Chemical Properties
colourless liquid with a mild odour
General Description
Colorless liquid with a mild pleasant odor. Mixes with water.
Reactivity Profile
DIETHYLENE GLYCOL MONOBUTYL ETHER(112-34-5) is a ether-alcohol derivative. The ether being relatively unreactive. Flammable and/or toxic gases are generated by the combination of alcohols with alkali metals, nitrides, and strong reducing agents. They react with oxoacids and carboxylic acids to form esters plus water. Oxidizing agents convert alcohols to aldehydes or ketones. Alcohols exhibit both weak acid and weak base behavior. They may initiate the polymerization of isocyanates and epoxides.
Air & Water Reactions
Oxidizes readily in air to form unstable peroxides that may explode spontaneously [Bretherick, 1979 p.151-154, 164]. Water soluble.
Health Hazard
Inhalation for brief periods has no significant effect. Contact with liquid causes moderate irritation of eyes and corneal injury. Prolonged contact with skin causes only minor irritation.
Fire Hazard
This chemical is combustible.
Application
Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether has a wide variety of applications in Chiral chemistry and green chemistry. It is also used in cosmetics. It is used as diluents and leveling agents in the manufacture of paints and in baking. It is also used in the manufacture of nitrocellulose. In brake fluid, it is used as an additive. It is used in the printing industry due to its slow evaporation rate. It is also used as a fixative for perfumes and antiseptics. It is used as an additive to prevent ice buildup in jet fuel.
Preparation
Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is prepared by co-heating ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol butyl ether under pressure.
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Purification Methods
Dry the ether with anhydrous K2CO3 or CaSO4, filter and fractionally distil it. Peroxides can be removed by refluxing with stannous chloride or a mixture of FeSO4 and KHSO4 (or, less completely, by filtration under slight pressure through a column of activated alumina). [Beilstein 1 IV 2394.]
Waste Disposal
DGBE is mixed with a combustible solventand burned in a chemical incinerator. Smallamounts may be disposed down the drainwith large amounts of water.
