Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 8
Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism:
TICs & TIMs
Methyl Isocyanate (MIC):
H3C–N=C=O
• Used as a chemical intermediary for many products,
including carbamate insecticides, polyurethane foam
and a variety of plastics
• Usually produced by reacting methylamine and
phosgene with release of hydrochloric acid
• A high production volume chemical, as are its
reagents
• Combustion products from MIC may include cyanide
and carbon monoxide
Module One – Toxic Industrial Gases as Terrorist Threats
8
Prior to the Bhopal disaster, relatively little was known about methyl isocyanate. The
Bhopal plant was producing a carbamate pesticide called carbaryl (Sevin). Methyl
isocyanate was a chemical intermediate that was produced in the production of this
pesticide. Although MIC has the term “cyanate” in its name, a release of MIC does not
produce cyanide. Only when MIC undergoes combustion or pyrolysis (when it is burned)
does cyanide (and carbon monoxide) get produced. The exothermic reaction in the
Bhopal event likely produced some of these other toxic gases, although a fire did not
occur with the MIC release at Bhopal.
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 132