Common applications include
- he dominant use of hexamethylenetetramine is in the production of powdery or liquid preparations of phenolic resins and phenolic resin moulding compounds, where it is added as a hardening component. These products are used as binders, e.g. in brake and clutch linings, abrasive products, non-woven textiles, formed parts produced by moulding processes, and fireproof materials
Medical uses
As the mandelic acid salt or the hippuric acid salt, it is used for the treatment of urinary tract infection. In an acidic environment, urotropine is believed to act as an antimicrobial by converting to formaldehyde.[5][6] A systematic review of its use for this purpose in adult women found there was insufficient evidence of benefit and further research is needed. A UK study showed that urotropine is as effective as daily low-dose antibiotics at preventing UTIs among women who experience recurrent UTIs. As urotropine is an antiseptic, it may avoid the issue of antibiotic resistance.-
Urotropine acts as an over-the-counter antiperspirant due to the astringent property of formaldehyde.
Histological stains
Hexamethylenetetramine silver stains are used for staining in histology, including the following types:
- Grocott's hexamethylenetetramine silver stain, used widely as a screen for fungal organisms.
- Jones' stain, a hexamethylenetetramine silver-Periodic acid-Schiff that stains for basement membrane, availing to view the "spiked" Glomerular basement membrane associated with membranous glomerulonephritis.
Solid fuel
Together with 1,3,5-trioxane, hexamethylenetetramine is a component of hexamine fuel tablets used by campers, hobbyists, the military and relief organizations for heating camping food or military rations. It burns smokelessly, has a high energy density of 30.0 megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg), does not liquify while burning, and leaves no ashes, although its fumes are toxic.[citation needed]
Standardized 0.149 g tablets of hexamethylenetetramine (hexamine) are used by fire-protection laboratories as a clean and reproducible fire source to test the flammability of carpets and rugs.+
Food additive
Hexamethylenetetramine or hexamine is also used as a food additive as a preservative (INS number 239). It is approved for usage for this purpose in the EU,
Reagent in organic chemistry
Hexamethylenetetramine is a versatile reagent in organic synthesis. It is used in the Duff reaction (formylation of arenes), the Sommelet reaction (converting benzyl halides to aldehydes), and in the Delepine reaction (synthesis of amines from alkyl halides)
