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METHYL ETHYL KETONE (MEK)

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)

CAS Number: 78-93-3
Chemical formula: C4H8O
Molar mass: 72.107 g
EC number: 201-159-0

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a colorless liquid with a sharp, sweet odor.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is produced in large quantities.
Nearly half of its use is in paints and other coatings because it will quickly evaporate into the air and it dissolves many substances.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is also used in glues and as a cleaning agent.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) occurs as a natural product.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is made by some trees and found in some fruits and vegetables in small amounts.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is also released to the air from car and truck exhausts.

Methyl ethyl ketone is used as a solvent.
Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to methyl ethyl ketone in humans results in irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat.
Limited information is available on the chronic (long-term) effects of methyl ethyl ketone in humans. Chronic inhalation studies in animals have reported slight neurological, liver, kidney, and respiratory effects.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), is an organic compound with the formula CH3C(O)CH2CH3.
This colourless liquid ketone has a sharp, sweet odor reminiscent of acetone.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is produced industrially on a large scale, but occurs in nature only in trace amounts.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is partially soluble in water, and is commonly used as an industrial solvent.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is an isomer of another solvent, tetrahydrofuran.

Applications of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
As a solvent
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is an effective and common solvent and is used in processes involving gums, resins, cellulose acetate and nitrocellulose coatings and in vinyl films.
For this reason it finds use in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, in the production of paraffin wax, and in household products such as lacquer, varnishes, paint remover, a denaturing agent for denatured alcohol, glues, and as a cleaning agent.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) has similar solvent properties to acetone but boils at a higher temperature and has a significantly slower evaporation rate.
Unlike acetone, it forms an azeotrope with water, making it useful for azeotropic distillation of moisture in certain applications.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is also used in dry erase markers as the solvent of the erasable dye.

As a plastic welding agent
As Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) dissolves polystyrene and many other plastics, it is sold as "model cement" for use in connecting parts of scale model kits.
Though often considered an adhesive, it is actually functioning as a welding agent in this context.

Other uses of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is the precursor to methyl ethyl ketone peroxide, which is a catalyst for some polymerization reactions such as crosslinking of unsaturated polyester resins.
Dimethylglyoxime can be prepared from Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) first by reaction with ethyl nitrite to give diacetyl monoxime followed by conversion to the dioxime.

In the Peroxide process on producing hydrazine, the starting chemical ammonia is bonded to Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), oxidized by hydrogen peroxide, bonded to another ammonia molecule.

In the final step of the process, a hydrolysis produces the desired product hydrazine and regenerates the Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK).

Me(Et)C=NN=C(Et)Me + 2 H2O → 2 Me(Et)C=O + N2H4

Safety
Flammability of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) can react with most oxidizing materials, and can produce fires.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is moderately explosive, requiring only a small flame or spark to cause a vigorous reaction.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) fires should be extinguished with carbon dioxide, dry agents, or alcohol-resistant foam. Concentrations in the air high enough to be flammable are intolerable to humans due to the irritating nature of the vapor.

Health effects of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a constituent of tobacco smoke.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is an irritant, causing irritation to the eyes and nose of humans.
Serious health effects in animals have been seen only at very high levels. These included skeletal birth defects and low birth weight in mice, when they inhaled it at the highest dose tested (3000 ppm for 7 hours/day).

There are no long-term studies with animals breathing or drinking it, and no studies for carcinogenicity in animals breathing or drinking it.
There is some evidence that Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) can potentiate the toxicity of other solvents, in contrast to the calculation of mixed solvent exposures by simple addition of exposures.

As of 2010, some reviewers advised caution in using Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) because of reports of neuropsychological effects.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is listed as a Table II precursor under the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.

Regulation of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Emission of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) was regulated in the US as a hazardous air pollutant, because it is a volatile organic compound contributing to the formation of tropospheric (ground-level) ozone.
In 2005, the US Environmental Protection Agency removed Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) from the list of hazardous air pollutants (HAPs)

About Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is registered under the REACH Regulation and is manufactured in and / or imported to the European Economic Area, at ≥ 100 000 tonnes per annum.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used by consumers, by professional workers (widespread uses), in formulation or re-packing, at industrial sites and in manufacturing.

Consumer Uses of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following products: lubricants and greases, adhesives and sealants, coating products, anti-freeze products, polishes and waxes and fuels.
Other release to the environment of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) 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 as processing aid, 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).

Widespread uses by professional workers of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following products: coating products, washing & cleaning products, pH regulators and water treatment products, laboratory chemicals and lubricants and greases.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following areas: health services and scientific research and development.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used for the manufacture of: and chemicals. Other release to the environment of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is likely to occur from: outdoor use, 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) and outdoor use in close systems with minimal release (e.g. hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, lubricants in motor oil and break fluids).

Formulation or re-packing of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following products: photo-chemicals, coating products, laboratory chemicals, polymers and lubricants and greases.
Release to the environment of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) can occur from industrial use: formulation of mixtures, formulation in materials, in processing aids at industrial sites, as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates), of substances in closed systems with minimal release, manufacturing of the substance and in the production of articles.

Uses at industrial sites of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following products: coating products, inks and toners, laboratory chemicals, pH regulators and water treatment products, lubricants and greases and washing & cleaning products.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used for the manufacture of: chemicals.
Release to the environment of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) can occur from industrial use: in processing aids at industrial sites, of substances in closed systems with minimal release, formulation of mixtures, manufacturing of the substance and as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates).

Manufacture of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Release to the environment of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) can occur from industrial use: manufacturing of the substance, in processing aids at industrial sites, as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates), formulation of mixtures, formulation in materials, in the production of articles and of substances in closed systems with minimal release.

Appearance: Colorless liquid
Odor: Mint or acetone-like
Density: 0.8050 g/mL
Melting point: −86 °C (−123 °F; 187 K)
Boiling point: 79.64 °C (175.35 °F; 352.79 K)
Solubility in water: 27.5 g/100 mL
log P: 0.37
Vapor pressure: 78 mmHg (20 °C)
Acidity (pKa): 14.7
Magnetic susceptibility (χ): −45.58·10−6 cm3/mol
Refractive index (nD): 1.37880
Viscosity: 0.43 cP
Molecular Weight: 72.11
XLogP3: 0.3
Hydrogen Bond Donor Count: 0
Hydrogen Bond Acceptor Count: 1
Rotatable Bond Count: 1
Exact Mass: 72.057514874
Monoisotopic Mass: 72.057514874
Topological Polar Surface Area: 17.1 Å²
Heavy Atom Count: 5
Complexity: 38.9
Isotope Atom Count: 0
Defined Atom Stereocenter Count: 0
Undefined Atom Stereocenter Count: 0
Defined Bond Stereocenter Count: 0
Undefined Bond Stereocenter Count: 0
Covalently-Bonded Unit Count: 1
Compound Is Canonicalized: Yes

Methyl ethyl ketone appears as colorless fairly volatile liquid with a pleasant pungent odor.
Flash point 20°F.
Vapors heavier than air. Does not react with water or many common materials.
Stable in normal transportation. Irritates the nose, eyes, and throat. Combustion may produce toxic materials. Density 6.7 lb / gal. Used as a solvent, for making other chemicals, and for production of wax from petroleum.

Developmental effects, including decreased fetal weight and fetal malformations, have been reported in mice and rats exposed to methyl ethyl ketone via inhalation and ingestion.
EPA has classified methyl ethyl ketone as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity.
Methyl ethyl ketone (C4H8O or CH3CH3COCH2CH3) is a colorless, flammable liquid with a sharp odor. Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) can be harmful to the eyes, skin, and if inhaled or swallowed.
Workers may be harmed from exposure to methyl ethyl ketone.
The level of exposure depends upon the dose, duration, and work being done.

Methyl ethyl ketone is used in many industries.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used as a solvent and in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, paraffin wax, and to make other chemical products.
Some examples of workers at risk of being exposed to methyl ethyl ketone include the following:

Workers who work in printing plants
Employees exposed to certain paints, coatings, or glues
Workers who work in shoe and sporting goods factories
Manufacturing workers involved in making synthetic rubber products

Methyl ethyl ketone is used as a solvent.
Acute (short-term) inhalation exposure to methyl ethyl ketone in
humans results in irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat.
Limited information is available on the chronic
(long-term) effects of methyl ethyl ketone in humans.

Chronic inhalation studies in animals have reported
slight neurological, liver, kidney, and respiratory effects.
No information is available on the developmental,
reproductive, or carcinogenic effects of methyl ethyl ketone in humans.

Uses of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
The primary use of methyl ethyl ketone is as a solvent in processes involving gums, resins, cellulose
acetate, and cellulose nitrate.
Methyl ethyl ketone is also used in the synthetic rubber industry, in the production of paraffin wax, and in
household products such as lacquer and varnishes, paint remover, and glues.

Sources and Potential Exposure of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl ethyl ketone has been detected in both indoor and outdoor air. Methyl ethyl ketone can be
produced in outdoor air by the photooxidation of certain air pollutants, such as butane and other
hydrocarbons.
Methyl ethyl ketone has been found in drinking water and surface water at a number of sites.
Exposure to methyl ethyl ketone could also occur at the workplace and through exposure to household
products containing the chemical.

Assessing Personal Exposure of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Levels of methyl ethyl ketone in the urine can be measured to determine exposure to the chemical.

Health Hazard Information of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Acute Effects:
Acute exposure of humans to high concentrations of methyl ethyl ketone produces irritation to the eyes,
nose, and throat.

Other effects reported from acute inhalation exposure in humans include central nervous system
depression, headache, and nausea.
Dermatitis has been reported in humans following dermal exposure to methyl ethyl ketone.
Tests involving acute exposure of rabbits has shown methyl ethyl ketone to have high acute toxicity from
Tests involving acute exposure of rabbits has shown methyl ethyl ketone to have high acute toxicity from
dermal exposure, while acute oral exposure of rats and mice has shown the chemical to
have moderate toxicity from ingestion.
Acute inhalation tests in rats indicate low toxicity from methyl ethyl ketone exposure via inhalation.

Chronic Effects (Noncancer) of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK):
Limited information is available on the chronic effects of methyl ethyl ketone in humans from inhalation exposure.
One study reported nerve damage in individuals who sniffed a glue thinner containing methyl ethyl ketone and other chemicals.
Slight neurological, liver, kidney, and respiratory effects have been reported in chronic inhalation studies of methyl ethyl ketone in animals.

The Reference Concentration (RfC) for methyl ethyl ketone is 1 milligram per cubic meter (mg/m3) based on decreased fetal birth weight in mice.
The RfC is an estimate (with uncertainty spanning perhaps an order of magnitude) of a continuous inhalation exposure to the human population (including sensitive subgroups) that is likely to be without appreciable risk of deleterious noncancer effects during a lifetime.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is not a direct estimator of risk but rather a reference point to gauge the potential effects.
At exposures increasingly greater than the RfC, the potential for adverse health effects increases.
Lifetime exposure above the RfC does not imply that an adverse health effect would necessarily occur.
EPA has medium confidence in the principal study on which the RfC is based because it is well designed and tested several exposure concentrations and several endpoints of toxicity although there are insufficient data presented for possible respiratory effects; low confidence in the database because there are no multigenerational studies and only one subchronic study and portal-of-entry effects are not adequately addressed; and, consequently, confidence in the RfC is low.

The Reference Dose (RfD) for methyl ethyl ketone is 0.6 milligrams per kilogram body weight per day
(mg/kg/d) based on decreased fetal birth weight in rats.
EPA has low confidence in the study on which the RfD is based because lowering the high-dose group from 3.0 to 2.0% confounded determination of the critical effect; low confidence in the database because of the lack of oral data for Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) itself, the absence of data in a second species, and the lack of long-term metabolism data; and, consequently, low confidence in the RfD.

Reproductive/Developmental Effects of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK):
An inhalation study in mice exposed to methyl ethyl ketone reported decreased fetal weight and fetalmalformations.
Developmental effects have also been reported in rats following oral and inhalation exposures.
In a dermal carcinogenicity study, skin tumors were not reported from methyl ethyl ketone exposure.
EPA has classified methyl ethyl ketone as a Group D, not classifiable as to human carcinogenicity, based on a lack of data concerning carcinogenicity in humans and animals.

Physical Properties of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)
Methyl ethyl ketone is a colorless volatile liquid that is soluble in water.
The odor threshold for methyl ethyl ketone is 5.4 parts per million (ppm), with an acetone-like odor
reported.
The chemical formula for methyl ethyl ketone is C4H8O and the molecular weight is 72.10 g/mol.
The vapor pressure for methyl ethyl ketone is 95.1 mm Hg at 25 °C, and it has a log octanol/water partition coefficient (log Kow) of 0.261.

Conversion Factors:
To convert concentrations in air (at 25 °C) from ppm to mg/m3: mg/m3= (ppm) × (molecular weight of the compound)/(24.45).
For methy ethyl ketone: 1 ppm = 2.95 mg/m3.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone can affect you when breathed in and by passing through your skin.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone can irritate the skin causing a rash or burning feeling on contact.
Repeated exposure can cause drying and cracking of the skin.
Contact can severely irritate and burn the eyes, leading to permanent damage.
Breathing Methyl Ethyl Ketone can irritate the nose and throat causing coughing and wheezing.
Exposure can cause dizziness, lightheadedness, headache, nausea, blurred vision, and may cause you to pass out.
Repeated high exposure can damage the nervous system and may affect the brain.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a FLAMMABLE LIQUID and a FIRE HAZARD.

Colorless fairly volatile liquid with a pleasant pungent odor.
Flash point 20°F.
Vapors heavier than air.
Does not react with water or many common materials. Stable in normal transportation.
Irritates the nose, eyes, and throat.
Combustion may produce toxic materials.
Density 6.7 lb / gal.
Used as a solvent, for making other chemicals, and for production of wax from petroleum.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a clear volatile liquid that is soluble in water and has a mild, acetone odour.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone has the formula C4H8O.
Methyl ethyl ketone does occur naturally as it is biosynthesized by some trees and is also found in small amounts in some fruits and vegetables as well as in chicken, honey and a variety of cheeses.

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a relatively abundant but understudied oxygenated volatile organic compound that can serve as a source of both HOx and PAN when photooxidized.
We use aircraft observations of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) from the remote marine troposphere to show that the ocean serves as a source of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to the atmosphere during both meteorological winter and summer.
There is pronounced seasonality in the Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) profiles in the extratropical troposphere, with higher Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) mixing ratios observed in summer than in winter.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in clean air over the remote oceans correlates with both acetone and acetaldehyde, whose primary sources in the ocean water are the photooxidation of organic material.
We show that even a small (>1 nM) concentration of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in surface waters is sufficient to allow the ocean to be a net source of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to the atmosphere over ocean basins across multiple seasons.

Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is an abundant but understudied gas in Earth' atmosphere, which is emitted into the atmosphere from both human and natural sources.
When Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is broken apart by ultraviolet sunlight, the products released by those reactions play important roles in the formation and destruction of air pollution.
In this paper, we show that the oceans are a source of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to the atmosphere.
The oceanic emissions we document correlate strongly with some other gases that are known to be produced in the ocean but not those most closely associated with the growth of microscopic oceanic phytoplankton.
Finding this new source helps us better understand the importance of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to the atmosphere and provides guidance for future oceanic and atmospheric research.

Ketones are important to atmospheric oxidation because they are ubiquitous oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) that have a sufficiently long atmospheric lifetime to be transported to the upper troposphere.
There, photolysis of acetone (and other carbonyls such as CH2O) can serve as an additional source of hydroxyl radicals (HOx = OH + HO2) in a region where water vapor is scarce.
The significance of methyl ethyl ketone, the second most abundant atmospheric ketone, remains uncertain.
Similar to acetone, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) photolysis in the near-ultraviolet can produce HOx radicals and PAN precursors.

The number of HOx produced by photolysis of each Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in the upper troposphere should be comparable to or higher than that from each acetone molecule in this region.
The exact yield of HOx will depend on the concentration of NO and the quantum yields in the photolysis of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) at UT pressures and temperatures.
The sources of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) are not fully understood.
Known sources of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) include direct emissions from biomass burning and the terrestrial biosphere, as well as secondary production from the oxidation of anthropogenic alkanes.
Better quantification of the sources of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is needed to constrain the abundances, seasonality, and transport of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) throughout the atmosphere.

Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted from the ocean surface from a variety of biogenic and abiogenic sources.
Dimethyl sulfide (DMS), a crucial contributor to the global sulfur cycle and particle formation, is produced by phytoplankton in seawater.
The production of DMS is so tightly coupled to oceanic productivity that seabirds use it as a cue to find prey in the open ocean.
Other VOCs have primarily photochemical sources in the ocean: Acetaldehyde in the surface ocean has been shown to originate from the photolysis of chromophoric dissolved organic matter.

VOCs such as methyl nitrate (CH3ONO2) have potentially more complicated oceanic sources. While the primary oceanic production of methyl nitrate is likely to be the photolysis of CDOM, the distribution of methyl nitrate in the water column suggests the possibility of additional biological sources.
Acetone has been shown to have a large oceanic emission.

Acetone is known to be produced by CDOM photolysis in seawater, while biological production has been demonstrated in laboratory studies and is considered likely to occur in the ocean as well.
The two processes are not exclusively independent: In mesocosm experiments on phytoplankton blooms, Sinha et al. (2007) found that the largest fluxes of acetone occurred during the bloom decline phase, marked by relatively high phytoplankton abundance, with less acetone during the low-biomass post-bloom phase. Based on these findings, it is likely that Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) could also have varied oceanic sources.

Using data from CO-filtered air masses sampled in the ATom-1 and ATom-2 field campaigns, we provide evidence that the ocean is a source of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) to the atmosphere.
Outside the tropics, this source is more pronounced during summer than winter; less seasonality is observed in the tropics.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in the regions we examined is sometimes weakly correlated with DMS—a reliable tracer of marine biological activity.

Ocean-produced Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is strongly correlated with acetone and slightly less strongly correlated with acetaldehyde, which suggests the three species could share similar sources.
Acetone and Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) have similar abundances in the only existing measurements of both species in seawater, providing additional evidence of a similar source, and even a small concentration of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in surface seawaters results in a flux of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) out of the surface waters.

ATom observations suggest that Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) flux out of the ocean is >10% of that of acetone.
As Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) oxidation is a source of acetaldehyde in the troposphere, this oceanic Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) might serve as a source of acetaldehyde in regions where current sources fail to explain observations.
Quantification of the sources and sinks of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) in the oceans is needed to improve our understanding of Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) and its implications for global oxidation capacity.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) (Cs symmetry) can have hydrogens abstracted from the alpha methyl group (three equivalent hydrogens), the methylene bridge (two equivalent hydrogens) or the beta methyl group (three equivalent hydrogens).
The hydrogens of the methyl groups and methylene bridge can be abstracted via three and two separate pathways.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used as a solvent and for extractions in the pharmaceutical industry.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) acts as oxidant for the iridium-catalyzed oxidations of primary alcohols.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is useful for the catalytic transfer hydrogenation on MgO.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), belongs to the class of organic compounds known as ketones.
These are organic compounds in which a carbonyl group is bonded to two carbon atoms R2C=O (neither R may be a hydrogen atom).
Ketones that have one or more alpha-hydrogen atoms undergo keto-enol tautomerization, the tautomer being an enol.
Thus, butanone is considered to be an oxygenated hydrocarbon.

Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is an acetone, camphor, and ethereal tasting compound.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is found, on average, in the highest concentration within milk (cow) and peppermints (Mentha X piperita). Butanone has also been detected, but not quantified in, several different foods, such as japanese chestnuts (Castanea crenata), saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia), red onion, almonds (Prunus dulcis), and burbots (Lota lota).
This could make butanone a potential biomarker for the consumption of these foods.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a secondary metabolite.

Secondary metabolites are metabolically or physiologically non-essential metabolites that may serve a role as defense or signalling molecules.
In some cases they are simply molecules that arise from the incomplete metabolism of other secondary metabolites.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), with regard to humans, has been found to be associated with several diseases such as crohn's disease, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified, asthma, and ulcerative colitis; Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) has also been linked to the inborn metabolic disorder celiac disease.
Based on a literature review a significant number of articles have been published on Butanone.

Synonyms:
2-Butanone
METHYL ETHYL KETONE
Butan-2-one
Butanone
78-93-3
Ethyl methyl ketone
Methylethyl ketone
Meetco
Methyl acetone
Methylethylketone
3-Butanone
Ethylmethylketon
ethylmethylketone
Aethylmethylketon
Butanone 2
Acetone, methyl-
Ethyl methyl cetone
MEK
Ketone, ethyl methyl
Metiletilchetone
Metyloetyloketon
2-butanon
ethylmethyl ketone
Oxobutane
Methylethylketon
UNII-6PT9KLV9IO
methyl ethylketone
MFCD00011648
6PT9KLV9IO
C2H5COCH3
CHEBI:28398
Metyl ethyl ketone
methylacetone
Metiletilcetona
methyl-ethyl ketone
HSDB 99
methyl(ethyl) ketone
FEMA No. 2170
CCRIS 2051
EINECS 201-159-0
UN1193
n-butanone
AI3-07540
2-butanal
2-Oxobutane
ethyl methylketone
ethylmathyl ketone
methyl-ethylketone
methylethyl-ketone
butane-2-one
2 -butanone
2- butanone
butan-3-one
methyl etyl ketone
ethyl-methyl ketone
methyl ethyl cetone
methyl-ethyl-ketone
ethyl(methyl) ketone
Ketone, methyl ethyl
DSSTox_CID_1516
EC 201-159-0
DSSTox_RID_76193
DSSTox_GSID_21516
ASTM-D740
CHEMBL15849
DTXSID3021516
ZINC901514
Tox21_200041
LMFA12000043
STL146562
AKOS000118991
MCULE-8276670748
UN 1193
CAS-78-93-3
NCGC00090973-01
NCGC00090973-02
NCGC00257595-01
BP-30009
E0140
FT-0628728
C02845
A839534
Q372291
2-butanon
2-BUTANONA
2-BUTANONE
2-Butanone
2-butanone
2-Butanone
2-butanone
2-Butanone (Methyl ethyl ketone)
BUTAN-2-ONE
Butan-2-one
butan-2-one
Butan-2-one
butan-2-one
butane ethyl methyl ketone
butane-2-one
BUTANONE
Butanone
butanone
Butanone
butanone
Butanone (MEK)
Butanone / Ethyl Methyl Ketone
butanone ethyl methyl cétone
butanone ethyl methyl ketone
butanone-
butanone/ethyl methyl ketone
Butanone; Ethyl methyl ketone
butanone; ethyl methyl ketone
Ethyl methyl keton
ethyl methyl ketona
Ethyl Methyl Ketone
Ethyl methyl ketone
ethyl methyl ketone
Ethyl methyl ketone, MEK, Methyl ethyl
ketone
Ethylmethylketon
LINEAR POLYURETHANE
MEK (METHYL ETHYL KETONE), BUTANONE
METHYL ETHYL KETONE
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Methyl ethyl ketone
methyl ethyl ketone
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Methyl ethyl ketone
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
Methyl ethyl ketone (TK0012B)
Methyl ethyl ketone, Butanone
Methyl Ethyl KetoneMEKButanone
methyl ketone
Methylethyl ketone
Methylethylketon
methylethylketone
methylethylketone