Metham sodium

• Sodium N- methyldithiocarbamate
• Metham
• VAPAM

White solid

Fixed

110 ° C ( decomposition)

• Soluble in water
• Sparingly soluble in acetone, ethanol, kerosene, xylene, and practically insoluble in most other organic solvents

Risk

• 450 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)
• 800 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, Rabbit, transdermal)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Metam - sodium is an active ingredient for plant protection and a chemical compound from the group of sodium compounds and dithiocarbamates.

Production and representation

Metam - sodium can be obtained by reacting methylamine with carbon disulfide and sodium hydroxide, or by reaction of methyl isothiocyanate and sodium disulfide. Metam - sodium may also be made of bis (2-chloroethyl ) ether is recovered.

Properties

Metam - sodium is a white solid that is soluble in water.

Use

Metam - sodium is a process developed in the 1950s and widely-used insecticide, herbicide, fungicide and nematicide. In 2002, 55 million pounds ( 25,000 tonnes) was mainly used for potatoes in the United States. The effect is due to the rapid decomposition to methyl isothiocyanate, which inhibits certain amino acids.

In the European Union metam with effect from 13 January 2010, no approved active substance in pesticides more. Some countries, including France, Spain, the Benelux countries and Poland may maintain it until the end of 2014 under conditional marketing authorizations for certain purposes. In Germany, Austria and Switzerland, no plant protection products containing this active substance is approved.