1,2-Propanediol Dinitrate

1,2-Propanediol dinitrate's production and use as a component of the naval torpedo fuel Otto II may result in its release to the environment through various waste streams. If released to air, an estimated vapor pressure of 0.38 mm Hg at 25 deg C indicates 1,2-propanediol dinitrate will exist solely as a vapor in the ambient atmosphere. Vapor-phase 1,2-propanediol dinitrate will be degraded in the atmosphere by reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals; the half-life for this reaction in air is estimated to be 50 days. If released to soil, 1,2-propanediol dinitrate is expected to have high mobility based upon an estimated Koc of 68. Volatilization from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 9.4X10-7 atm-cu m/mole. 1,2-Propanediol dinitrate is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces based upon its vapor pressure. 1,2-Propanediol dinitrate was poorly biodegraded using an activated sewage sludge, a pure culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and a commercially available inoculum employed for the degradation of nitrogen containing wastes, suggesting biodegradation in soil and water will be slow. If released into water, 1,2-propanediol dinitrate is not expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment based upon the estimated Koc. Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process based upon this compound's estimated Henry's Law constant; however, laboratory studies have shown that 1,2-propanediol dinitrate forms an azeotrope with water and this may result in enhanced volatilization from water surfaces under environmental conditions. The Henry's law constant for the azeotrope was estimated to be about 1X10-2 atm-cu m/mole, and using this Henry's Law constant the volatilization half-life from a model river and a model lake are estimated as 2 hours and 5 days, respectively. An estimated BCF of 3 suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is low. Hydrolysis is not expected to be an important fate process for 1,2-propanediol dinitrate since it does not contain hydrolyzable functional groups. Occupational exposure to 1,2-propanediol dinitrate may occur through inhalation and dermal contact with this compound at workplaces where 1,2-propanediol dinitrate or Otto fuel II is produced or used. (SRC)