123-86-4

n-Butyl acetate is a clear, colorless, flammable liquid and vapor. It has a mild, fruity odor and is slightly soluble in water. n-Butyl acetate is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, and strong bases.

n-Butyl acetate, also known as butyl ethanoate, is an organic compound commonly used as a solvent in the production of lacquers and other products. It is also used as a synthetic fruit fl avoring in foods such as candy, ice cream, cheeses, and baked goods. Butyl acetate is found in many types of fruit, where along with other chemicals it imparts characteristic fl avors. Apples, especially of the Red Delicious variety, are fl avored in part by this chemi cal. It is a colorless flammable liquid with a sweet smell of banana.

A clear colorless liquid with a fruity odor. Flash point 72-88°F. Density 7.4 lb/gal (less than water). Hence floats on water. Vapors heavier than air.

BUTYL ACETATE(123-86-4) is an ester. Esters react with acids to liberate heat along with alcohols and acids. Strong oxidizing acids may cause a vigorous reaction that is sufficiently exothermic to ignite the reaction products. Heat is also generated by the interaction of esters with caustic solutions. Flammable hydrogen is generated by mixing esters with alkali metals and hydrides. Attacks many plastics. [Handling Chemicals Safely 1980. p. 233].

Highly flammable. Very slightly soluble in water.

Skin irritant, toxic. Flammable, moderate fire risk. Eye and upper respiratory tract irritant.

Exposures to n-butyl acetate cause harmful effects that include, but are not limited to, coughing and shortness of breath. High concentrations have a narcotic effect, with symp toms such as sore throat, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. High concen trations of n-butyl acetate cause severe poisoning. Prolonged periods of exposure cause adverse effects to the lungs, the nervous system, and the mucous membranes. Repeated skin contact causes skin dryness or cracking, and dermatitis

SKIN: prolonged or frequently repeated exposures may lead to drying. INHALATION: headaches, dizziness, nausea, irritation of respiratory passages and eyes.

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

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.

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.

UN1123 Butyl acetates, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3—Flammable liquid.

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

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.

Clear, colorless liquid with a strong fruity odor resembling bananas. Sweetish taste as low concentrations (<30 μg/L). Experimentally determined detection and recognition odor threshold concentrations were 30 μg/m³ (6.3 ppb_v) and 18 μg/m³ (38 ppb_v), respectively (Hellman and Small, 1974). Cometto-Mu?iz et al. (2000) reported nasal pungency threshold concentrations ranged from approximately 550 to 3,500 ppm.

Reported present in rum ether, pears, pear brandy, cider, mango, mountain papaya (C. pubescens), soybean, roasted peanuts and honey and other natural products.

ChEBI: The acetate ester of butanol.

By esterification of n-butyl alcohol with acetic acid.

Butyl alcohol is combined with acetic acid in the presence of a catalyst such as sulfuric acid. After esterification is complete, the solution is distilled to yield butyl acetate .

Detection: 10 to 500 ppb

Journal of the American Chemical Society, 73, p. 5265, 1951 DOI: 10.1021/ja01155a075
The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 39, p. 3728, 1974 DOI: 10.1021/jo00939a026

Flammable

Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reactions; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.

Taste at 30 ppm

There are no indications of mutagenic or cytogenic effects for n-butyl acetate.

Identified as a volatile constituent released by fresh coffee beans (Coffea canephora variety Robusta) at different stages of ripeness (Mathieu et al., 1998). Also identified among 139 volatile compounds identified in cantaloupe (Cucumis melo var. reticulates cv. Sol Real) using an automated rapid headspace solid phase microextraction method (Beaulieu and Grimm, 2001).

Biological. Heukelekian and Rand (1955) reported a 5-d BOD value of 0.52 g/g which is 23.5% of the ThOD value of 2.21 g/g.
Photolytic. Butyl acetate reacts with OH radicals in the atmosphere at a rate constant of 4.15 x 10-12 cm³/molecule?sec at 296 K (Wallington et al., 1988b).
Chemical/Physical. Hydrolyzes in water forming 1-butanol and acetic acid. Estimated hydrolysis half-lives at 20 °C: 11.4 d at pH 9.0, 114 d at pH 8.0, and 3.1 yr at pH 7.0 (Mabey and Mill, 1978).
At an influent concentration of 1,000 mg/L, treatment with GAC resulted in an effluent concentration of 154 mg/L. The adsorbability of the carbon was 169 mg/g carbon (Guisti et al., 1974).

Distil, reflux with successive small portions of KMnO4 until the colour persists, dry with anhydrous CaSO4, filter and redistil. [Beilstein 2 IV 143.]