Decontamination of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) splashes: Promising results with Diphoterine? in vitro

摘要

Tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), used in microelectronic industries and research and development, has both corrosive properties and systemic toxicity. Two fatal TMAH occupational exposure cases have been published. Studies comparing initial TMAH decontamination with Diphoterine? versus tap water were performed: an in vitro pH titration study and an MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) in vitro cytotoxicity cell viability assay. For pH normalization, 17 times more tap water than Diphoterine? was required. In the cytotoxicity test, two-thirds of the cells remained viable after Diphoterine? washing, compared with only one-third after tap water washing (p<.001). Diphoterine? washing is a promising TMAH decontamination method.