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BUTANE

EC / List no.: 203-448-7

CAS no.: 106-97-8

Mol. formula: C4H10

General Description    
Butane is a colorless gas with a faint petroleum-like odor. 
For transportation butane may be stenched. 
Butane is shipped as a liquefied gas under its vapor pressure. 
Contact with the liquid can cause frostbite. 
Butane is easily ignited. 
Butane vapors are heavier than air. 
Any leak can be either liquid or vapor. 
Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket. 
Butane is used as a fuel, an aerosol propellant, in cigarette lighters, and to make other chemicals.

N-Butane or butane is an alkane with the formula C4H10. 
Butane is a gas at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. 
Butane is a highly flammable, colorless, easily liquefied gas that quickly vaporizes at room temperature. 
The name butane comes from the root but- (from butyric acid, named after the Greek word for butter) and the suffix -ane. 
Butane was discovered by the chemist Dr. Walter Snelling in 1912.
Butane was found dissolved in crude petroleum in 1864 by Edmund Ronalds, who was the first to describe its properties.

Butane is one of a group of liquefied petroleum gases (LP gases). 
The others include propane, propylene, butadiene, butylene, isobutylene, and mixtures thereof. 
Butane has a higher energy density and burns more cleanly than gasoline and coal.
Butane is registered under the REACH Regulation and is manufactured in and / or imported to the European Economic Area, at ≥ 1 000 000 to < 10 000 000 tonnes per annum.
Butane is used by consumers, in articles, by professional workers (widespread uses), in formulation or re-packing, at industrial sites and in manufacturing.
    
Butane [C4H10] is a colorless gas with a faint petroleum-like odor. 
The main sources of butane are the refinery of crude oil and the processing of natural gas. 
Butane is commonly blended into motor vehicle gasoline to increase the fuel’s volatility and to make engine starting easier. 
Butane contains mixtures of methane, ethane, propane, isobutane, and butane and is a colourless aliphatic hydrocarbon gas with a gasoline-like odour. 
Butane is a component of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and as such is used in a wide variety of fuel applications for both recreational and leisure use, including heating and air conditioning, refrigeration, cooking, and lighters.
Butane is commonly used alone or in mixtures as a propellant in aerosol consumer products, such as hairsprays, deodorants and antiperspirants, shaving creams, edible oil and dairy products, cleaners, pesticides, and coatings (e.g. automobile or household spray paint). 
Butane is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of maleic anhydride, ethylene, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), synthetic rubber, and acetic acid and its by-products. 
Butane is a simple asphyxiant with explosive and flammable potential. 
Butane is also a widely used substance of abuse. 
The main target organs are in the CNS and cardiovascular system. 
Improper use and handling cause poisoning. 
Exposure to high levels of butane vapors can result in asphyxia. 

USES

Normal butane can be used for gasoline blending, as a fuel gas, fragrance extraction solvent, either alone or in a mixture with propane, and as a feedstock for the manufacture of ethylene and butadiene, a key ingredient of synthetic rubber. 
Isobutane is primarily used by refineries to enhance (increase) the octane number of motor gasoline.

For gasoline blending, butane is the main component used to manipulate the Reid vapor pressure (RVP). 
Since winter fuels require much higher vapor pressure for engines to start, refineries raise the RVP by blending more butane into the fuel.
Butane has a relatively high research octane number (RON) and motor octane number (MON), which are 93 and 92 respectively.

When blended with propane and other hydrocarbons, the mixture may be referred to commercially as liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). 
Butane is used as a petrol component, as a feedstock for the production of base petrochemicals in steam cracking, as fuel for cigarette lighters and as a propellant in aerosol sprays such as deodorants.

Pure forms of butane, especially isobutane, are used as refrigerants and have largely replaced the ozone-layer-depleting halomethanes in refrigerators, freezers, and air conditioning systems. 
The operating pressure for butane is lower than for the halomethanes such as Freon-12 (R-12), so R-12 systems such as those in automotive air conditioning systems, when converted to pure butane, will function poorly. 
A mixture of isobutane and propane is used instead to give cooling system performance comparable to use of R-12.

Butane is also used as lighter fuel for a common lighter or butane torch and is sold bottled as a fuel for cooking, barbecues and camping stoves. 
The global market for butane canisters is dominated by South Korean manufacturers.

In the 20th century the Braun (company) of Germany made a cordless hair styling device product that used butane as its heat source to produce steam.

As fuel, butane is often mixed with small amounts of mercaptans to give the unburned gas an offensive smell easily detected by the human nose. 
In this way, butane leaks can easily be identified. 
While hydrogen sulfide and mercaptans are toxic, they are present in levels so low that suffocation and fire hazard by the butane becomes a concern far before toxicity.
Most commercially available butane also contains some contaminant oil, which can be removed by filtration and will otherwise leave a deposit at the point of ignition and may eventually block the uniform flow of gas.
The butane used as a solvent for fragrance extraction does not contain these contaminants and butane gas can cause gas explosions in poorly ventilated areas if leaks go unnoticed and are ignited by spark or flame.
Purified butane is used as a solvent in the industrial extraction of cannabis oils.
Butane is used in the following products: anti-freeze products, adhesives and sealants, fuels, polishes and waxes, air care products, washing & cleaning products, cosmetics and personal care products and adsorbents.
Other release to the environment of butane is likely to occur from: indoor use (e.g. machine wash liquids/detergents, automotive care products, paints and coating or adhesives, fragrances and air fresheners), indoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. cooling liquids in refrigerators, oil-based electric heaters), outdoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, lubricants in motor oil and break fluids) and outdoor use.

Butane is used in the following products: fuels.
Butane has an industrial use resulting in manufacture of another substance (use of intermediates).
Butane is used in the following areas: formulation of mixtures and/or re-packaging.
Butane is used for the manufacture of: and chemicals.
Release to the environment of butane can occur from industrial use: in processing aids at industrial sites, of substances in closed systems with minimal release, as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates), in the production of articles, as processing aid, manufacturing of the substance, for thermoplastic manufacture and as processing aid.

Butane can be used in the production of ethylene and 1,3-butadiene. 
Butane can also be used as a chemical feedstock for special chemicals in the solvent, rubber, and plastics industries, in the blending of gasoline or motor fuel, as a constituent in liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], and as an extraction solvent in deasphalting processes.
Butane can be used for the manufacture of ethylene and butadiene, a key ingredient of synthetic rubber.
Butane [R600] is a kind of ozone depletion neutral refrigerant, being a potential refrigerant for household appliances.
Butane has a slightly higher Ranking COP level compared to isobutane and a much higher COP than R134a of which the latter is still used in household appliances around the world.


Widespread uses by professional workers
Butane is used in the following products: cosmetics and personal care products.
Butane is used for the manufacture of: .
Release to the environment of butane can occur from industrial use: of substances in closed systems with minimal release and in the production of articles.
Other release to the environment of butane is likely to occur from: indoor use (e.g. machine wash liquids/detergents, automotive care products, paints and coating or adhesives, fragrances and air fresheners), outdoor use, indoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. cooling liquids in refrigerators, oil-based electric heaters) and outdoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, lubricants in motor oil and break fluids).

Chemical Properties    
The main sources of butane are crude oil refi ning and natural gas processing. 
Butane is usually blended into motor vehicle gasoline to increase the fuel’s volatility and to make engine starting easier. 
Butane contains mixtures of methane, ethane, propane, iso-butane, and n-butane and is a colorless aliphatic hydrocarbon gas with a gasoline-like odor. 
Butane is a component of liquefi ed petroleum gas (LPG) and as such is used in a wide variety of fuel applications for both recreational and leisure use, including heating and air-conditioning, refrigeration, cooking, and in lighters. 
Butane is commonly used alone or in mixtures as a propellant in aerosol consumer products, such as hair sprays, deodorants and antiperspirants, shaving creams, edible oil and dairy products, cleaners, pesticides and coatings (e.g., automobile or household spray paint). 
Butane is used as a chemical intermediate in the production of maleic anhydride, ethylene, methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), synthetic rubber, and acetic acid and its by-products. 
Butane is a simple asphyxiant with explosive and flammable potential. 
Butane is also widely used as a substance of abuse. 
The main target organs are in the central nervous and cardio vascular systems. 
Butane is found in aerosols, lighter fuel and refi lls, small blow torches, and camping stoves. 
Pure grades of butane are used in calibrating instruments and as a food additive. 
Butane is widely available. 
Misuse and adulteration of butane is a common com mercial practice.


Butane Chemical Properties
Melting point : −138 °C(lit.)
Boiling point : −0.5 °C(lit.)
density : 0.579 g/mL at 20 °C(lit.)
vapor density : 2.11 (vs air)
vapor pressure :3.21, 1.26, and 0.66 mM at 4, 25, and 50 °C, respectively (Kresheck et al., 1965)
refractive index : 1.3326
Fp : 45
form : gas
Odor Threshold: 1200ppm
Water Solubility : 73.24mg/L(25 ºC)
Merck : 1515
BRN : 969129
Henry's Law Constant: 0.356 at 5 °C, 0.454 at 10 °C, 0.568 at 15 °C, 0.695 at 20 °C, 0.835 at 25 °C (Ben-Naim et al., 1973)
Exposure limits    : TLV-TWA 800 ppm (~1920 mg/m3) (ACGIH), 500 ppm (1200 mg/m3) (MSHA).
Stability: Stable. Extremely flammable. 
Readily forms explosive mixtures with air.
Note low flash point. 
Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, strong alkalies.
CAS DataBase Reference: 106-97-8(CAS DataBase Reference)
EPA Substance Registry System: Butane (106-97-8)


Synonyms

n-Butane
Diethyl
Methylethylmethane
R 600 (alkane)
HC 600 (hydrocarbon)
Butanen
Butani
HC 600
UNII-6LV4FOR43R
R 600
Butane [NF]
6LV4FOR43R
E943a
n-C4H10
butane phase II
CHEBI:37808
Butane (NF)
butan
Butyl hydride
Butane, pure
Butanen [Dutch]
Butani [Italian]
BUTANE (D10)
BUTANE (1-D1)
BUTANE (2-D1)
A 21 (lowing agent)
CCRIS 2279
HSDB 944
Hydrocarbons, C1-4
Hydrocarbons, C4-5
EINECS 203-448-7
UN1011
n-Butan
1,2-dimethyethane
1,2-dimethylethane
1,2-dimethyl-ethane
Butane, 99%
Freon 600
Butane or butane mixtures
n-Butane;Methylethylmethane
EC 203-448-7
CHEMBL134702
H-C4H9
INS NO.943
DTXSID7024665
E 943a
E-943a
INS-943
BCP32076
ZINC8214510
Butane 2000 microg/mL in Methanol
MFCD00009424
AKOS015917446
AKOS032949915
ZINC256080833
ZINC306122401
UN 1011
68476-42-6
68514-31-8
B0677
E-943
FT-0770500
R-600
C21390
D03186
Q134192
Butane or butane mixtures [UN1011] [Flammable gas]
Butane, fuel for Micro Torch, contains no CFC gases
UNII-5K616HU99V component IJDNQMDRQITEOD-UHFFFAOYSA-N
06005800-A997-4214-BF1C-5063E9E46167
ALKANE C4
BUTANE
BUTANES
N-BUTANE
Q GAS
QUENCH GAS
A-17
Bu-Gas
butane(liquefiedgas)
butane(non-specificname)
Butanen
Butani
butylhydride
Freon 600
hydrocarbonpropellanta-17
liquifiedpetroleumgas
Methylethylmethane
n-C4H10
pyrofax
r600

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