PRODUCT PROFILE Diethyl sulphate (DES) is an important chemical intermediate to make products for coatings, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, detergents and textiles. Diethyl sulphate exists in the atmosphere in the gas phase. It will react with the hydroxyl (OH) radical and has a short life time (half life of several hours) in the atmosphere. DES is an industrial intermediate, used to make other products, and is not sold for consumer use. Proper workplace procedures and protective equipment can reduce the risk of exposure. Under fire conditions, the smoke may contain DES in addition to combustion products of varying composition which may be toxic and / or irritating. Diethyl sulfate is used as an alkylating agent to prepare ethyl derivatives of phenols, amines, and thiols. Product characteristics: • Appearance - colorless, oily liquid • Chemical formula - C4H10O4S • Molecular weight - 154.19 g/mol • Vapour pressure - 0.29 mm Hg at 25 °C • Log octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) - 1.14 • Freezing Point - -24.50C • Specific Gravity - 1.173(+/-) 0.002 • Flash Point - 1210C (open cup) Diethyl sulphate exists in the atmosphere in the gas phase. Diethyl sulphate will react with the hydroxyl (OH) radical and has a short life time (half life of several hours) in the atmosphere. Diethyl sulphate is a colourless, moderately viscous, oily liquid with a peppermint odour. It is miscible with alcohol and ether and insoluble in water. Diethyl sulphate decomposes into ethyl hydrogen sulphate and alcohol upon heating or in hot water. If handled improperly, DES may cause severe irritation of, or burns to, the eye with corneal injury. This may result in permanent impairment of vision, even blindness. Brief skin contact may cause severe irritation. Prolonged contact may cause skin burns or blisters. Prolonged or widespread skin contact may result in absorption of harmful amounts. Applications of diethyl sulphate: • Diethyl sulfate is primarily used as an ethylating agent • As an accelerator in the sulphation of ethylene and in some sulfonations. • Diethyl sulfate is also a chemical intermediate for ethyl derivatives of phenols, amines, and thiols, and as an alkylating agent. • Another important advantage of Diethyl Sulphate is that only the purest ethyl derivatives are formed in containing no trace of homologous methyl or propyl compounds. • In comparison with ethyl-halides the use of Diethyl Sulphate recommends itself on grounds of simplified procedure as well as economy of operation. • Diethyl sulfate (DES) is an important chemical intermediate to make products for coatings, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, detergents and textiles. Diethyl sulphate permits rapid and complete ethylation without use of pressure vessel or authclave. Due to its low volatility it can be handled and stored, almost without loss. Global Scenario: Diethyl sulphate is predominantly used as an ethylating agent in the manufacture of aromatic and aliphatic ethers, amines, amides, esters and imides for dyestuff, pharmaceutical and flavor synthesis. The Pharmaceutical and Dyestuff industry represent the major sector of applications for Diethyl sulphate. In such sectors, the product is used asethylating and sulphonating agent. Indian demand in the period April 2010 to March 2011is estimated 8000 tons per annum and growth rate in demand 6% to 7% per annum. Global demand is estimated around 200,000 metric a tonne per annum and global growth rate in demand is 2 to 3% per annum.