Editing Propylene oxide (section)

==Uses==
Between 60 and 70% of all propylene oxide is converted to [[Polyol#Polyols in polymer chemistry|polyether polyols]] by the process called [[alkoxylation]].<ref>{{Ullmann|vauthors = Adam N, Avar G, Blankenheim H, Friedrichs W, Giersig M, Weigang E, Halfman M, Wittbecker F, Larimer D, Maier U, Meyer-Ahrens S | display-authors = 6 |date=2005|title=Polyurethanes|doi=10.1002/14356007.a21_665.pub2}}</ref>  These polyols are building blocks in the production of [[polyurethane]] plastics.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dow.com/propyleneoxide/app/index.htm|title=Usage of proplyene oxide|publisher=Dow Chemical|access-date=2007-09-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070915135834/http://www.dow.com/propyleneoxide/app/index.htm|archive-date=2007-09-15|url-status=dead}}</ref>  About 20% of propylene oxide is  hydrolyzed into [[propylene glycol]], via a process which is accelerated by acid or base [[catalysis]]. Other major products are [[polypropylene glycol]], propylene glycol ethers, and [[propylene carbonate]].

===Niche uses===

====Fumigant====
The [[United States Food and Drug Administration]] has approved the use of propylene oxide to pasteurize raw [[almond]]s beginning on September 1, 2007, in response to two incidents of contamination by ''[[Salmonella]]'' in commercial orchards, one incident occurring in Canada and one in the United States.<ref>{{cite web | title=Guidance for Industry: Measures to Address the Risk for Contamination by Salmonella Species in Food Containing a Pistachio-Derived Product As An Ingredient; Draft Guidance | website=fda.gov | url=http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/ProduceandPlanProducts/ucm169160.htm | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110209152717/http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/ProduceandPlanProducts/ucm169160.htm | archive-date=2011-02-09 | url-status=dead |date=June 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|last=Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA |author-link=United States Department of Agriculture |date=30 March 2007 |title=Almonds Grown in California; Outgoing Quality Control Requirements |journal=Federal Register |volume=72 |issue=61 |pages=15,021–15,036 |url=http://www.almondboard.com/files/Rule.pdf |access-date=2007-08-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928050927/http://www.almondboard.com/files/Rule.pdf |archive-date=28 September 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
[[Pistachio]] nuts can also be subjected to propylene oxide to control ''Salmonella''.

====Microscopy====
Propylene oxide is commonly used in the preparation of biological samples for [[electron microscopy]], to remove residual [[ethanol]] previously used for dehydration. In a typical procedure, the sample is first immersed in a mixture of equal volumes of ethanol and propylene oxide for 5 minutes, and then four times in pure oxide, 10 minutes each.{{citation needed|date=January 2025}}

====Munition====
Propylene oxide is sometimes used in [[thermobaric weapons|thermobaric]] [[munitions]] as the fuel in fuel–air explosives. In addition to the explosive damage from the [[blast wave]], unexploded propylene oxide can cause additional effects from direct toxicity.<ref name=HRW1>{{cite web |url=https://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2000/02/01/backgrounder-russian-fuel-air-explosives-vacuum-bombs |title=Backgrounder on Russian Fuel Air Explosives ("Vacuum Bombs") &#124; Human Rights Watch |publisher=Hrw.org |date=February 1, 2000 |access-date=April 23, 2013 |archive-date=February 10, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210004254/http://www.hrw.org/en/reports/2000/02/01/backgrounder-russian-fuel-air-explosives-vacuum-bombs |url-status=dead }}</ref>