Butanone
Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), is a colorless liquid solvent with a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of acetone. It is used in various industrial and household products, such as paints, coatings, adhesives, and cleaning agents. Butanone is flammable, and its vapors can cause drowsiness or dizziness, so it should be handled with care in well-ventilated areas away from heat and flames[1][2][3][4][5].
Butanone is produced industrially on a large scale, but it also occurs naturally in trace amounts, being made by some trees and found in certain fruits and vegetables. It is partially soluble in water and is commonly used as an industrial solvent due to its ability to dissolve many substances, including gums, resins, cellulose acetate, and nitrocellulose[7].
The chemical formula for butanone is CH3C(O)CH2CH3, and it is an isomer of another solvent, tetrahydrofuran. It is produced by the oxidation of 2-butanol, catalyzed by copper, zinc, or bronze, and is also a byproduct of processes like the liquid-phase oxidation of heavy naphtha and the Fischer–Tropsch reaction[7].
Exposure to butanone can occur through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact, particularly in workplaces where it is used or produced. Health effects of exposure include irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as headaches and tiredness. High concentrations can lead to more serious effects such as unconsciousness and death in animals, and there is limited evidence of developmental effects in animals exposed to butanone[3][6].
Safety measures when working with butanone include using personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and goggles, and ensuring proper ventilation. In case of spills or exposure, first aid measures and emergency procedures should be followed[2][4][5].
Butanone is regulated by various health and safety guidelines to protect workers and the environment. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has set an occupational exposure limit, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has previously listed butanone as a toxic chemical, although it was removed from the list of hazardous air pollutants in 2005[12][17].
For more detailed information on butanone, including its health effects and safety guidelines, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides a comprehensive toxicological profile[19][20].
Citations:
[1] https://www.acs.org/molecule-of-the-week/archive/b/butanone.html
[2] https://www.bradechem.com/assets/product-files/mek-sds-bradechem.pdf
[3] https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxfaqs/tfacts29.pdf
[4] https://www.replaceacetone.com/blog/what-is-mek
[5] https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?countryCode=US&language=en&partNumber=AC149670250&productDescription=2-BUTANONE+99%2B%25+25ML&vendorId=VN00032119
[6] https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0102774
[7] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butanone
[8] https://www.chemos.de/import/data/msds/GB_en/78-93-3-A0273366-GB-en.pdf
[9] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24193695/
[10] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/pharmacology-toxicology-and-pharmaceutical-science/2-butanone
[11] https://www.carlroth.com/medias/SDB-8403-GB-EN.pdf?context=bWFzdGVyfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0c3wyNzMyNjh8YXBwbGljYXRpb24vcGRmfHNlY3VyaXR5RGF0YXNoZWV0cy9oNWUvaDI3LzkwOTU1ODU3NTkyNjIucGRmfDczNmFmNjNhNWIyY2VkNzg4MTE5YmY2NjVkZTgyOWI3YmZiYjk2MjVkMDVlNmQ1YTI4MzNlNTA4NDRmMDdlZjg
[12] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2016-09/documents/methyl-ethyl-ketone.pdf
[13] https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Methyl-Ethyl-Ketone
[14] https://nj.gov/health/eoh/rtkweb/documents/fs/1258.pdf
[15] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/chemistry/butanone
[16] https://echa.europa.eu/substance-information/-/substanceinfo/100.001.054
[17] https://www.onlinesafetytrainer.com/safety-guide-for-butanone-methyl-ethyl-ketone/
[18] https://study.com/academy/lesson/what-is-butanone-formula-uses.html
[19] https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ToxProfiles/tp29-c1-b.pdf
[20] https://wwwn.cdc.gov/TSP/ToxFAQs/ToxFAQsDetails.aspx?faqid=342&toxid=60