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Halogenated Alkenes
trans 1,3-Dichloropropene
trans 1,3-Dichloropropene (trans-DCP, CAS # 542-75-6) is a volatile and flammable chemical. However, it is heavier than air, and therefore its vapors tend to collect in low areas after a spill. Montgomery and Welkom (1991) estimate the log Koc of trans-DCP at 1.68, the Log Kow at 1.41, and the Henry's constant at 0.0013 atm-m3/mole. The solubility of trans-DCP is 2,800 mg/L at 20° C and its specific gravity is 1.217 (at 20° C). The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) has developed a draft Toxicological Profile for 1,3-Dichloropropene that contains a useful summary table
of the physical properties of DCPs.
The low calculated Koc value for trans-DCP in soil indicates that trans-DCP is likely to move quickly through soil and sediment.
The relatively high Henry's constant value indicates a propensity for trans-DCP to volatilize out of water. This property has two implications for environmental remediation. When trans-DCP is in a dissolved-phase ground water plume that discharges into a moving body of water, it is very likely to volatilize relatively quickly. Information on TOXNET suggests that the half life of DCP in a one-meter deep river is about three hours, and in a lake, the half life is about four days. The second implication is that trans-DCP's volatilization properties and its vulnerability to aerobic biodegradation may make it very susceptible to cleanup using air sparging technology when subsurface conditions permit.
Because of the low Kow, bioaccumulation is not expected to occur to any significant extent. trans-DCP can be degraded by microbial action under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and is subject to degradation by hydrolysis. It is more easily degraded under anaerobic conditions. ATSDR 2006 has an extensive section on DCP degradation rates and by-products.
When released to the atmosphere, hydroxyl radicals are expected to degrade trans-DCP with a half life of two days. In the presence of sunlight and hydroxyl radicals this time is reduced to seven to twelve hours (TOXNET Hazardous Substances Database).
1,3-DCP is reactive with aluminum, magnesium, halogens, and oxidizers (epichlorohydrin may be added as a stabilizer). The NIOSH Pocket Guide to Hazardous Chemicals contains more information on the chemical physical properties of the 1,3-DCPs.
For Further Information
Draft Toxicological Profile for Dichloropropenes
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR)
U.S. Department Of Health And Human Services, 2006, 365 pp
This profile provides information on human health effects, fate and transport, production, and uses of DCP.
NIOSH Pocket Guide to Hazardous Chemicals
National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
This guide contains information on the chemical physical properties of DCPs and their physical hazards.
Groundwater Chemicals Desk Reference
Montgomery, J. and L. Welkom.
Lewis Publishers, Chelsea, MI, 1991, 640 pp
This book provides a summary of physical and chemical properties of a variety of chemicals including trans-DCP.
TOXNET
The National Library of Medicine
National Institutes of Health
TOXNET is a comprehensive compendium of information on a variety of chemicals, but it is often dated.
Proceed to "Halogenated alkenes > Tetrachloroethene"
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