Butyl Carbitol

Product Details:

2-Butoxyethanol is an organic compound with the chemical formula BuOC₂H₄OH (Bu = CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂). This colorless liquid has a sweet, ether-like odor, as it derives from the family of glycol ethers, and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol. As a relatively nonvolatile, inexpensive solvent, it is used in many domestic and industrial products because of its properties as a surfactant. It is a known respiratory irritant^[4] and can be acutely toxic, but animal studies did not find it to be mutagenic, and no studies suggest it is a human carcinogen.^[5] A study of 13 classroom air contaminants conducted in Portugal reported a statistically significant association with increased rates of nasal obstruction and a positive association below the level of statistical significance with a higher risk of obese asthma and increased child BMI.^[6]

2-Butoxyethanol is commonly obtained through two processes; the ethoxylation reaction of butanol and ethylene oxide in the presence of a catalyst:

or the etherification of butanol with 2-chloroethanol.^[7] 2-Butoxyethanol can be obtained in the laboratory by performing a ring opening of 2-propyl-1,3-dioxolane with boron trichloride.^[8] It is often produced industrially by combining ethylene glycol and butyraldehyde in a Parr reactor with palladium on carbon.^[9]

In 2006, the European production of butyl glycol ethers amounted to 181 kilotons, of which approximately 50% (90 kt/a) was 2-butoxyethanol. World production is estimated to be 200 to 500 kt/a, of which 75% is for paints and coatings^[10] and 18% for metal cleaners and household cleaners.^[11] In the US, it is considered a high production volume chemical because more than 100 million pounds of this chemical are produced per year.^[11]

Additional Information:

• Production Capacity: As per customer requirement
• Delivery Time: 1-2Days
• Packaging Details: Drums Packing