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4-Methylpentan-2-one, also known as methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), is a clear, colorless liquid organic compound with the formula C₆H₁₂O and CAS number 108-10-1.
4-Methylpentan-2-one functions primarily as an industrial solvent for resins, paints, and nitrocellulose, and carries risks as a flammable liquid.
4-Methylpentan-2-one is widely used across chemical industries as an industrial solvent and chemical intermediate.
CAS Registry Number: 108-10-1
IUPAC Name: 4-Methylpentan-2-one
Molecular Formula: C6H12O / CH3COCH2CH(CH3)2
EC / EINECS Number: 203-550-1
UN Number: UN 1245 (Hazard Class 3: Flammable Liquid)
SYNONYMS: MIBK (Methyl Isobutyl Ketone),Isopropylacetone,Hexone,2-Methyl-4-pentanone,Isobutyl methyl ketone,Shell MIBK
GENERAL DESCRIPTION
4-Methylpentan-2-one (commonly known as Methyl Isobutyl Ketone or MIBK) is an organic chemical compound belonging to the ketone family.
Methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK, 4-methylpenthane-2-one) is an organic compound with the concentrated chemical formula (CH3)2CHCH2C(O)CH3. This ketone is a colorless liquid used as a solvent for chewing gums, resins, paints, varnishesvarnishes and nitrocellulose.
4-Methylpentan-2-one is a clear, colorless liquid with a pleasant, sweetish, ketonic odor at low concentrations and a sharp odor at higher levels.
4-Methylpentan-2-one is moderately soluble in water but miscible with most organic solvents like ethanol, ether, and benzene. Produced commercially by the condensation of acetone followed by hydrogenation, MIBK is prized for its high solvency power for resins, gums, and synthetic polymers.
PHYSICAL & CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
Molar Mass: 100.16 g/mol
Appearance: Colorless liquid
Density: 0.801 g/cm3 (at 20°C)
Melting Point: -84 °C
Boiling Point: 116.5 °C
Flash Point: 14 °C (Closed cup, highly flammable)
Auto-ignition Temp: 448 °C
Vapor Pressure: 19.9 mmHg (at 20°C)
Solubility in Water: 1.91 g/100 mL (at 20°C)
MAIN APPLICATIONS & USES
1. Industrial Solvent for Coatings:
Used as a high-performance solvent in cellulose nitrate lacquers, vinyl resins, alkyds, acrylics, and polyurethane coatings.
Helps control viscosity and evaporation rates in automotive, industrial wood, and marine paints.
2. Extraction Agent:
Used as an extraction solvent in nuclear chemistry to separate zirconium and hafnium, as well as niobium and tantalum.
Employed in pharmaceutical manufacturing for liquid-liquid extraction of antibiotics and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).
3. Chemical Intermediate:
Primary precursor in the production of 6PPD (N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine), an antiozonant used in rubber tires.
4. Cleaning & Dewaxing Agent:
Serves as a dewaxing solvent for petroleum oils and lubricating oil refining.
Used in industrial degreasing formulations and precision electronics cleaning.
5. Laboratory & Analytical Applications:
Utilized in atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) as a solvent to extract metals from aqueous solutions into an organic matrix for trace analysis.
Common Uses Solvent
Dissolves vinyl, epoxy, and acrylic resins.
Coatings: Used in paints, lacquers, and nitrocellulose.
Extraction: Applied in metal processing and ore extraction.
Safety and Handling Flammability
Highly flammable liquid and vapor.
Health Effects: Causes serious eye irritation and respiratory irritation.
Harmful if inhaled.
Precautions: Keep away from heat, sparks, and open flames.
Use local exhaust ventilation and wear protective gloves and eye protection.
Storage Conditions:
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, ignition sources, and heat.
Keep separate from strong oxidizing agents (e.g., nitrates, peroxides), strong bases, and reducing agents.
Storage containers should be made of stainless steel, carbon steel, or high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
REGULATORY & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Environmental Fate: Highly volatile; readily degrades in the atmosphere via reaction with hydroxyl radicals (half-life approximately 14-16 hours).
Readily biodegradable in water and soil; low bioaccumulation potential (Log Kow = 1.31).
Regulatory Status: Listed under US EPA Clean Air Act as a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP); subject to SARA Title III Section 313 reporting requirements; registered under EU REACH regulation.
