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Butanone, also known as methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), is an organic compound with the formula CH3C(O)CH2CH3. This colourless liquid ketone has a sharp, sweet odour reminiscent of acetone. It is produced industrially on a large scale but occurs in nature only in trace amounts. It is partially soluble in water and is commonly used as an industrial solvent. It is an isomer of another solvent, tetrahydrofuran. Methyl ethyl ketone is a stable, highly flammable chemical. It is incompatible with oxidising agents, bases, and strong reducing agents. It is a colourless liquid with a sharp, sweet odour. Methyl ethyl ketone is produced in large quantities. It is used as a solvent and nearly half of its use is in paints and other coatings because it will quickly evaporate into the air and it dissolves many substances. It is also used in glues and as a cleaning agent.
CAS NO: 78-93-3
EC NUMBER: 201-159-0
IDENTIFICATION:
Methyl ethyl ketone (also known as 2-butanone) is a colourless, flammable liquid. It has a sweet odour like mint or acetone. Methyl ethyl ketone is very soluble in water.
USE:
Methyl ethyl ketone is mostly used as a solvent in paints, other coatings, glues and printing inks. It is also used in cleaning fluids and as a starting material to make other chemicals. Methyl ethyl ketone is also a natural product found in some fruits, vegetables and other foods. It is present in smoke from burning tobacco, wood or engine fuels.
Physical Description
Methyl ethyl ketone appears as a colourless fairly volatile liquid with a pleasant pungent odour. Flashpoint 20°F. Vapours 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 (MEK) is a colourless liquid with a sweet and sharp odour. It is soluble in alcohol, ether, acetone benzene, and water. It is a solvent often found in mixtures with acetone, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, toluene, or alcohols. It has applications in the surface coating industry and in the de-waxing of lubricating oils. Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is used in the manufacture of colourless synthetic resins, artificial leather, rubbers, lacquers, varnishes, and glues.
Chemical Properties
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a colourless liquid with an odour that has been described as moderately sharp, fragrant, peppermint or acetone like. It soluble in water up to 28% by weight and is miscible with many other organic solvents. The lower explosive limit is 1.4% and the upper explosive limit is 11.4%. Methyl ethyl ketone may be incompatible with strong oxidizers, amines, ammonia, inorganic acids, caustics, isocyanates, and pyridine.
Physical properties
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a clear, colourless, volatile, very flammable liquid with a sweet, mint or acetone-like odour. Odour threshold concentration is 10.0 ppmv (Leonardos et al., 1969). Experimentally determined detection and recognition odour threshold concentrations were 5.8 mg/m3 (2.0 ppmv) and 16 mg/m3 (5.4 ppmv), respectively (Hellman and Small, 1974). It is incompatible with oxidizing agents, bases, and strong reducing agents. It is a colourless liquid with a sharp, sweet odour. Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is produced in large quantities. It is used as a solvent and nearly half of its use is in paints and other coatings because it quickly evaporates into the air and it dissolves many substances. It is also used in glues and as a cleaning agent.
Occurrence
Reported found as an impurity among products from the dry distillation of wood and in the oil (extracted with ether) of black tea; it is also present in coffee, cheese, bread, some citrus oils and some other natural products (grape, raspberry).
Uses
Methyl ethyl ketone (2-butanone, ethyl methyl ketone, methyl acetone) is an organic solvent of relatively low toxicity, which is found in many applications. It is used in industrial and commercial products as a solvent for adhesives, paints, and cleaning agents and as a de-waxing solvent. A natural component of some foods, methyl ethyl ketone can be released into the environment by volcanoes and forest fires. It is used in the manufacture of smokeless powder and colourless synthetic resins, as a solvent, and in surface coating. It is also used as a flavouring substance in food.
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is an eye irritant that has been used as a water-soluble photoinitiator for the photopolymerization of methacrylic acid (MAA). As solvent; in the surface coating industry; manufacture of smokeless powder; colourless synthetic resins.
Definition
A dialkyl ketone is a four-carbon ketone carrying a single keto- group at position C-2.
A colourless volatile liquid ketone. It is manufactured by the oxidation of butane and used as a solvent.
Preparation
By catalytic dehydrogenation of secondary butyl alcohol; by dehydration of butane-2,3-diol by refluxing with 25% aqueous H2SO4. Industrially, it is also prepared by controlled oxidation of butane, by dry distillation of calcium acetate and calcium propionate, or by refluxing methyl acetoacetate and diluted H2SO4.
Production Methods
Methyl ethyl ketone is commercially manufactured from nbutene in a metal-catalyzed hydrogenation reaction that proceeds through the intermediate formation of 2-butanol. The second method of synthesis involves the liquid-phase oxidation of n-butane with the formation of acetic acid as a coproduct.
Production
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) may be produced by the oxidation of 2-butanol. The dehydrogenation of 2-butanol using a catalyst is catalyzed by copper, zinc, or bronze:
CH3CH(OH)CH2CH3 → CH3C(O)CH2CH3 + H2
This is used to produce approximately 700 million kilograms yearly. Other syntheses that have been examined but not implemented include Wacker oxidation of 2-butene and oxidation of isobutyl benzene, which is analogous to the industrial production of acetone. The cumene process can be modified to produce phenol and a mixture of acetone and Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) instead of only phenol and acetone in the original.
Both liquid-phase oxidation of heavy naphtha and the Fischer-Tropsch reaction produce mixed oxygenate streams, from which Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is extracted by fractionation.
Applications 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. It 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.
Applications 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
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 of 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, hydrolysis produces the desired product hydrazine and regenerates the Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
Consumer Uses
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following products: lubricants and greases, coating products, anti-freeze products, adhesives and sealants and polishes and waxes.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used in the following products: coating 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, scientific research and development and printing and recorded media reproduction.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is used for the manufacture of chemicals and machinery and vehicles.
Another 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 the minimal release (e.g. cooling liquids in refrigerators, oil-based electric heaters) and outdoor use in close systems with the minimal release (e.g. hydraulic liquids in automotive suspension, lubricants in motor oil and brake fluids).
Formulation or re-packing
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, the 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 the minimal release, manufacturing of the substance and in the production of articles.
Uses at industrial sites
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 the minimal release, formulation of mixtures, manufacturing of the substance and as an intermediate step in further manufacturing of another substance (use of intermediates).
Manufacture
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, the formulation in materials, in the production of articles and of substances in closed systems with the minimal release.
USES
The primary use of methyl ethyl ketone is as a solvent in processes involving gums, resins, cellulose acetate, and cellulose nitrate.
As organic solvent; in the surface coating industry; manufacture of smokeless powder; colourless synthetic resins.
Areas of application are the production of paints, lacquers, varnishes, paint thinners and removers, adhesives, cement, sealants, magnetic tapes, artificial leather, transparent paper, printing inks, cleaner for electronic equipment, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals; degreasing of metal surfaces; extraction of fats, oils, waxes, natural resins; dewaxing of mineral oils or lube oils. Additionally, it is used as a synthetic flavouring agent in foods and pharmaceuticals and as a sterilizer for bacterial spores on surgical instruments, hypodermic needles and syringes, and dental instruments manufacturing of smokeless powder.
In contrast to its uses as a solvent, use as a chemical feedstock is of minor importance despite the great number of possible reactions; however, condensation with formaldehyde to obtain methyl isopropenyl ketone, auto condensation to form ethyl amyl ketone, and mixed condensation with acetone to obtain methyl amyl ketone are of interest. Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is used to produce perfumes, antioxidants, catalysts, peroxides, and diacetal.
The perfume industry reacts Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) with citral to obtain perfume components such as methylpseudoionone.
As Agent for soaking up liquid
General adhesives and binding agents for a variety of uses.
Additive for products to promote hardening, used in paints and varnishes, plastics, etc.
Adhesion of molecules to a surface
Relating to agriculture, including the raising and farming of animals and growing of crops
Products used on crops, or related to the growing of crops
Used to prevent adhesion
Antifreezing agents, or de-icing products
Spray powder used to make air gap between printed sheets of paper
Power steering fluids, transmission fluids, brake fluids, fuel injector cleaners, gas treatments, or leak stoppers (spray or aerosol formulation specified)
Related to the maintenance and repair of automobiles, products for cleaning and caring for automobiles (auto shampoo, polish/wax, undercarriage treatment, brake grease)
Binding agents, used in paint, sand, etc
Bricks or related to bricklaying/masonry
Plumbing, plumbing tools
Roofing materials or roofing activities
Materials used in the building process, such as flooring, insulation, caulk, tile, wood, glass, etc.
Fillers for paints, textiles, plastics, etc
Additive for products to promote hardening, used in paints and varnishes, plastics, etc.
Caulk, mortar, or putty compounds
The wood used as a building material, wood preservatives
Chemicals in cigarettes, or tobacco-related products, or related to the manufacturing of tobacco products
Industry Uses
Abrasives
Adhesives and sealant chemicals
Corrosion inhibitors and anti-scaling agents
Fillers
Fuels and fuel additives
Functional fluids (closed systems)
Intermediates
Laminate/Prepreg mfg.
Lubricants and lubricant additives
Paint additives and coating additives not described by other categories
Photosensitive chemicals
Plating agents and surface treating agents
Process regulators
Processing aids, not otherwise listed
Reseller
Solvents (for cleaning and degreasing)
Solvents (which become part of product formulation or mixture)
Consumer Uses
Adhesives and sealants
Anti-freeze and de-icing products
Arts, crafts, and hobby materials
Automotive care products
Building/construction materials not covered elsewhere
Cleaning and furnishing care products
Electrical and electronic products
Fabric, textile, and leather products not covered elsewhere
Floor coverings
Ink, toner, and colorant products
Internal Use, Abrasives, Toll Blending
Lubricants and greases
Metal products not covered elsewhere
Paints and coatings
Personal care products
Photographic supplies, film, and photo chemicals
Plastic and rubber products not covered elsewhere
Water treatment products
General Manufacturing Information
Industry Processing Sectors
Adhesive manufacturing
All other basic organic chemical manufacturing
All other chemical product and preparation manufacturing
Computer and electronic product manufacturing
Construction
Fabricated metal product manufacturing
Furniture and related product manufacturing
Miscellaneous manufacturing
Nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing (includes clay, glass, cement, concrete, lime, gypsum, and other nonmetallic mineral product manufacturing.
Oil and gas drilling, extraction, and support activities
Paint and coating manufacturing
Paper manufacturing
Petrochemical manufacturing
Petroleum lubricating oil and grease manufacturing
Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing
Photographic film paper, plate, and chemical manufacturing
Plastic material and resin manufacturing
Plastics product manufacturing
Primary metal manufacturing
Printing and related support activities
Printing ink manufacturing
Rubber product manufacturing
Soap, cleaning compound, and toilet preparation manufacturing
Spent Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), combined with other recovered solvents, is sold as a mixed-solvent waste stream to recyclers. The primary recycler stated the mixed solvent stream is used as paint thinner and as a wash solvent.
Textiles, apparel, and leather manufacturing
Transportation equipment manufacturing
Wholesale and retail trade
Methyl ethyl ketone (butanone) is an industrial solvent produced on a large scale. It is used in surface coatings, adhesives, printing inks, chemical intermediates, magnetic tapes, and lube oil dewaxing agents. Methyl ethyl ketone has a fruity odor similar to acetone. It is used as a flavor/fragrance agent in pharmaceuticals and cosmetics.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a specialty thinner for epoxies, lacquers and adhesives, as well as polyester resins used in fiberglass repairs.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is a fast evaporating and extremely flammable solvent, so it should be handled with care.
MEK is slower drying than acetone and can also be used as an effective remover for ink, adhesives and contact cement.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a strong, fast-drying solvent and degreaser. MEK is effective at thinning acrylics, lacquers, polyester and epoxy resins, fibreglass resins, adhesives, and ink or for cleaning up adhesives, fibreglass repair tools, dried latex paint, and lacquer.
Methyl ethyl ketone is a solvent with a strong sharp odour.
Methyl ethyl ketone has great solvency and is recommended as a thinner for system involving nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate, vinyl film and many rubbers.
Also, Methyl ethyl ketone can be used as a high-quality gun wash.
Methyl ethyl ketone is used as a solvent in the manufacture of adhesives, protective coatings, inks and magnetic tapes.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is also the preferred extraction solvent for dewaxing lube oil
Methyl ethyl ketone, also known as 2-butanone, is a colourless organic liquid with an acetone-like odour and a low boiling point
Methyl ethyl ketone is partially miscible with water and many conventional organic solvents and forms azeotropes with a number of organic liquids.
Methyl ethyl ketone is distinguished by its exceptional solvency, which enables it to formulate higher-solids protective coatings
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a colourless, volatile, highly flammable liquid with a fruity odour similar to acetone. Other common names are butanone, 2-butanone and methyl acetone.
Methyl ethyl ketone is produced industrially in large quantities and is mainly used as a solvent in protective coatings.
Methyl ethyl ketone is also used as a solvent for paints, plastics, adhesives, printing inks and pesticides.
Methyl ethyl ketone is used in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and as a flavour/fragrance agent.
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is a fast evaporating polar solvent widely used in zinc rich coatings and as part of reducer blends.
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is used for thinning most types of lacquers, nitrocellolose, acrylic, butyrate and coatings based on vinyl solution and epoxy resins.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is used for cleaning equipment, diluting paint, and other industrial tasks.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone evaporates slower than acetone. Methyl Ethyl Ketone works as an extraction medium for fats, oils, waxes, and resins.
MEK (Methyl Ethyl Ketone), also known under the name Butanone, offers strong solvency and fast evaporative properties. They are not listed as a hazardous air pollutant under U.S. EPA regulations.
Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is used for solutions of coating, adhesive and ink resins (polyurethane, polyester, acrylic, cellulose, polychloroprene), and for paint stripper formulations. Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)’s fast evaporation properties make it a good solvent. It is a key fluid in formulating polychloroprene adhesives, especially as a replacement for toluene, and is a component of many gravure printing inks.
Major end-users of Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) include protective coating solvents (61 percent), adhesives (13 percent), and magnetic tapes (10 percent).
Vinyls are the primary resins that employ Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) as a solvent. Methyl ethyl ketone is commonly used as a solvent in rubber cements, as well as in natural and synthetic resins for adhesive use.
It is also the preferred extraction solvent for dewaxing lube oil and is used in printing inks.
Overall, the projected use of Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is expected to gradually decline during the 1990s.
The growing trend towards water-based, higher-solids, and solventless protective coatings, inks, and adhesives should reduce the demand for Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK).
The installation of solvent recycling facilities will also reduce requirements for fresh solvent production.
Although Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is favored as a solvent due to its low density, low viscosity, and high solvency, its recent addition on the EPA’s hazardous air pollutants list will likely cause potential users to consider other comparative solvents such as ethyl acetate.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone also known as Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is mostly used as a liquid solvent in paints, other coatings, glues and printing inks.
It is also used in cleaning fluids and as a starting material to make other chemicals. Methyl Ethyl Ketone is also a natural product found in some fruits, vegetables and other foods.
It is a highly efficient and versatile solvent for surface coatings.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is especially valuable in formulating high solids coatings, which help to reduce emissions from coating operations.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a natural component of many foods, including apple juice, beans, chicken, honey and a variety of cheeses.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK) is designed exclusively for the thinning of industrial maintenance coatings.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is similar to acetone but evaporates more slowly.
IUPAC NAMES:
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
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
MethylethylketoneMEK
Reaction mass of ethanol and ethylbenzene and toluene and xylene and Solvent naphtha (petroleum), heavy arom.
UPV16
