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DESCRIPTION
1-Butanol, also known as n-butanol, is a primary alcohol with the chemical formula C₄H₉OH.
It is a colorless, flammable liquid with a mild odor similar to that of alcohol.
It is soluble in water and has a boiling point of about 117.7°C (244°F).
1-Butanol is a simple alcohol that is widely used as a solvent in the manufacture of paints, coatings, lacquers, and varnishes.
It is also used in the production of plasticizers, butyl esters, and as an intermediate in chemical syntheses.
Cas Number
71-36-3
Synonyms
Butyl alcohol,Butanol,n-Butanol,1-Butyl alcohol,Butan-1-ol,Ethyl carbinol,Butyl hydroxide
1-Butanol (C₄H₉OH), commonly known as n-butanol, is a colorless, flammable alcohol that is widely used in various industries.
This article provides an in-depth review of 1-butanol’s chemical structure, physical properties, production methods, and applications.
It discusses the key industrial and environmental impacts of its widespread use, exploring both traditional production methods and modern, sustainable alternatives.
Additionally, the article covers recent advances in the production of 1-butanol through biotechnological methods and its potential role in the global transition to renewable energy.
With its versatility and broad range of applications, 1-butanol is integral to a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals, paints, plastics, and biofuels.
This article also emphasizes the health and environmental concerns associated with its use and offers insights into future research directions.
Introduction
1-Butanol is one of the most widely used alcohols in industry, known for its solvent properties, and its role as an intermediate in the production of plasticizers, butyl esters, and pharmaceuticals.
This alcohol has a significant economic importance due to its versatility, making it a key compound in chemical synthesis and manufacturing.
The growing importance of sustainability and the shift towards renewable resources has also led to research into bio-based methods of producing 1-butanol, making this an area of significant technological interest.
Despite its many uses, there are also environmental and health concerns associated with its production and use, such as toxicity and the potential for air and water contamination.
This article aims to provide a detailed, scientific review of the properties, synthesis, applications, environmental impact, and future developments regarding 1-butanol.
Chemical and Physical Properties
1-Butanol (n-butanol) is an aliphatic alcohol with the molecular formula C₄H₉OH.
Below are its key chemical and physical properties:
Molecular structure: 1-Butanol consists of a four-carbon chain with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to the first carbon atom.
This structure gives it alcohol-like properties, such as its ability to engage in hydrogen bonding.
Melting point: −89.8°C
Boiling point: 117.7°C
Density: 0.810 g/cm³ at 20°C
Solubility: 1-Butanol is miscible with water and many organic solvents like ethanol and acetone, which makes it useful in applications requiring a solvent with moderate polarity.
Vapor pressure: 5.1 mmHg at 20°C
Flash point: 35°C (Closed cup), which indicates its flammability at lower temperatures.
Chemical reactivity: The hydroxyl group (-OH) makes 1-butanol reactive in condensation reactions, esterification, and dehydration processes.
As an alcohol, it can undergo oxidation to form aldehydes (butanal) or acids (butyric acid) under appropriate conditions.
Comparison with other alcohols: 1-Butanol is more hydrophobic than ethanol, making it a better solvent for non-polar substances.
It is also a stronger solvent than methanol or ethanol in certain applications.
Synthesis Methods
Historically, 1-butanol has been produced through several industrial processes.
Key methods include:
Hydration of 1-butene: One of the most common industrial methods, where 1-butene undergoes catalytic hydration to form 1-butanol.
The process involves the use of acidic catalysts such as sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid.
Fermentation: An alternative biological process, where microorganisms (like Clostridium acetobutylicum) ferment sugars to produce 1-butanol.
This method is part of the broader field of biofuels and green chemistry.
Hydroformylation of propene: Propene reacts with synthesis gas (CO and H₂) in the presence of a catalyst to produce butyraldehyde, which is then hydrogenated to yield 1-butanol.
This method is used in large-scale industrial applications.
Emerging bio-based processes: Advances in synthetic biology have introduced microbial fermentation pathways that directly produce 1-butanol from renewable sources like sugars or cellulose.
Organisms such as engineered Escherichia coli or yeast strains have been modified to enhance the yield of 1-butanol, making the process more sustainable.
Comparison of methods: While chemical processes such as hydration of 1-butene are efficient and widely used, they rely on petrochemical feedstocks, making them less sustainable.
On the other hand, bio-based methods, while still being refined for efficiency, offer a more eco-friendly alternative, with the potential for large-scale production from renewable resources.
Industrial Production of 1-Butanol
1-Butanol is produced on a massive scale, with hundreds of thousands of tons produced globally each year. Key aspects of its industrial production include:
Raw materials: The primary feedstocks for 1-butanol production are petrochemical derivatives such as propylene or butene.
In bio-based processes, raw materials can include renewable plant sugars (glucose, sucrose) or lignocellulosic biomass.
Production scale: 1-Butanol is produced in large quantities through both traditional chemical synthesis and emerging bio-based methods.
Industrial production occurs in refineries and specialized chemical plants, with an emphasis on cost-effective processes and large-scale capacity.
Major producers: Leading companies involved in 1-butanol production include BASF, Dow Chemical, and Evonik, which operate large-scale facilities worldwide.
Economic factors: The cost of 1-butanol production is influenced by raw material availability (such as crude oil or bio-feedstocks), energy prices, and technological innovations in more sustainable production techniques.
Applications of 1-Butanol
1-Butanol’s versatility makes it valuable in a wide range of industries:
Solvent: It is used as a solvent in paints, coatings, varnishes, and adhesives.
Its moderate polarity allows it to dissolve a variety of organic compounds without being too polar or non-polar.
Plasticizer production: 1-Butanol is used to synthesize butyl esters, which serve as plasticizers, particularly in the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Pharmaceuticals: 1-Butanol acts as a solvent and intermediate in the synthesis of various pharmaceutical products, such as butyric acid and certain antibiotics.
Food additives: In small quantities, 1-butanol is also used as a flavoring agent in food products and beverages.
Biofuels: With the growth of the biofuel industry, 1-butanol has gained attention as an alternative to ethanol, especially in the context of transportation fuels.
It has a higher energy density than ethanol and can be used in existing internal combustion engines without major modifications.
Emerging applications: 1-Butanol is also being explored for its potential in new green technologies, including carbon capture and storage, and in new biodegradable plastics.
SAFETY INFORMATION ABOUT 1-BUTANOL (N-BUTANOL)
First aid measures:
Description of first aid measures:
General advice:
Consult a physician.
Show this safety data sheet to the doctor in attendance.
Move out of dangerous area:
If inhaled:
If breathed in, move person into fresh air.
If not breathing, give artificial respiration.
Consult a physician.
In case of skin contact:
Take off contaminated clothing and shoes immediately.
Wash off with soap and plenty of water.
Consult a physician.
In case of eye contact:
Rinse thoroughly with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and consult a physician.
Continue rinsing eyes during transport to hospital.
If swallowed:
Do NOT induce vomiting.
Never give anything by mouth to an unconscious person.
Rinse mouth with water.
Consult a physician.
Firefighting measures:
Extinguishing media:
Suitable extinguishing media:
Use water spray, alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical or carbon dioxide.
Special hazards arising from the substance or mixture
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas
Advice for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus for firefighting if necessary.
Accidental release measures:
Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures
Use personal protective equipment.
Avoid breathing vapours, mist or gas.
Evacuate personnel to safe areas.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up:
Soak up with inert absorbent material and dispose of as hazardous waste.
Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.
Handling and storage:
Precautions for safe handling:
Avoid inhalation of vapour or mist.
Conditions for safe storage, including any incompatibilities:
Keep container tightly closed in a dry and well-ventilated place.
Containers which are opened must be carefully resealed and kept upright to prevent leakage.
Storage class (TRGS 510): 8A: Combustible, corrosive hazardous materials
Exposure controls/personal protection:
Control parameters:
Components with workplace control parameters
Contains no substances with occupational exposure limit values.
Exposure controls:
Appropriate engineering controls:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice.
Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.
Personal protective equipment:
Eye/face protection:
Tightly fitting safety goggles.
Faceshield (8-inch minimum).
Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).
Skin protection:
Handle with gloves.
Gloves must be inspected prior to use.
Use proper glove
removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product.
Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices.
Wash and dry hands.
Full contact:
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
Splash contact
Material: Nitrile rubber
Minimum layer thickness: 0.11 mm
Break through time: 480 min
Material tested:Dermatril (KCL 740 / Aldrich Z677272, Size M)
It should not be construed as offering an approval for any specific use scenario.
Body Protection:
Complete suit protecting against chemicals, The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.
Respiratory protection:
Where risk assessment shows air-purifying respirators are appropriate use a fullface respirator with multi-purpose combination (US) or type ABEK (EN 14387) respirator cartridges as a backup to engineering controls.
If the respirator is the sole means of protection, use a full-face supplied air respirator.
Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).
Control of environmental exposure
Prevent further leakage or spillage if safe to do so.
Do not let product enter drains.
Discharge into the environment must be avoided.
Stability and reactivity:
Chemical stability:
Stable under recommended storage conditions.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents:
Hazardous decomposition products:
Hazardous decomposition products formed under fire conditions.
Carbon oxides, Nitrogen oxides (NOx), Hydrogen chloride gas.
Disposal considerations:
Waste treatment methods:
Product:
Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company.
Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material.
Contaminated packaging:
Dispose of as unused product.
