Melamine
- This article is about the chemical substance called melamine. The term "melamine" is also (inaccurately) used to denote melamine resin, a plastic material made from melamine by polymerization.
Melamine is a strong organic base with the chemical formula C3H6N6, with the IUPAC name 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine. It is only slightly soluble in water.
Melamine, dicyandiamide (or cyanoguanidine) and cyanamide are related. The first is considered the trimer and the second the dimer of the third. All contain 66% nitrogen and provide fire retardant properties to resin formulas by releasing nitrogen when burned or charred.
Melamine is a metabolite of cyromazine, a pesticide. It is formed in the body of mammals who have ingested cyromazine.[1] It was also reported that cyromazine is converted to melamine in plants.[2][3]
Synthesis
Melamine is produced from urea, mainly by either of two methods: catalyzed gas-phase production or high pressure liquid-phase production.
Melamine is produced from the heating of dicyanodiamide, which is prepared from the polymerization of cyanamide[citation needed].
Uses
Melamine is used combined with formaldehyde to produce melamine resin, a very durable thermosetting plastic, and of melamine foam, a polymeric cleaning product. The end products include countertops, fabrics, glues and flame retardants. Melamine is one of major components in Pigment Yellow 150 that is a colorant in inks and plastics.
Toxicity
 | This section may be affected by the following current event: 2007 North America pet food recall. Information in this section may change rapidly as the event progresses. Initial news reports may be unreliable. The last updates to this section may not reflect the most current information. |
Animal studies have shown that ingestion of melamine may lead to kidney stones, cancer or reproductive damage.[4][5][6][7]
In 2007 there was a recall by Menu Foods and other manufacturers of pet foods due to contamination. On 30 March 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration reported finding white granular melamine in the pet food, in samples of white granular wheat gluten imported from China, as well as in crystalline form in the kidneys and in urine of affected animals. The presence of melamine has not been conclusively linked to the deaths of animals, as this chemical was previously thought to be relatively non-toxic at low doses. The FDA has blocked importation of wheat gluten from a Chinese supplier, pending completion of its investigation.
Melamine when heated causes the loss of nitrogen, leaving guanidine, a muscle stimulant used as a pharmaceutical and ammonia, a poison.[citation needed]
The reported symptoms of the animals conform to those of ammonia poisoning.[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ [http://www.emea.europa.eu/pdfs/vet/mrls/077000en.pdf Report on cyromazine of the European Medicines Agency
- ^ Lori 0. Lim, Susan J. Scherer, Kenneth D. Shuler, and John P. Toth. Disposition of Cyromazine in Plants under Environmental Conditionst. J. Agric. Food Chem. 1990, 38, 860-864[1]
- ^ FAO report on cyromazine
- ^ International Chemical Safety Card
- ^ MSDS
- ^ OSHA – Chemical sampling information
- ^ WHO – Some Chemicals that Cause Tumors of the Kidney or Urinary Bladder in Rodents and Some Other Substances