Azodicarbonamide

Azodicarbonamide, ADCA, ADA, or azo(bis)formamide, is a chemical compound with the molecular formula C2H4O2N4.[1] It is a yellow to orange-red, odorless, crystalline powder. It is sometimes called a 'yoga mat' chemical because of its widespread use in foamed plastics.[2][3] It was first described by John Bryden in 1959.[4]

Azodicarbonamide
Names
IUPAC name
Carbamoyliminourea
Other names
Azodicarboxamide; Azobisformamide; C,C'-Azodi(formamide); Diazenedicarboxamide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.004.229
EC Number
  • 204-650-8
E number E927a (glazing agents, ...)
UNII
Properties
C2H4N4O2
Molar mass 116.080 g·mol−1
Appearance Yellow to orange/red crystalline powder
Melting point 225 °C (437 °F; 498 K) (decomposes)
Hazards
Safety data sheet
GHS pictograms
GHS Signal word Danger
GHS hazard statements
 H242, H331, H334
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
Flammability code 1: Must be pre-heated before ignition can occur. Flash point over 93 °C (200 °F). E.g. canola oilHealth code 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineReactivity code 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazards (white): no code
1
1
0
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
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Infobox references

Synthesis

It is prepared in two steps via treatment of urea with hydrazine to form biurea, as described in this idealized equation:

2 OC(NH2)2 + N2H4 → H2NC(O)-N(H)-N(H)-C(O)NH2 + 2 NH3

Oxidation with chlorine or chromic acid yields azodicarbonamide:

H2NC(O)-N(H)-N(H)-C(O)NH2 + Cl2 → H2NC(O)-N=N-C(O)NH2 + 2 HCl

Applications

Blowing agent

The principal use of azodicarbonamide is in the production of foamed plastics as a blowing agent. The thermal decomposition of azodicarbonamide results in the evolution of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and ammonia gases, which are trapped in the polymer as bubbles to form a foamed article.[5]

Azodicarbonamide is used in plastics, synthetic leather, and other industries and can be pure or modified. Modification affects the reaction temperatures. Pure azodicarbonamide generally reacts around 200 °C. In the plastic, leather, and other industries, modified azodicarbonamide (average decomposition temperature 170 °C) contains additives that accelerate the reaction or react at lower temperatures.[5]

An example of the use of azodicarbonamide as a blowing agent is found in the manufacture of vinyl (PVC) and EVA-PE foams, where it forms bubbles upon breaking down into gas at high temperature. Vinyl foam is springy and does not slip on smooth surfaces. It is useful for carpet underlay and floor mats. Commercial yoga mats made of vinyl foam have been available since the 1980s; the first mats were cut from carpet underlay.[6]

Food additive

As a food additive, azodicarbonamide is used as a flour bleaching agent and a dough conditioner.[7] It reacts with moist flour as an oxidizing agent.[8] The main reaction product is biurea, which is stable during baking.[8] Secondary reaction products include semicarbazide and ethyl carbamate.[7] It is known by the E number E927. Many restaurants in the US fast food industry removed the additive in response to negative publicity.[9]

Safety and regulation

In a 1999 report, the World Health Organization has linked exposure to azodicarbonamide at workplaces where it is manufactured or handled in raw form to "respiratory issues, allergies and asthma". The available data are restricted to these occupational environments. Exposure of the general public to azodicarbonamide could not be evaluated because of the lack of available data.[10] The WHO concluded, "The level of risk is uncertain; hence, exposure levels should be reduced as much as possible".

In some jurisdictions, the use of azodicarbonamide as a flour bleaching agent has been phased out. For example, it is no longer authorized for use in Australia and the European Union as a food additive.[11][12] Azodicarbonamide as a blowing agent in plastics has been banned in the European Union since August 2005 for the manufacture of plastic articles that are intended to come into direct contact with food.[13] In the UK, the Health and Safety Executive has identified azodicarbonamide as a respiratory sensitizer (a possible cause of asthma) in workplace settings and determined that containers of it should be labeled with "May cause sensitisation by inhalation."[14] In the United States, azodicarbonamide has a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) status and is allowed to be added to flour at levels up to 45 ppm.[15][11] However, use in products intended for human consumption is in decline under pressure of the public opinion. In 2014, amid public discomfort with the dual uses of azodicarbonamide, the sandwich franchise Subway and hamburger franchise Wendy's announced that they would no longer use it as a dough conditioner.[16] Currently, the Center for Science in the Public Interest stated azodicarbonamide "has been poorly tested" and advocates for reducing the amount of azodicarbonamide that is allowed to be used in food.[16]

Azodicarbonamide was added to the REACH Regulation candidate Substances of Very High Concern list in 2012.[17]

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References
  1. "Azodicarbonamide (CICADS)". Inchem. International Programme on Chemical Safety. Archived from the original on 24 August 2010. Retrieved 2010-08-14. Also published by World Health Organization, Geneva, 1999.
  2. Arts, Josje; Kimber, Ian (October 2017). "Azodicarbonamide (ADCA): A reconsideration of classification as a respiratory sensitiser". Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. 89: 268–278. doi:10.1016/j.yrtph.2017.07.018.
  3. "Almost 500 Foods Contain the 'Yoga Mat' Compound. Should We Care?".
  4. Bryden, J. H. (10 January 1961). "The crystal structure of azodicarbonamide". Acta Crystallographica. 14 (1): 61–63. doi:10.1107/S0365110X61000139.
  5. Heinz Weber, Isidoor De Grave, Eckhard Röhrl, Volker Altstädt (2016). "Foamed Plastics". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Wiley-VCH. pp. 1–54. doi:10.1002/14356007.a11_435.pub2. ISBN 9783527306732.CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
  6. Friend, John (2009). History of Yoga Mat - Looking back with Friends.
  7. FDA Frequently Asked Questions on Azodicarbonamide (ADA) Page Last Updated: 20 June 2014
  8. WHO FAO 1965. Toxicological Evaluation of Some Antimicrobials, Antioxidants, Emulsifiers, Stabilizers, Flour-Treatment Agents, Acids and Bases: Azodicarbonamide FAO Nutrition Meetings Report Series No. 40A,B,C. WHO/Food Add./67.29
  9. "The Yoga-Mat Chemical's Quiet Fast-Food Exit". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
  10. "Concise International Chemical Assessment Document 16: Azodicarbonamide" (PDF). World Health Organization. Retrieved 2014-02-05.
  11. Smith, Jim; Hong-Shum, Lily (2011). Food additives data book (2nd ed.). Chichester, West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell. p. 548. ISBN 978-1405195430.
  12. European Commission. "European Union: Authorisation of Additives". Archived from the original on 2014-12-31. Retrieved 2014-12-31.
  13. "COMMISSION DIRECTIVE 2004/1/EC of 6 January 2004 amending Directive 2002/72/EC as regards the suspension of the use of azodicarbonamide as blowing agent". Official Journal of the European Union. 2004-01-13. Retrieved 2011-03-10.
  14. "Substances causing/worsening asthma". UK Occupational Health and Safety. WorkSafe Victoria. Archived from the original on May 31, 2013. Retrieved 2010-08-14.
  15. "21CFR172.806". Code of Federal Regulations. April 1, 2012.
  16. Landau, Elizabeth (February 17, 2014). "Subway to remove 'dough conditioner' chemical from bread". CNN. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
  17. "Candidate List of substances of very high concern for Authorisation - ECHA". echa.europa.eu. Retrieved 2018-10-30.
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