not come into contact with potassium cyanide since there are no known consumer uses for potassium cyanide. It is industrially manufactured in a closed process. Personnel exposure to potassium cyanide in the manufacturing facilities is minimized by general and substance specific operational conditions and risk management measures. When containers and tanks are cleaned, residues are captured and detoxified. Storage and manufacturing facilities are built to safely handle potassium cyanide and precautions are taken to capture any unintended releases. All workers are trained in the properties of Potassium cyanide and safe practices including using personal protective equipment. Environment Potassium cyanide is manufactured in a closed and automated process, thus, no release to the environment is intended. Risk management recommendations When handling potassium cyanide, follow specific operational instructions in place. Make sure that there is adequate ventilation. Always use appropriate chemical resistant gloves to protect your hands and skin and always wear eye protection such as chemical goggles. Provide a safety shower and a respirator with appropriate filter to be available for immediate use. Do not eat, drink, and smoke where the substance is handled, processed or stored. All wastewater streams that may include the substance must be directed to a wastewater treatment plant that removes the substance from the final releases to the receiving water. Dispose of the substance and its container only at hazardous or special waste collection points. Evonik Industries AG | GPS Safety Summary | November 2010 | Version 1 | page 3/6 State agency review • NIOSH (1976). Occupational exposure to hydrogen cyanide and cyanide salts (NaCN, KCN and Ca(CN)2). Criteria for a recommended standard. National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA [NTS PB 266230]. Report no.: 77-108. • Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits (2005). Recommendations from Scientific Committee on Occupational Exposure Limits for Cyanide (HCN, KCN, NaCN). SCOEL/SUM/115 May 2005. Report no.: 115. • WHO (1993). Cyanogenic Glycosides. WHO Food Additives Series, Report no. 30. • U.S. National Advisory Committee (NAC) to develop AEGLs (2000). Hydrogen cyanide, proposed acute exposure guideline levels (AEGLs). Unpublished report proposed January, 2000. National Advisory Committee to develop AEGLs. US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC, USA. • U.S. Water Environment Research Foundation (2003). Reassessment of cyanide criteria for the protection of aquatic life and wildlife, Alexandria, VA, USA, Report 01-ECO-1. also see • ECETOC (2007). Cyanides of Hydrogen, Sodium and Potassium, and Aceton Cyanohydrin (CAS No. 74-90-8, 143-33-9, 151-50-8 and 75-86-5). Joint Assessment of Commodity Chemicals (JACC), Report no.: 53. Regulatory information/classification and labelling GHS-Labeling Statutory basis EU-GHS as per Regulation (EU) No. 1272/2008 (CLP) Statutory basis EU-GHS as per Regulation (EU) No. 1272/2008 (CLP) Symbol(s) Signal word Danger Hazard Statements H290: May be corrosive to metals. H300: Fatal if swallowed. H310: Fatal in contact with skin. H330: Fatal if inhaled. H370: Causes damage to organs. H372: Causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure. H410: Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects. More information about potassium cyanide can be found in the Safety Data Sheet. Evonik Industries AG | GPS Safety Summary | November 2010 | Version 1 | page 4/6 Precautionary statements P270: Do not eat, drink or smoke when using this product. P273: Avoid release to the environment. P280: Wear protective gloves/protective clothing/eye protection/face protection. P301+P310: IF SWALLOWED: Immediately call a POISON CENTER or doctor/physician. P302+P352: IF ON SKIN: Wash with plenty of soap and water. P304+P340: IF INHALED: Remove victim to fresh air and keep at rest in a position comfortable for breathing. P403+P233: Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed. Evonik Industries AG | GPS Safety Summary | November 2010 | Version 1 | page 5/6 This GPS Safety Summary is based on Evonik’s present knowledge and experience as of the date of issue. However, it implies no liability or other legal responsibility on the part of Evonik, including with regards to existing third party intellectual property rights, especially patent rights. In no event shall Evonik be responsible for damages of any nature whatsoever resulting from the use of or reliance upon the information herein or the chemical to which that information refers. In particular, no warranty, whether express or implied, or guarantee in the legal sense is intended or implied by Evonik. This GPS Safety Summary is only intended to provide general information about the chemical referred to herein but not any in-depth health and safety information. The information in this GPS Safety Summary is supplied on the condition that the persons receiving the same will make their own determination as to its suitability for their purposes prior to use. This GPS Safety Summary does not supersede or replace required regulatory and/or legal communication documents. Performance of the chemical described herein should be verified by testing which should be carried out only by qualified experts. Evonik reserves the right to make any changes to this GPS Safety Summary in accordance with technological progress or further developments. Reference to trade names used by other companies is neither a recommendation, nor does it imply, that similar products could not be used. November 2011 Glossary Acute toxicity harmful effects after a single exposure Biodegradable breakdown of materials by a physiological environment Bioaccumulation accumulation of substances in the environment Carcinogenicity effects causing cancer Chronic toxicity harmful effects after repeated exposures GHS Global Harmonized System on Classification and Labeling Mutagenicity effects that change genes PBT Persistent Bioaccumulative Toxic Reprotoxicity combining teratogenicity, embryotoxicity and harmful effects on fertility Sensitizing allergenic Teratogenic effects on foetal morphology vPvB very Persistent very Bioaccumulative Contact information within company E-mail address [email protected] Emergency Telephone number +49 2365 49-2232 (Fire Brigade, Infracor GmbH) .