Butyl Carbitol

Butyl Carbitol, also known as 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol, is a member of the glycol ether family. It is often referred to by its trade name Butyl Cellosolve or simply Butyl Diethylene Glycol Ether. Like other glycol ethers, Butyl Carbitol is highly valued for its excellent solvent properties, which include strong solubility in both water and organic solvents, low volatility, and high boiling point. These properties made it an essential industrial solvent across various industries up to the year 2000, including in coatings, inks, and cleaning products.

1. Chemical Structure and Properties

Butyl Carbitol is a diethylene glycol monoalkyl ether, where an ethoxyethanol unit is attached to a butoxy group. It has the following chemical properties:

• Chemical Name: 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol
• Molecular Formula: C8H18O3
• Molecular Weight: 162.23 g/mol
• Chemical Structure: The molecule consists of a butoxy group (C₄H₉O-) attached to a diethylene glycol chain (-CH₂CH₂OCH₂CH₂OH).C4H9OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OHC4​H9​OCH2​CH2​OCH2​CH2​OH

Physical Characteristics:

• Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid.
• Odor: Mild, characteristic ether-like odor.
• Boiling Point: 231°C (447.8°F)
• Melting Point: -68°C (-90°F)
• Density: 0.955 g/cm³ at 20°C
• Viscosity: Relatively high viscosity, contributing to its ability to provide smooth application in coatings and other uses.
• Solubility: Butyl Carbitol is miscible with water and a wide range of organic solvents, such as alcohols, ketones, ethers, and aromatic hydrocarbons.

Vapor Pressure:

• Low vapor pressure (0.002 mmHg at 20°C), making it an excellent choice in applications where low volatility is required, particularly for high-temperature processing or applications where slow evaporation is needed.

2. Production Process

Typically produced through a chemical process known as etherification. The two main steps in its industrial synthesis are as follows:

1. Reaction Between Ethylene Oxide and Butanol: The production of Butyl Carbitol starts with the reaction between ethylene oxide (C₂H₄O) and butanol (C₄H₉OH). This produces butoxyethanol, an intermediate glycol ether.C2H4O+C4H9OH→C4H9OCH2CH2OHC2​H4​O+C4​H9​OH→C4​H9​OCH2​CH2​OH
2. Further Reaction with Ethylene Oxide: The next step involves the reaction of butoxyethanol with an additional molecule of ethylene oxide. This step leads to the formation of Butyl Carbitol (2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol).C4H9OCH2CH2OH+C2H4O→C4H9OCH2CH2OCH2CH2OHC4​H9​OCH2​CH2​OH+C2​H4​O→C4​H9​OCH2​CH2​OCH2​CH2​OH

The reaction requires the presence of an alkaline catalyst, such as potassium or sodium hydroxide, and takes place at controlled temperatures to manage the highly reactive nature of ethylene oxide.

3. Applications of Butyl Carbitol

Due to its versatile properties, was widely used across a variety of industries by the year 2000. Its key applications are detailed below.

3.1. Paints and Coatings

One of the largest uses of Butyl Carbitol is in water-based paints and coatings. It plays several critical roles in these formulations:

• • Coalescing Agent: Butyl Carbitol acts as a coalescing agent in latex paints and coatings. It helps polymer particles come together and form a continuous film upon drying, which improves the overall appearance, durability, and adhesion of the paint.
  • Solvent for Resins: Butyl Carbitol has excellent solvency for a variety of resins, including alkyd resins, acrylic resins, and urethanes. Its ability to dissolve these resins ensures a uniform solution that produces consistent coatings.
  • Improved Flow and Leveling: Its relatively slow evaporation rate allows for improved leveling and flow properties in coatings, reducing the occurrence of surface defects like orange peel or streaks.
  • Low Volatility: In industrial coatings, Butyl Carbitol’s low volatility ensures a stable viscosity and improves the drying characteristics of coatings, particularly in automotive and high-performance industrial applications.
  • Reduced VOCs: Compared to more volatile solvents, Butyl Carbitol helps reduce the volatile organic compound (VOC) content of paints and coatings, making it a preferred choice for formulating low-VOC products that comply with environmental regulations.

3.2. Printing Inks

In the printing industry, is used in flexographic and gravure printing inks for several reasons:

• • Viscosity Control: Its use in ink formulations helps to maintain stable viscosity, which is crucial for consistent print quality, especially during high-speed printing processes.
  • Slow Drying: The slow evaporation rate of Butyl Carbitol prevents inks from drying too quickly on the printing press, thereby reducing problems like clogging or streaking.
  • Improved Adhesion: Inks formulated with Butyl Carbitol adhere well to a variety of surfaces, including plastics, paper, and metals, ensuring high-quality prints.

3.3. Cleaning Products

Butyl Carbitol is a common solvent in industrial and household cleaning products due to its ability to dissolve both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. Its main applications include:

• • Hard Surface Cleaners: Butyl Carbitol is found in all-purpose cleaners, floor cleaners, and bathroom cleaners. It effectively removes grease, oils, and stains from surfaces without damaging them.
  • Degreasers: It is used in industrial-strength degreasers for cleaning machinery, engines, and tools, particularly in automotive and manufacturing sectors.
  • Glass Cleaners: Its slow evaporation rate makes it ideal for glass cleaning formulations, as it allows for streak-free cleaning without leaving behind residues.

3.4. Textiles and Leather Processing

In the textile and leather industries, Butyl Carbitol is used for:

• • Dyeing and Finishing: It improves the solubility and penetration of dyes into textile fibers, ensuring uniform coloration. It also acts as a solvent for finishing agents applied to fabrics to enhance softness, durability, and water repellency.
  • Leather Treatments: Butyl Carbitol is included in formulations for leather coatings and dyes, helping to achieve even application and smooth finishes.

3.5. Adhesives

Butyl Carbitol plays a significant role in the production of adhesives. It acts as a solvent for polymers and other adhesive components, enhancing the formulation’s workability and improving the final product’s strength and adhesion properties.

3.6. Agricultural Chemicals

In the agricultural sector, Butyl Carbitol is sometimes used as a solvent in formulations for pesticides and herbicides. It helps dissolve active ingredients, ensuring even application and enhanced effectiveness of agricultural treatments.

4. Butyl Carbitol Health and Safety Considerations

While Butyl Carbitol is a relatively low-toxicity solvent compared to other industrial chemicals, certain health and safety precautions are necessary, particularly in occupational settings.

4.1. Toxicity

• • Acute Toxicity: Butyl Carbitol has low acute toxicity when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. However, high concentrations or prolonged exposure can cause irritation to the respiratory system, skin, and eyes. Symptoms of exposure may include dizziness, headaches, and nausea.
  • Chronic Toxicity: Long-term exposure to Butyl Carbitol, particularly in poorly ventilated environments, may cause more serious health effects, such as liver and kidney damage, though these risks are generally considered low in typical industrial use.

4.2. Occupational Exposure

• • OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) set permissible exposure limits (PELs) for Butyl Carbitol to protect workers in industrial settings. The PEL for Butyl Carbitol in the U.S. was typically around 25 ppm (parts per million) over an 8-hour workday.

4.3. Flammability

• • Flash Point: Butyl Carbitol has a flash point of 106°C (223°F), which means it can ignite if exposed to an open flame or high heat. However, it is not as flammable as more volatile solvents. Proper storage and handling procedures, including the use of explosion-proof equipment, are required in industrial settings to prevent fire hazards.

5. Environmental Impact

The environmental impact of Butyl Carbitol depends largely on how it is managed and disposed of. By 2000, growing awareness of environmental issues led to increased regulations governing the use and disposal of solvents like Butyl Carbitol.

5.1. Biodegradability

• • Butyl Carbitol is considered biodegradable, meaning it can be broken down by microorganisms in the environment. Studies showed that Butyl Carbitol has a relatively low potential for bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms, which is a positive factor for environmental safety.

5.2. Air Pollution and VOCs

• • Like other glycol ethers, Butyl Carbitol is classified as a VOC (volatile organic compound). When released into the atmosphere, VOCs can contribute to the formation of ground-level ozone, a major component of smog in urban areas. In response to these environmental concerns, regulatory bodies such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States and the European Union began to limit the use of VOCs in paints, coatings, and cleaning products.

5.3. Water Pollution

• • In case of accidental spills, Butyl Carbitol can dissolve easily in water, leading to its dispersion in aquatic environments. However, due to its biodegradability and low toxicity, it is considered less harmful than more persistent chemicals. Proper disposal measures, including treatment in wastewater facilities, help mitigate potential impacts on water quality.

6. Butyl Carbitol Global Market and Economic Importance

By the year 2000, Butyl Carbitol was widely recognized as an important industrial solvent, particularly in the developed regions of North America, Europe, and Asia. The demand for Butyl Carbitol was closely tied to growth in industries such as paints and coatings, adhesives, and cleaning products.

6.1. Market Demand

• • In North America and Europe, environmental regulations aimed at reducing VOC emissions led to shifts in demand for low-VOC solvents like Butyl Carbitol. These regulations played a significant role in driving the adoption of glycol ethers in industrial applications.
  • Asia experienced increasing industrialization during this period, particularly in countries like China, India, and South Korea. This led to a growing demand for Butyl Carbitol in a wide range of applications, including paints, adhesives, and cleaning products.

6.2. Trade

• • Butyl Carbitol was traded globally, with production hubs in North America, Western Europe, and Asia. Large multinational chemical companies such as Dow Chemical, BASF, and Eastman Chemical were key players in its production and distribution.

7. Future Prospects

the future for Butyl Carbitol seemed promising, with continued strong demand from key industries. However, increasing environmental regulations and consumer demand for greener products led to the development of alternative solvents. The push for bio-based and low-VOC solvent formulations began to gain momentum, potentially altering the market landscape for glycol ethers like Butyl Carbitol in the years ahead.

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Butyl Carbitol (2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol) played a critical role in industrial applications up to the year 2000 due to its excellent solvent properties, which include high solvency, low volatility, and water miscibility. It found widespread use in industries such as paints and coatings, printing inks, cleaning products, and textiles. While its low toxicity and biodegradability made it a safer alternative to more hazardous solvents, concerns over VOC emissions and environmental impact led to the development of regulatory frameworks aimed at limiting its use in certain applications.

Butyl Carbitol’s versatility and relatively low environmental footprint ensured its continued use into the early 21st century, even as industries sought more sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives.