August 2017
Office of Chemical Safety and
Pollution Prevention
U.S. EPA

Preliminary Information on Manufacturing, Processing,
Distribution, Use, and Disposal:

Pentachlorothiophenol

CASRN: 133-49-3

August 2017

Support document
for Docket EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0739

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This document provides a preliminary public summary of available information collected by EPA's
Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) in the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution
Prevention (OCSPP) on the manufacturing (including importing), processing, distribution in
commerce, use, and disposal of this chemical. This is based on existing data available to EPA,
including information collected under the Chemical Data Reporting rule, information from other
Agency databases, other U.S. Government agencies, publicly available information from states,
and a review of published literature. In addition, the document includes information reported to
EPA by producers and users of the chemical in the United States and in other countries.

This preliminary use information and any additional use information received in the docket by
December 9, 2017, will inform efforts to identify, under section 6(h)(1)(B) of the Toxic Substances
Control Act (TSCA), whether exposure to this chemical is likely, under the conditions of use, either
to the environment, the general population, or to a potentially exposed or susceptible
subpopulation identified by EPA. The information will also inform any risk management efforts
following the exposure and use assessment under TSCA section 6(h)(1)(B).

Mention of trade names in this document does not constitute endorsement by EPA. To verify
products or articles containing this chemical currently in commerce, EPA has identified several
examples. Any lists are provided for informational purposes only. EPA and its employees do not
endorse any of the products or companies.

This document does not contain confidential business information (CBI).

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS	3

CONTACT	3

MANUFACTURING, PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION, USE, AND DISPOSAL	4

1.	Manufacturing (Including Importing)	4

2.	Processing	5

3.	Products and Articles	5

4.	Distribution (Includes Retailers)	6

5.	Uses	8

6.	Disposal of Waste and Recycling/Recovery	9

USEFUL TYPES OF INFORMATION	9

APPENDIX: ADDITIONAL SOURCES CONSULTED	9

CONTACT

Marc Edmonds, OPPT, National Program Chemicals Division (NPCD), (202) 566-0758,
edmonds.marc@epa.gov.

Docket: EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0739

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MANUFACTURING, PROCESSING, DISTRIBUTION, USE, AND DISPOSAL

1. Manufacturing (Including Importing)

No company has reported manufacture and/or import of pentachlorothiophenol (PCTP) in the
U.S. above the reporting threshold of the Chemical Data Reporting (CDR) Rule for 20161. Only one
company reported manufacture and/or import of PCTP in the U.S. in 20122. The production
volume of PCTP was claimed as confidential business information (CBI).

There is no Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data available for this chemical as it is not required to
be reported under TRI3.

Manufacturing Process

PCTP is created from hexachlorobenzene (a fungicide not used in the U.S. since 19844) by
treatment with sodium sulfide and sulfur in methanol, or with sodium hydrogensulfide5.
Additionally, PCTP may be created with a "reaction of hydrogen sulfide with pentachlorophenol
in the presence of an acidic catalyst, eg, aluminum chloride or boron trifluoride6."

1	Manufacturers (including importers) are required to report under CDR if they meet certain production volume
thresholds, generally 25,000 lb or more of a chemical substance at any single site. Reporting is triggered if the annual
reporting threshold is met during any of the calendar years since the last principal reporting year. In general, the
reporting threshold remains 25,000 lb per site. However, a reduced reporting threshold (2,500 lb) now applies to
chemical substances subject to certain TSCA actions, https://www.epa.gov/chemical-data-reporting/how-report-
under-chemical-data-reporting.

2	https://iava.epa.gov/oppt chemical search/; Manufacture in the context of CDR means to manufacture, produce,
or import for commercial purposes. Manufacture includes the extraction, for commercial purposes, of a component
chemical substance from a previously existing chemical substance or complex combination of chemical substances.
(40 CFR 711.3) EPA, TSCA Chemical Data Reporting, Fact Sheet: Importers, (Washington DC: Office of Pollution
Prevention and Toxics, 2016). https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-

12/documents/cdr fact sheet importers final dec2015 O.pdf.

3	https://www.epa.gov/toxics-release-inventorv-tri-program/tri-listed-chemicals

4	Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Public Health Statement: Hexachlorobenzene (Atlanta, Georgia:
Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, 2015). https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=625&tid=115.

5	Roy K-M; Thiols and Organic Sulfides. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 7th ed. (1999-2014). NY, NY:
John Wiley & Sons. (Online: 2000). http://onlinelibrarv.wilev.com/doi/10.1002/143560Q7.a26 767/full?a26 767-eo-
2093#a26 767-bib-0172.

6	https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8620

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2. Processing

PCTP is used as a mercaptan (sulfur) cross-linking agent to make rubber more pliable in industrial
uses, also called a peptizer7. "Natural rubber must be reduced in viscosity in order to obtain
workable compounds. Many different chemical peptizers have been employed over the years for
this purpose, including ... [PCTP] or its zinc salt, and dithiobisbenzanilide [135-57-9] or its zinc salt.
Dithiobisbenzanilide with an activator and clay diluent is the preferred peptizing agent for natural
and synthetic rubbers. The viscosity of natural rubber and synthetic polyisoprene can be reduced
by mechanical shear alone, but using a peptizer makes the viscosity reduction during mixing less
sensitive to variations in time and temperature, providing uniformity in viscosity from batch to
batch8."

3. Products and Articles

EPA identified the following types of products and articles based on a search of available sources
for products containing PCTP.

According to the "Rubber Handbook" available on the website of Struktol Co of America,
"STRUKTOL A95 is a 45% pentachlorothiophenol with activator on an inert filler. A95 is used for
effective viscosity reduction through chemical peptization of natural rubber and synthetic
rubber9." Since Struktol did not submit manufacturing information to CDR in 2016, it is unclear
whether this product has been discontinued, or if the manufacture/import amount has dropped
below the reporting threshold.

PCTP is mentioned over 2,100 patents10 including patents held by the the following companies for
the manufacture of golf balls that may include PCTP:

•	Callaway Golf Co.11

•	Acushnet Co.12

•	Taylor Made Golf Co.13

•	Bridgestone Sports Co. Ltd.14

7	EPA, TSCA Work Plan for Chemical Assessments: 2014 Update, (Washington DC: Office of Pollution Prevention and
Toxics, 2014). https://www.epa.gov/assessing-and-managing-chemicals-under-tsca/tsca-work-plan-chemical-
assessments-2014-update

8	Ohm, R. F., Rubber Chemicals (Online: Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 2000).
http://onlinelibrarv.wilev.com/doi/10.1002/0471238961.1821020215Q813.a01/abstract.

9	Struktol, Rubber Handbook (Stow, Ohio: 2004). http://www.struktol.com/pdfs/RubberHB.pdf.

10	https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/8620

11	http://www.google.com.ar/patents/US71991927chen

12	https://www.google.com/patents/US200901818017chen: http://www.google.tt/patents/US20110237352

13	https://patents.google.com/patent/US20060172823Al/en

14	https://patents.google.com/patent/US6679791B2/en

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4. Distribution (Includes Retailers)

General internet searches for distributors of PCTP yielded many vendors selling various quantities
at different purities. Note that these are defined as distributors due to their marketing of PCTP
for sale and distribution. Results of a search of distributors of PCTP are in Table 1 below. This list
is provided for informational purposes only. EPA and its employees do not endorse any of the
products or companies.

Table 1. Distributors of PCTP

Name

Available
Quantity

Purity (%)

Reference

PCTP

100 mg

Not specified

http://www. sigmaaldrich.com/catalog/Droduct/suDelco/

metl2159b?lang=en®ion=US&cm SD=lnsite- -

prodRecCold xviews- -prodRecColdlO-1

PCTP

25g

>95.0%(T)

http://www.tcichemicals.com/eshop/en/us/commoditv/

P0312/

PCTP

lg

98%

http://www.ikchemical.com/EN/products/A01371068.ht

ml

PCTP

5g

98%

http://www.ikchemical.com/EN/products/A01371068.ht

ml

PCTP

lOOmg

Not specified

http://en. merver.com/en/products/detail.aspx?ProlD=ll

7134

PCTP

25g

95%

http://en. merver.com/en/products/detail.aspx?ProlD=ll

7133

PCTP

25g

>95.0%(T)

http://www.tcichemicals.eom/eshop/en/hk/catalog/list/s

earch?searchWord=133-49-

3&client=default frontend&output=xml no dtd&proxvst

vlesheet=default frontend&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Adl

&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF-

8&ud=l&exclude apps=l&site=en hk&mode=0

PCTP

Up to kgs

98%(Min,HPL
C)

http://www.capotchem.com/133-49-3.html



PCTP

25g

95%

https://www.abcr.de/shop/en/AB140076

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.tractuschem.com/productshow/TRA0021029

.html

PCTP

Backordered;
Price not
available

96%

http://www.aurumpharmatech.com/Product/ProductDet

ails/K 4195

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.vitasmlab.com/index.php?option=com searc

h stk<emid=22&stk=BBL028077&?utm source=pubche

m&utm medium=p search link&utm campaign=pubche

m search&utm content=pubchem slink

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.apichemistrv.com

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.1717chem.com/

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Name

Available
Quantity

Purity (%)

Reference

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.akosgmbh.de/AKosSamples/index.html



PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.debvesci.com/

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.anpharma.net

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.ichemical.com/chemicals/cas-133-49-3



PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

https://www.biosvnth.com/en/products/chemical-

intermediates/advanced-intermediates/products/Q-
201540.html

PCTP

lOmg

92%

https://mcule.com/MCULE-6962967512/

PCTP

Up to 25g
minimum order
value required

>95%

http://online.aurorafinechemicals.com/info?ID=A13.141.

039

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

https://aksci.com/item detail.php?cat=M803



PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.anward.com/pro result/28277/



PCTP

50g

95%

http://www. labseeker.com/goods. php?id=24282

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.achemica.com

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

Not specified

http://www.chemtik.com

PCTP

Quote provided
upon request

97%

http://www.rennotech.com/product show.asp?id=28872



PCTP

Quote provided
upon request
(research only
but not for
commercial
purposes)

Not specified

http://www.chembopharma.com

PCTP

500g

98%

http://www.ahhchemical.com/product/MT-20665.html

PCTP

lOOmg

Not specified

https://www.scbt.com/scbt/product/pentachlorothiophe

nol-133-49-3

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5. Uses

Industrial Uses

Chemical peptizers are used to reduce viscosity during the production of rubber materials. "For
many years the preferred peptizer was PCTP or its zinc salt. Meanwhile PCTP is banned in most
parts of the world because it forms several teratogenic decomposition products. PCTP is replaced
by 2,2'-dibenzamidodiphenyldisulfide (DBD) which is less toxic and reacts similarly15."

Uniroyal, Inc., now owned by Michelin, owned a patent for producing pentachloronitrobenzene, a
soil fungicide, by the reaction of PCTP with nitric acid in the presence of sulfuric acid or oleum16.

Naphthalene can be extracted from aqueous samples with PCTP -gold colloid on magnetic
microparticles17.

The Swedish Chemicals Agency KEMI Commodity Guide suggests that PCTP may be found in
butadiene rubber, isoprene rubber, natural rubber, and other rubber materials18. So it is possible
that imported products containing these materials could contain PCTP. However, a letter to EPA
from the Rubber Manufacturers Association, dated Feb. 22, 2017, indicates that its members "do
not currently use ... PCTP to manufacture tires produced in the U.S. or imported into the U.S19."

Commercial Uses

Commercially available PCTP is used in laboratories for research purposes. See Section 4 above.
Consumer Uses

EPA is not aware of consumer uses for PCTP.

15	Engels H-W et al; Rubber, 9. Chemicals and Additives. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry 7th ed. (1999-
2014) (New York, New York: John Wiley & Sons, 2014).
http://onlinelibrarv.wilev.com/doi/10.1002/143560Q7.a23 365.pub3/pdf.

16	https://www.google.com/patents/US4454362

17	Mosier-Boss PA, Lieberman SH, Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy substrate composed of chemically modified
gold colloid particles immobilized on magnetic microparticles, (Anal. Chem., 2005).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15858982.

18	http://www.kemi.se/en/directlv-to/statistics/the-commoditv-guide

19	Amick, Hexachlorobutadiene (HCBD) and Pentachlorothio-phenol (PCTP) not currently used to make RMA member
company tires manufactured in the U.S. or imported into the U.S., Ltr to Doug Parsons, from Rubber Manufacturers
Association, Feb. 22, 2017. EPA-HQ-OPPT-2016-0739-0002

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6. Disposal of Waste and Recycling/Recovery

PCTP is not regulated as hazardous waste. EPA is not aware of information regarding the recycling
and recovery of PCTP, nor the disposal of PCTP as waste.

USEFUL TYPES OF INFORMATION

This document presents a summary of information currently available to EPA on this chemical.
EPA is interested in obtaining information to more fully characterize the manufacturing,
processing, distribution, disposal, and use of this chemical, to inform the development of the
exposure and use assessment for this chemical, and to inform any subsequent risk management
efforts. For example, EPA is interested in obtaining information on:

•	the functional uses for this chemical;

•	what types of products contain this chemical;

•	which industry sectors use this chemical;

•	what volume of the chemical is used;

•	which uses have been discontinued or phased out;

•	exposure scenarios for this chemical; and

•	in which articles this chemical is found.

APPENDIX: ADDITIONAL SOURCES CONSULTED

•	U.S. EPA Chemical Inventory
https://www.epa.gov/tsca-inventory

•	U.S. National Library of Medicine ChemlDplus
https://chem.sis.nlm.nih.gov/chemidplus/

•	U.S. EPASffS

https://iaspub.epa.gov/sor internet/registry/substreg/searchandretrieve/substancese
arch/search.do

•	U.S. EPA HPV HC (access through Chemical Data Access Tool - CDAT)
https://java.epa.gov/oppt chemical search/

•	U.S. National Library of Medicine Hazardous Substance Data Bank (HSBD)
https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/hsdb.htm

•	U.S. EPA HPVIS and HPV HC (access through Chemical Data Access Tool - CDAT)
https://java.epa.gov/oppt chemical search/

•	SRC FatePointers Search Module PHYSPROP
http://esc.syrres.com/fatepointer/search.asp

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•	U.S. EPA Superfund chemical data matrix https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-
chemical-data-matrix-scdm-query

•	U.S. EPA ChemView
https://iava. epa. gov/chem view

•	U.S. EPA InertFinder

https://iaspub.epa .gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=101:l:

•	U.S. EPA Pesticide Chemical Search

https://iaspub.epa .gov/apex/pesticides/f?p=CH EM ICALSEARCH: 1:0:: NO:!::

•	U.S. EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program
https://www.epa.gov/ingredients-used-pesticide-products/endocrine-disruptor-
screening-program-tier-l-assessments

•	U.S. EPA Hazardous Air Pollutants https://www.epa.gov/haps/initial-list-hazardous-air-
pollutants-modifications

•	U.S. EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
https://www.epa.gov/snap

•	U.S. EPA Volatile Organic Compounds
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-qualitv-iaq/technical-overview-volatile-organic-
compounds#definition

•	U.S. EPA Toxic and priority pollutants under the Clean Water Act
https://www.epa.gOv/eg/toxic-and-priority-pollutants-under-clean-water-act#toxic

•	U.S. EPA Contaminant Candidate list under the Safe Drinking Water Act
https://www.epa.gOv/ccl/contaminant-candidate-list-3-ccl-3#chemical-list

•	U.S. EPA IRIS Assessment
https://cfpub.epa.gov/ncea/iris2/atoz.cfm

•	OSHA Chemical Hazards and Toxic Substances
https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/hazardoustoxicsubstances/index.html

•	NIOSH Workplace Safety and Health Topics Chemicals
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/chemical.html

•	NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards
http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgdcas.html

•	CPSC Chemicals
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research--Statistics/Chemicals/

•	CPSC FHSA

https://www.cpsc.gov/Business--Manufacturing/Business-Education/Business-
Guidance/FHSA-Requirements/

•	Food and Drug Administration List of Databases
http://www.fda.gov/Forlndustrv/FDABasicsforlndustry/ucm234631.htm

•	NTP (National Toxicology Program) Substances studied by NTP
http://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?e=True&ContentType=Testing+Status

•	Department of Energy Protective Action Criteria Database
http://energy.gov/ehss/protective-action-criteria-pac-aegls-erpgs-teels-rev-29-
chemicals-concern-may-2016

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•	California DTSC Toxics in Products
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/ToxicslnProducts/index.cfm
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SCP/CandidateChemicalsList.cfm
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/SCP/WhatlsAPriorityProduct.cfm

•	California OEHHA Biomonitoring
http://biomonitoring.ca.gov/chemicals

•	California Permissible exposure limits for chemical contaminants
https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/5155table acl.html

•	California Hazardous substance list
https://www.dir.ca.gov/title8/339.html

•	California Safe Cosmetics Program - list of chemical agents known or suspected to
cause cancer or developmental or other reproductive harm.
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/cosmetics/Pages/default.aspx

•	Maine Chemicals of high concern http://www.maine.gov/dep/safechem/highconcern/

•	Michigan Environmental Health Topics http://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/0,5885,7-
339-71548 54783 54784 74881-13050~.00.html

•	New Hampshire Regulated Toxic Air Pollutants
http://des.nh.gov/organization/commissioner/legal/rules/documents/env-al400.pdf

•	New Jersey Right to Know Hazardous Substances
http://web.doh.state.ni.us/rtkhsfs/rtkhsl.aspx

•	Oregon Priority Persistent Pollutants (in water)
http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/SB737/

•	Oregon Pollutant Profiles
http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/SB737/docs/LegRpAtt420100601.pdf

•	Oregon Reducing Toxics in Oregon
http://www.oregon.gov/deq/Pages/ToxicsReduction.aspx

•	Oregon Chemicals of Concern for Children's Health
http://public.health.oregon.gov/HealthvEnvironments/HealthvNeighborhoods/ToxicS
ubstances/Pages/childrens-chemicals-of-concern.aspx

•	Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry Hazardous Substance List
http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/034/chapter323/chap323toc.html

•	Rhode Island Air Resources - Air Toxics
http://www.dem.ri.gov/pubs/regs/regs/air/air22 08.pdf

•	Vermont Chemical Disclosure Program for Children's Products
http://www.healthvermont.gov/enviro/chemical/cdp.aspx

•	Washington Chemicals of High Concern to Children
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/rtt/cspa/chcc.html

•	Washington Children's Safe Products Act
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=70.240

•	Washington Department of Labor & Industries SHARP Publications
http://www.lni.wa.gov/Safety/Research/Pubs/default.asp

•	Lowell Center for Sustainable Production Chemical, Policy and Science Initiative
http://www.chemicalspolicv.org/chemicalspolicy.us.state.database.php

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•	National Conference of State Legislatures http://www.ncsl.org/research/environment-
and-natural-resources/state-chemical-statutes.aspx

•	OECD eChemPortal
http://www.echemportal.org/echemportal/index?pagelD=0&request locale=en

•	Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants
http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/ThePOPs/ListingofPOPs/tabid/25Q9/Default.aspx
http://chm.pops.int/TheConvention/ThePOPs/ChemicalsProposedforListing/tabid/251
O/Default.aspx

•	WHO IPCS (UN)
http://www.who.int/ipcs/en/

•	Other - worker protection information
http://www.dguv.de/ifa/gestis/gestis-internationale-grenzwerte-fuer-chemische-
substanzen-limit-values-for-chemical-agents/index-2.jsp

•	U.S. EPA Chemical and Product Categories (CPCat) Database
https://actor.epa.gov/cpcat/faces/home.xhtml

•	U.S. National Library of Medicine Hazardous Substance Data Bank (HSBD)
https://toxnet.nlm.nih.gov/newtoxnet/hsdb.htm

•	CPSC Chemicals
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Research--Statistics/Chemicals/

•	U.S. Department of Health & Human Services Household Products Database
https://hpd.nlm.nih.gov/index.htm

•	DeLima Associates Consumer Product Information Database (CPID)
https://www.whatsinproducts.eom/chemicals/index/l

•	Product and company websites
https://safecosmetics.cdph.ca.gov/search/Default.aspx

•	U.S. EPA Hazardous Waste
https://www.epa.gOv/hw/learn-basics-hazardous-waste#regulations

•	Pollution Prevention information, includingTRI
https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-tools-and-calculators

•	DfE Alternatives Assessments
https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/design-environment-alternatives-assessments

•	Safer Chemical Ingredients List
https://www.epa.gov/saferchoice/safer-ingredients

•	Green Chemistry awards - information regarding possible alternatives
https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistrv/presidential-green-chemistry-challenge-
winners

•	Pollution Prevention - information regarding possible alternatives
https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-case-studies
https://www.epa.gOv/p2/grant-programs-pollution-prevention#sra

•	Greener products and services (e.g. some of the electronic standards include
alternative assessments)

https://www.epa.gov/greenerproducts/identify-greener-products-and-services

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