n-Butanol

n-Butanol or n-butyl alcohol or normal butanol is a primary alcohol with a 4-carbon structure and thechemical formula C₄H₉OH. Its isomersinclude isobutanol, 2-butanol, and tert-butanol. Butanol is one of the group of “fusel alcohols” (from the German for “bad liquor”), which have more than two carbon atoms and have significant solubility in water.

The largest use of n-butanol is as an industrial intermediate, particularly for the manufacture of butyl acetate (itself an artificial flavorant and industrial solvent). It is a petrochemical, manufactured from propylene and usually used close to the point of manufacture.

n-butanol is an intermediate in the production of butyl acrylate, butyl acetate, dibutyl phthalate, dibutyl sebacate, and other butyl esters, butyl ethers such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, di- and triethylene glycol monobutyl ether, and the corresponding butyl ether acetates. Other industrial uses include the manufacture of pharmaceuticals, polymers, pyroxylin plastics, herbicide esters, printing. It is also used as a diluent/reactant in the manufacture ofurea–formaldehyde and melamine–formaldehyde resins.

n-Butanol is used as an ingredient in perfumes and as a solvent for the extraction of essential oils. n-Butanol is also used as an extractant in the manufacture of antibiotics, hormones, and vitamins; a solvent for paints, coatings, natural resins, gums, synthetic resins, dyes, alkaloids, and camphor. Other miscellaneous applications of n-butanol are as a swelling agent in textiles, as a component of hydraulic brake fluids, cleaning formulations, degreasers, and repellents and as a component of ore floation agents and of wood-treating systems.

n-Butanol has been proposed as a substitute for diesel fuel and gasoline. It is produced in small quantities in nearly all fermentations (see fusel oil), but species of Clostridium produce much higher yields of butanol, and research is currently underway to increase the ultimate yield ofbiobutanol from biomass.

The production or, in some cases, use of the following substances may result in exposure to n-butanol: artificial leather, butyl esters, rubber cement, dyes, fruit essences, lacquers, motion picture, and photographic films, raincoats, perfumes, pyroxylin plastics,rayon, safety glass, shellac varnish, and waterproofed cloth.