Chemical Properties
Isobutyl acetate is a colorless liquid with a fruit fl avor. Isobutyl acetate is moisture sensi tive, incompatible with ignition sources, moisture, excess heat, strong oxidizing agents,
and strong bases; on decomposition, it releases carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.
It is used for nitrifi cation fi ber and paint solvents, chemical reagents, and modulation
spices
Chemical Properties
Isobutyl acetate, also known as 2-methylpropyl ethanoate (IUPAC name) or β-methylpropyl
acetate, is a common solvent. It is produced from the esterifi cation of isobutanol with acetic
acid. It is used as a solvent for lacquer and nitrocellulose. Like many esters, it has a fruity
or fl oral smell at low concentrations and occurs naturally in raspberries, pears, and other
plants. At higher concentrations, the odor can be unpleasant and may cause symptoms of
CNS depression, such as nausea, dizziness, and headache
General Description
A clear colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Flash point 64°F. Less dense than water (6.2 lb/gal) and insoluble in water. Vapors are heavier than air .
Reactivity Profile
ISOBUTYL ACETATE(110-19-0) reacts exothermically with acids to give alcohols and other acids. May react sufficiently exothermically with strong oxidizing acids to ignite the reaction products. Reactions with bases also generate heat. Combination with strong reducing agents (alkali metals and hydrides) generates flammable hydrogen.
Air & Water Reactions
Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.
Hazard
Flammable, dangerous fire risk.
Health Hazard
Exposures to isobutyl acetate cause anesthetic effects, headaches, infl ammation of the
eye characterized by redness, watering, and itching, dizziness, nausea, vomiting and a
large dose may cause coma. Exposures to the skin over a longer time cause irritation and
infl ammation characterized by itching, scaling, reddening and/or occasionally blistering.
Exposures by ingestion and/or inhalation of isobutyl acetate cause irritation to the diges tive tract and respiratory tract. The target organs of isobutyl acetate have been reported as
the CNS and skin.
Health Hazard
Vapors may irritate upper respiratory tract and cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness and loss of consciousness. Liquid irritates eyes and may irritate skin.
Potential Exposure
n-Butyl acetate is an important solvent
in the production of lacquers, leather and airplane dopes,
and perfumes. It is used as a solvent and gasoline additive.
sec-Butyl acetate is used as a widely used solvent for
nitrocellulose, nail enamels and many different purposes.
tert-Butyl acetate is common industrial solvent used in the
making of lacquers, artificial leather, airplane dope, perfume; and as a food additive. Isobutyl acetate is used as a
solvent and in perfumes and artificial flavoring materials
Fire Hazard
HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Most vapors are heavier than air. They will spread along ground and collect in low or confined areas (sewers, basements, tanks). Vapor explosion hazard indoors, outdoors or in sewers. Runoff to sewer may create fire or explosion hazard. Containers may explode when heated. Many liquids are lighter than water.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the
skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately
with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately.
If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,
begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if
heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical
facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of salt water and induce
vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.
Shipping
UN1123 Butyl acetates, Hazard Class: 3; Labels:
3—Flammable liquid.
Incompatibilities
All butyl acetates are incompatible with
nitrates, strong oxidizers; strong alkalies; strong acids.
Butyl acetates may form explosive mixture with air; reacts
with water, on standing, to form acetic acid and n-butyl
alcohol. Violent reaction with strong oxidizers and
potassium-tert-butoxide. Dissolves rubber, many plastics,
resins and some coatings. May accumulate static electrical
charges, and may cause ignition of its vapors
Waste Disposal
Dissolve or mix the material
with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical
incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber.
All federal, state, and local environmental regulations
must be observed.
Physical properties
Colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Experimentally determined detection and recognition odor
threshold concentrations were 1.7 mg/m3 (360 ppbv) and 2.4 mg/m3 (510 ppbv), respectively
(Hellman and Small, 1974).
Occurrence
Reported found in, apple, apricot, banana, currants, guava, grapes, melon, pear, blackcurrant, papaya, pineapple, strawberry, vinegar, wheat bread, Parmesan and Gruyere cheese, beef fat, beer, cognac, rum, cider, whiskies, sherry, grape
wines, port, olive, cocoa, passion fruit, plum, starfruit, bantu beer, plum and grape brandy, mango, tamarind, apple brandy, figs, plum
wine, litchi, sake, nectarine, naranjilla fruit, Cape gooseberry and Roman chamomile oil.
Definition
ChEBI: The acetate ester of isobutanol.
Preparation
By direct esterification of isobutyl alcohol with acetic acid.
Production Methods
Isobutyl acetate may be made from methyl isobutyl
ketone. It may also be made by treating isobutanol
with acetic acid in the presence of catalysts. The
Tischenko reaction of acetaldehyde with isobutyraldehyde
yields a mixture of isobutyl acetate with ethyl acetate and
isobutyl isobutyrate.
Aroma threshold values
Detection: 65 to 880 ppb
Taste threshold values
Taste characteristics at 30 ppm: sweet fruity with a banana tutti-frutti note.
Flammability and Explosibility
Notclassified
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: Softens and dissolves many types of plastics; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Biochem/physiol Actions
Taste at 10 ppm
Source
A product of whiskey fermentation (quoted, Verschueren, 1983). Isobutyl acetate was
identified as a volatile constituent released by fresh coffee beans (Coffea canephora variety
Robusta) at different stages of ripeness (Mathieu et al., 1998).
Environmental Fate
Chemical/Physical. Slowly hydrolyzes in water forming 2-methylpropanol and acetic acid.
At an influent concentration of 1,000 mg/L, treatment with GAC resulted in an effluent
concentration of 180 mg/L. The adsorbability of the carbon used was 164 mg/g carbon (Guisti et
al., 1974).
Toxics Screening Level
The initial threshold screening level (ITSL) for all isomers of butyl acetate is 2400 μg/m3 with eight-hour averaging time.
