What is butyl acetate, and what is it used for?

10/01/99

Butyl acetate comes in four flavors:

http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/b6184.htm, n-butyl acetate (CH₃COOCH₂CH₂CH₂CH₃) is a colorless, flammable liquid that is often used in organic chemistry laboratories as a solvent. Industrially, n-butyl acetate is used in the manufacture of lacquers, artificial leather, photographic films, plastics, and safety glass. It has a pleasant, fruity odor (rather like pears), and it is used in the flavoring/fragrance industry as an artificial flavoring. At high concentrations (200 ppm+) it is toxic.

http://siri.uvm.edu/msds/mf/cards/file/0840.html,sec-butyl acetate (CH₃COOCH(CH₃)CH₂CH₃) is used as a

http://www.alfa.com/cgi-bin/odc_{webcat/jump.cgi?FILE=msds/A18330.html,t-butyl acetate} (CH3_COOC(CH3₎3_) is used as an industrial solvent. It has been added to gasoline since the 1960's to prevent engine knocking.

Related links

tert-Butyl Acetate (OSHA, US Dept. of Labor)

Recognition, evaluation, and health guidelines for TBAC.
http://www.osha-slc.gov/SLTC/healthguidelines/tertbutylacetate/ (10/01/99)

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu

Copyright © 1997-2001 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to senese@antoine.frostburg.edu
Last Revised 02/23/18.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101-hidden/organic/faq/butyl-acetate.shtml