Triethyl Phosphate

Brief Overview

Triethyl phosphate is a trialkyl phosphate that is the triethy ester derivative of phosphoric acid. It derives from an ethanol with chemical formula (C2H5)3PO4 or OP(OEt)3. Triethyl phosphate appears as a colorless, corrosive liquid. Combustible. Slowly dissolves in water and sinks in water. Severely irritates skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

Manufacturing Process

A 1-liter four-necked flask is fitted with an efficient condenser, an air-tight stirrer, a short-stemmed dropping funnel and a thermometer. Calcium chloride tubes are attached to the top of dropping funnel and the reflux condenser. 87.5 ml (69 g) of dry ethyl alcohol, 132.5 ml (130 g) of dry pyridine and 140 ml of dry benzene are placed in the flask, which is stirred and cooled in an ice-salt mixture until the temperature falls to – 5° C. 40.5 ml (76.5 g) of freshly redistilled (b.p. 106-107° C) phosphorus oxychloride are dropwise added from the funnel at such a rate that the temperature does not rise above 10° C. When all phosphorus oxychloride has been added the reaction mixture is gently refluxed for 2 hours and cooled to room temperature. 250 ml of water are added in order to dissolve the pyridine hydrochloride, the benzene layer is separated, washed several times with water until the washings are neutral, and dried over anhydrous sodium or magnesium sulfate. The benzene is removed by evaporation and crude triethyl phosphate is purified by distillation in a vacuum. The fraction boiling at 75.5°/5 mm is collected yielding pure triethyl phosphate.
 

Manufacturing 

Electronics, computers, raw materials, chemicals, rubber

Pesticides

Food additives include spices, extracts, colorings, flavors, etc added to food for human consumption
Inert gradient in pesticide

Process Regulator

Accelerators, activators, oxidation agents, reducing agents, etc