Methyl bromide.

At room temperature methyl bromide is a colourless gas, and in low concentrations odourless. It is used as a reaction gas in ionization chambers, for defatting wool and for extracting fats and ethereal oils from nuts, seeds and flowers. It is mainly used, however, as a fumigant in the production, improvement, storage and transport of foodstuffs; such fumigation is prescribed for export of the goods to various countries (e.g. the USA) (see GefStoffV 2003, § 15d). Another important application is in the disinfection of soil. Its use as a fire-extinguishing agent is obsolete (Budavari 1989, Hallier 1996).