Butyl Acetate, also recognized by its alias ethyl butyrate, stands as an organic compound with the chemical composition C6H12O2. Its structure, comprising an acetate group linked to a butyl chain, is noted for a delightful, fruity aroma reminiscent of bananas or apples. With a molecular weight of approximately 116.16 g/mol, this colorless liquid has a boiling point around 126-127 °C (259-261 °F) and a modest density of about 0.88 g/mL. While sparingly soluble in water, it demonstrates high miscibility with most organic solvents, solidifying its role as an adaptable solvent across diverse industrial landscapes.
Butyl Acetate's widespread acclaim in the industrial domain stems from its effectiveness as a solvent, making it indispensable in the production of paints, lacquers, varnishes, and printing inks, thanks to its proficiency in dissolving resins and polymers. Beyond its industrial persona, it offers fruity allure in flavors and fragrances within the food and cosmetic industries. Its applications further span the realms of artificial leather, textiles, and plastics manufacturing, pharma formulations, and electronics cleaning. Despite its myriad benefits, it is flammable and demands careful handling, emphasizing the necessity for well-ventilated environments to prevent vapor build-up. Safety and storage precautions are paramount to mitigate risks of eye and respiratory irritation associated with prolonged exposure.
| Appearance | Technical indicators |
| Appearance | transparent liquid with no suspendedimpurities |
| N-butyl acetate,w/% | ≥99.5 |
| n-butanol,w/% | ≥0.2 |
| water,w/% | ≤0.05 |
| Acidity (as acetic acid)，w/% | ≤0.010 |
| Chromaticity/Hazen Unit (Pt-Co color scale) | ≤10 |
| Density (ρ)/(g/cm3) | 0.878-0.883 |
It is an excellent organic solvent that is widely used in nitrocellulose varnishes, in the processing of artificial leather, fabrics and plastics, as well as in the spice industry.
It is an edible spice that is accepted accordingto GB2760-2014. As a spice, it is widely used to prepare banana, pear, pineapple, apricot, peach, strawberry, berry and other essences. It can also be used as a solvent for natural adhesives and synthetic resins.
It can be used as an extractant in various petroleum processing and pharmaceutical processes.
It can be used as an analytical reagent, i.e. the reference substance - naphthalene for chromatographic analysis.
English
