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Melamine cyanurate

Chemical compound From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Melamine cyanurate
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Melamine cyanurate, also known as melamine–cyanuric acid adduct or melamine–cyanuric acid complex, is a crystalline complex formed from a 1:1 mixture of melamine and cyanuric acid. The substance is not a salt despite its non-systematic name melamine cyanurate. The complex is held together by an extensive two-dimensional network of hydrogen bonds between the two compounds, reminiscent of the guaninecytosine base pairs found in DNA.[2] Melamine cyanurate forms spoke-like crystals from aqueous solutions [3] and has been implicated as a causative agent for toxicity seen in the Chinese protein export contamination and the 2007 pet food recall.[3] This complex is cited as an example of supramolecular chemistry.[4]

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Uses

Melamine cyanurate is used as a flame retardant, most commonly in polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyamide 6 (nylon 6) and polyamide 6,6 (nylon 6:6).[5] It is also used to fireproof in polyester fabrics.

Toxicity

It has been considered to be more toxic than either melamine or cyanuric acid alone.[6]

LD50 in rats and mice (ingested):

  • 4.1 g/kg – Melamine cyanurate
  • 6.0 g/kg – Melamine[clarification needed]
  • 7.7 g/kg – Cyanuric acid

A toxicology study conducted after recent pet food recalls concluded that the combination of melamine and cyanuric acid in diet does lead to acute kidney injury in cats.[7] A 2008 study produced similar experimental results in rats and characterized the melamine and cyanuric acid in contaminated pet food from the 2007 outbreak.[8]

Thumb
Section of the extensive two-dimensional hydrogen bond network (dashed) between melamine (blue) and cyanuric acid (red)
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See also

References

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