Phosphorus trichloride is a commonly traded chemical that is subject to international controls, specifically under Schedule 3 of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).1Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). “Most Traded Scheduled Chemicals 2022.” Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://www.opcw.org/resources/declarations/most-traded-scheduled-chemicals-2022. Schedule 3 encompasses toxic chemicals and their precursors that may be produced in large quantities commercially, for purposes not prohibited under the CWC.2Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). “Annex on Chemicals: Guidelines for Schedule 3.” Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/annexes/annex-chemicals/annex-chemicals.
Identifiers
Commercial Uses
Phosphorus trichloride is known by at least 54 different synonyms3National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 24387, Phosphorus trichloride, Depositor-Supplied Synonyms. Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24387#section=Depositor-Supplied-Synonyms&fullscreen=true. and has many commercial applications, including pesticides, oil additives, flame retardants and plasticizers, and phosphate ester insecticides.4National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 24387, Phosphorus trichloride, Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phosphorus-trichloride.
The Dual-use Nature
Phosphorus trichloride is also a precursor used in the synthesis of chemical warfare agents, including blistering agents such as sulfur and nitrogen mustards and organophosphorus nerve agents.5National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Annotation Record for phosphorus trichloride, Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB). Retrieved 7 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/source/hsdb/1031 AND Veterans at Risk: The Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite. Chemistry of Sulfur Mustard and Lewisite. Retrieved 24 February 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236079/..
Trade: Chemical Vendors & International Traders
At Least 20 Worldwide Vendors of Phosphorus trichloride, including Suppliers, Manufacturers, and Distributors.6National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 24387, phosphorus trichloride, Chemical Vendors. Retrieved 24 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24387#section=Chemical-Vendors&fullscreen=true.
53 Countries Reported Trade in Phosphorus trichloride since 2017. 7UN Comtrade Database. Retrieved 31 January 2022, from https://comtrade.un.org. Data encompasses reported trade from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
Notes
- 1Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). “Most Traded Scheduled Chemicals 2022.” Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://www.opcw.org/resources/declarations/most-traded-scheduled-chemicals-2022.
- 2Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). “Annex on Chemicals: Guidelines for Schedule 3.” Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://www.opcw.org/chemical-weapons-convention/annexes/annex-chemicals/annex-chemicals.
- 3National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 24387, Phosphorus trichloride, Depositor-Supplied Synonyms. Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24387#section=Depositor-Supplied-Synonyms&fullscreen=true.
- 4National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 24387, Phosphorus trichloride, Retrieved 3 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Phosphorus-trichloride.
- 5National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Annotation Record for phosphorus trichloride, Hazardous Substances Data Bank (HSDB). Retrieved 7 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/source/hsdb/1031 AND Veterans at Risk: The Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite. Chemistry of Sulfur Mustard and Lewisite. Retrieved 24 February 2022, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK236079/..
- 6National Center for Biotechnology Information. PubChem Compound Summary for CID 24387, phosphorus trichloride, Chemical Vendors. Retrieved 24 February 2022, from https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/24387#section=Chemical-Vendors&fullscreen=true.
- 7UN Comtrade Database. Retrieved 31 January 2022, from https://comtrade.un.org. Data encompasses reported trade from 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.
