Any remaining dichloromethane is well below the 10-ppm concentration allowed by the US Food and Drug Administration. After the caffeine is removed, the solvent’s volatility makes it easy to remove residual solvent. It also may be carcinogenic, but not enough studies have been done to establish the degree of exposure that causes cancer.ĭespite its health risks, dichloromethane is one of the main solvents used to decaffeinate coffee beans. Inhaling it can produce symptoms ranging from drowsiness to respiratory tract irritation and even death. The four are separated via distillation.Īlthough dichloromethane is the least toxic C 1 chlorohydrocarbon, it does present hazards. The process also produces the other three C 1 chlorohydrocarbons-chloromethane, trichloromethane (chloroform), and tetrachloromethane (carbon tetrachloride). It is a highly volatile liquid (see fast facts table), but it is neither flammable nor explosive in air.ĭichloromethane is commonly produced by chlorinating methane.
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