Looking back, N-Butyl Acetate traces its commercial usage to the early part of the 20th century, rising up with the paint and coatings boom. Chemists saw a demand for solvents that pulled their weight both in evaporation rate and compatibility with resins. Factories flocked to this ester because it played nicely with nitrocellulose, made life easier for paint makers, and opened up options for consumer goods. Chemical companies leaned on a relatively straightforward route, the esterification of acetic acid with n-butanol, which holds up today as big producers string together modern reactors and purity standards. You can almost smell those early industrial labs—acetic acid tang, the heavier aroma of butanol—a scene repeated in countless plants across Europe and the United States as demand ramped up decade by decade.
N-Butyl Acetate lands on shelves as a clear, colorless liquid with a fruity, banana-like odor that makes it stand out from other industrial chemicals. It goes by the formula C6H12O2, and you find it not just in industrial barrels but in traces across ripe fruit. Manufacturers market it as a solvent for coatings, lacquers, and inks, but its reach extends to pharmaceuticals and as an extraction agent. The product stays in demand because users want a fast-drying, non-greasy solution, and N-Butyl Acetate doesn’t disappoint.
Physically, N-Butyl Acetate brings a moderate boiling point at about 126°C, and it spreads a low viscosity, making stirring and mixing straightforward in manufacturing settings. Density sticks close to 0.88 g/cm3 at room temperature. Its vapor pressure hovers around 10 mmHg at 20°C—enough to make it volatile, but not so much that it vanishes in a flash compared to lighter esters. Chemical stability stays strong under typical handling, and it avoids water solubility, preferring instead to mix in with other organics. This balance serves formulators looking for a solvent that won’t run off or evaporate too quickly under normal process temperatures.
Producers package N-Butyl Acetate within tightly-defined technical specs: GC purity usually clears 99%, water content drops below 0.1%, and acid content stays under tight control. Labels on drums and containers warn about its flammability, feature the familiar “flammable liquid” symbol, and stack up required hazard statements about eye, skin, and inhalation risks. Transportation falls under UN 1123, framing it as a regulated flammable liquid, so shipping practices stay strict. If an operator sees “n-butyl acetate, high purity” or similar on a spec sheet, there’s a good chance their supplier tested every batch for residual acidity and metal traces to avoid surprises during use.
The backbone of N-Butyl Acetate production draws from Fischer esterification. Chemists combine acetic acid and n-butanol in the presence of a strong acid catalyst—often sulfuric acid—and heat the mix to push the reaction. Distillation steps in next, spinning out product from excess reactants and water thanks to the boiling point gap. Producers running a continuous operation catch efficiencies, recycling unreacted feed and wringing out every possible kilogram. Many plants run this reaction 24/7, since reliability and simplicity drive factory economics.
N-Butyl Acetate steps into many reaction schemes thanks to its functional groups. Hydrolysis returns it to butanol and acetic acid in the presence of water and acid or base. Under certain conditions, it enters transesterification, exchanging its butyl group for another alcohol. In the world of coatings, it doesn’t just dissolve stuff—it can take part in crosslinking reactions given the right partners, especially in two-component paints. In research labs, its reactivity lets chemists swap acyl or alkyl bits under controlled setups, modifying substrates for pharmaceuticals or specialty polymers. This versatility keeps it from sticking to just one role.
Walk into any chemical warehouse and you’ll hear N-Butyl Acetate called by a whole roll-call of names: Butyl ethanoate, 1-butyl acetate, acetic acid butyl ester, and other trade monikers like Butacel or Celban. Sometimes product codes appear, stamped by legacy producers or supply chain partners, but at the root it’s the same liquid ester tucked away in a range of brand labels. Knowing this brew of synonyms helps avoid expensive cross-orders or confusion in paperwork, especially across borders and regulatory environments.
Handling N-Butyl Acetate calls for respect. Its flashing point sits at 22°C, so fire risk isn’t theoretical—it’s real in busy environments. Operators wear splash goggles, gloves, and work in ventilated spaces. OSHA in the US, REACH in Europe, and other bodies line up clear exposure limits, keeping time-weighted average levels around 150 ppm. Emergency procedures include foam or CO2 fire extinguishing, not water sprays that could spread flames. Spills demand attention for both fire and environmental containment, since solvent fumes have an easy time finding low-lying spaces and ignition points.
N-Butyl Acetate makes its mark in a long list of industries. Paints and coatings lean on it for controlled evaporation and gloss, and printers run presses loaded with inks that carry butyl acetate to deliver precise drying times. Glues and adhesives appreciate its balance—fast enough to set quick, not so fast that it clogs up machinery. Labs lean on it as an extraction and purification solvent, while perfumers find its fruity odor handy as both a fixer and diluent in select products. Leather and textiles use it for finishing, striking the right surface balance. In daily life, its distinct smell sometimes signals everything from nail polish removers to automotive touch-up bottles, bridging industrial chemistry and consumer routines.
The world’s chemical developers keep digging for greener production pathways and lower-toxicity mixtures. Some labs look at bio-based butanol sources, starting with corn or biomass to sidestep oil dependency and cut back on carbon footprints. Others test catalysts that handle higher throughputs, finding ways to wring out byproducts or switch downstream purification from multi-step distillation to clever membrane separation. Electrochemical and enzymatic synthesis methods spring up, aiming for cleaner energy profiles and less aggressive conditions. For blends in coatings, R&D folks trial additives that cut down on overall solvent content in products without losing performance, blending technical needs with growing environmental regulations.
Health studies keep a close watch on N-Butyl Acetate exposure, looking at both acute and chronic effects. Short exposures to high vapor levels can irritate eyes, nose, and throat, and sustained or heavy exposure in confined settings impacts central nervous system function. Animal studies map out metabolic breakdown, showing the compound working through hydrolysis and oxidation pathways in mammals. Regulatory agencies set occupational limits based on both workplace air monitoring and medical research, aiming to back up safety protocols with up-to-date toxicological findings. Long-term use research goes on, especially as makers explore alternative solvents with an even smaller toxicological imprint. Sweat and solvents both show up in plant logs—this balancing act stays ongoing.
Looking forward, N-Butyl Acetate companies map out paths toward bio-based feedstocks and sustainable chemistry, responding to both policy changes and customer pressure. Market trends show a growing appetite for lower-VOC and less hazardous alternatives, yet the unique drying and solvency slots filled by N-Butyl Acetate keep it relevant in many top-tier coatings and adhesive applications. Researchers focus not just on replacement but on incremental improvements in batch purification, waste handling, and closed-loop systems. Automation enters the picture, letting bigger producers cut labor risk and cut down on exposure incidents. While regulations may keep tightening, industrial and lab experience with this solvent, built up over decades, arms users with pragmatic safety and handling know-how, even as cleaner options and greener reactions develop. Keeping an eye on both regulation and technical innovation will decide how N-Butyl Acetate fits into the next generation of solvents.
Step inside any paint store, and you’re surrounded by the impact of N-Butyl Acetate, even if the average shopper doesn’t recognize the name. This clear liquid serves as a solvent in many paints and coatings. It manages to dissolve a range of ingredients that otherwise wouldn’t mix. It keeps paint workable and smooth as you roll it on a wall or brush it across furniture. This helps people achieve that clean, streak-free coat everyone wants—no matter if the project’s at home or in a car workshop.
Walk past a line of parked cars. Each one’s finish relies on even blending and fast drying. N-Butyl Acetate does both jobs: it keeps the paint easy to spray, then evaporates at just the right rate to avoid runs or bubbles. As someone who’s watched automotive painters at work, I’ve seen how much they rely on this process. If the solvent evaporates too fast or too slow, the car just doesn’t look right. You can spot cheap paint jobs a mile away when the balance isn’t there.
The applications stretch far beyond paints. Factories use N-Butyl Acetate to clean equipment and machinery. I’ve seen people in manufacturing plants scrub away tough adhesives and inks with it because it cuts through stubborn residue that other cleaning agents can’t touch. In electronics, it helps produce printed circuit boards. The chemical’s reliability has made it an essential tool for both cleaners and engineers.
Even nail salons depend on it. If you’ve ever enjoyed a fresh manicure, there’s a good chance this chemical helped keep the polish thin and smooth as the technician worked. I know people who can tell the difference when salons use inferior solvents; the result doesn’t last as long, or the coat becomes clumpy and brittle. By keeping polish workable, N-Butyl Acetate plays a quiet but important role in beauty routines.
Despite its helpful qualities, N-Butyl Acetate has a darker side. The fumes build up quickly in enclosed spaces. Breathing these in can irritate the nose or eyes, and sometimes more serious symptoms can follow if exposure is high. I’ve felt the sting after spending too long in a workshop without enough ventilation. Because of this, companies and hobbyists both need to take real care—open windows, use fans, or wear the right masks. It’s not worth cutting corners where health’s concerned.
Some companies have started hunting for alternatives that get the job done with fewer risks. Water-based formulas are slowly taking over in paints, but old habits die hard in industries where change means re-training workers and adjusting product lines. Finding a drop-in replacement for a solvent that’s cheap and reliable takes real effort. It’s a lesson in how deep chemical choices run through the economy. Every new product on the market gets weighed against safety, price, and how well it performs on the job.
As society gets more conscious of workplace safety and environmental impact, N-Butyl Acetate stands at a crossroads. People have more tools to deal with its risks now—better information, protective gear, and safer workplace rules. But the demand for paints, coatings, and clean manufacturing isn’t going anywhere. Until perfect substitutes show up, this solvent will stay woven into everyday products. The challenge isn’t just finding what works, but making changes feel worthwhile across small workshops, big factories, and homes alike.
Folks sometimes get too casual around chemicals like N-Butyl Acetate. Maybe you’ve seen someone splash it around a paint shop or use it for cleaning without thinking twice. It’s easy to slip into that kind of routine, especially if the fumes don’t burn your nose or make your eyes water right away. But this clear, fruity-smelling liquid packs risks. In small doses, it can cause headaches, dizziness, and irritation. A heavy spill or prolonged exposure brings respiratory trouble and, if skin contact happens too often, chemical burns or nerve issues aren’t out of the question.
People working in printing, coatings, or furniture factories see N-Butyl Acetate all the time, but a surprising number take shortcuts. I’ve witnessed techs mixing solvents in open barrels with their faces right over the dip, or a carpenter cleaning a brush indoors without a window open. Home DIYers trust that a pair of dusty gloves will do the trick – until they wake up with a pounding headache and wonder what went wrong. It sounds basic, but shortcuts chip away at health until something gives out. Safety isn’t about paranoia, it’s about staying able to work and support your family tomorrow, not just today.
No one’s thrilled to put on gloves, goggles, or masks in a sweaty shop or garage. Add in heavy-duty aprons and everyone groans. Still, cheap gloves disintegrate and regular cloth masks don’t keep out solvent vapors. Nitrile gloves stand up to this chemical. Well-fitted splash goggles keep accidents from turning into eye emergencies. An organic vapor cartridge mask stops those sneaky fumes from pounding the lungs and brain. Ventilation ranks just as high as personal gear. I’ve helped set up shops where a box fan in a window dropped headaches overnight. Nobody needs a five-figure exhaust system for smaller jobs, just consistent fresh air keeps fumes from building up indoors.
I remember a colleague who always moved spills straight outside and cleaned with absorbent pads, not rags. No trace of oil-soaked towels warming on a radiator or puddles left overnight. One small habit: he put away open containers before lunch, not after. These steps kept the workspace clean, but more importantly, cut the risk of fires and accidental exposure to just about zero. N-Butyl Acetate flashes to vapor at temperatures a warm summer day can reach. Static sparks around open containers or careless smoking can spark trouble. Taking a minute to return chemicals to sealed storage saves a world of hurt.
Label every bottle. Keep clean water and an eye wash kit around. Train anyone who comes near your workspace. If something feels off – strong smell, headache, dizziness – everyone takes a break. Not because it’s a rule, but because a clear head and steady hands mean you’re around for the next paycheck or weekend project. Regulations and Material Safety Data Sheets (SDS) offer guidelines, but in my experience, a culture of double-checking and looking out for each other matters even more. Small acts, like reminding a coworker to pull on gloves or propping open a door, do more than any sign on the wall.
No one needs superhero reflexes to stay safe. Just a bit of care, the right gear, clear labels, and some disciplined habits. If you look after the basics, you’ll find accidents rare. Your health is worth better handling every single time N-Butyl Acetate hits your hands or workspace.
N-Butyl acetate carries the chemical formula C6H12O2 and weighs in at 116.16 g/mol. That name might sound like something for chemists alone, but you probably brush up against this substance more often than expected. Open a can of nail polish or a fresh coat of paint, and that sharp, fruity smell floating up? N-butyl acetate at work.
A lot of folks look at ingredients on cans, bottles, and those long sheets tucked in packaging, and their eyes glaze over. But knowing what’s inside helps us make better decisions. N-butyl acetate makes things dry faster, keeps paints running smoothly off the brush, and delivers that crisp finish on surfaces. The smallest difference in solvent quality, at the molecular level, can wreck a paint job or cause products to clump, separate, or leave streaks. Talking to a furniture painter, it always comes up—certain brands perform better, and almost always, the quiet hero is this little molecule.
With a weight of 116.16 g/mol, manufacturers can calculate how much to use to thin out heavy paints or create the right evaporation rates for nail polish removers. Too much solvent, and finishes dry splotchy. Not enough, and nothing smooths out. It isn’t just chemists who worry about this; small business owners mixing their own products, hobbyists working on crafts, and even school art departments find themselves running out to pick up more—butyl acetate for everyday use.
Using n-butyl acetate demands care. Breathing in the vapor on a daily basis, especially without enough fresh air, strains lungs and gives headaches—a lesson learned too late by more than a few workers. Statistics tell the story: the CDC notes that regular exposure in closed spaces can cause eye and throat irritation, dizziness, and drowsiness. Factories and workshops benefit from proper ventilation systems. Even at home, cracking a window or using a fan makes a difference.
Disposal presents another challenge. Poured down the drain or tossed in regular trash, these chemicals seep into the water table and take a toll on local wildlife. Community hazardous waste collection events become a lifeline for responsible disposal. Local governments can help with drop-off sites and free cleanup days, letting everyone pitch in to protect water and soil.
Alternatives exist. Some manufacturers explore bio-based solvents that lean on plants instead of petrochemicals. There's a growing interest in cleaner, greener ingredients, especially as consumers ask more questions and hold brands accountable. Small changes, like clearer labeling and honest safety info, help everyone make smarter purchases. In my own circles, conversations have shifted—people pay closer attention, and teachers run ventilation or look for gentler substitutes for school projects.
The next time a list of ingredients flashes by or that distinctive paint-shop scent hits, it’s worth remembering: every chemical has a story, a purpose, and a set of choices in how it gets used. N-butyl acetate might seem like a boring detail for a label, but it’s a key part of daily life—right down to the last molecule.
N-Butyl acetate pops up in a lot of industries—paint, coatings, inks, adhesives. It stays popular because it dries without a fuss and leaves a clean finish, but there’s nothing casual about the way it needs to be kept. Having worked in shops and small facilities where solvents lie around, I’ve seen firsthand what can happen if you treat this liquid like just another cleaning solution.
Just because it pours clear doesn't make it harmless. This liquid catches fire at a much lower temperature than you’d expect, so tossing a drum next to a furnace or sunlight streaming through a window isn’t just lazy, it’s dangerous. A flame, a spark, even static electricity can turn a careless moment into a disaster. The lesson here comes mostly from the accidents that people whisper about after the fact, where someone stacked containers in the wrong corner and paid dearly for it.
As soon as someone spills a little n-butyl acetate, the sweet, fruity smell runs through the building. To some it’s a nostalgic whiff, but the truth is less charming. Inhalation messes with your central nervous system. Dizziness and headaches pile up before you realize what’s happening. Let the storage area breathe, and you’ll keep your crew and visitors a lot safer. In older warehouses where the only airflow came from an open loading dock, headaches and short tempers used to sneak up on us. Running new ducts changed that story fast.
Companies often send n-butyl acetate in drums or steel cans, which work fine as long as they stay sealed. Let one leak sit, and the fumes work their way into the air. Over time, seals wear down and caps come loose, sometime from rough handling or dropping. I can’t count the number of arguments over whether to scrap slightly dented containers, but the truth is simple—replace them or risk bigger problems. Stainless steel or approved plastic hold up under daily use and don't react with the liquid.
Extreme heat kicks off evaporation, whether it’s 90 degrees outside or an old heater running all winter. The liquid turns to vapor, and that vapor collects in the air until any spark finds it. Cold doesn't help much either—it can mess with the liquid’s consistency and even break open a container if it freezes. Keeping everything in a spot with a steady, moderate temperature turns out less dramatic but much safer for everyone involved.
More than once, I’ve reached for a jug with a peeling label and hoped it was what I thought. Clear, standardized labels don’t just keep inspectors quiet—they stop costly mistakes. I’ve watched new hires grab the wrong drum for mixing, and the panic that follows comes from a simple oversight. Well-made labels with hazard warnings, handling instructions, and emergency numbers help everyone stay on the same page.
It feels easy to let sprinklers or extinguishers gather dust. A fire in the wrong storage spot grows fast and jumps from one drum to the next. Facilities that took monthly checks seriously never had to scramble when alarms went off. Simple things like grounding metal containers, keeping extinguishers nearby, and avoiding open flames near solvent storage pay off over and over.
People often shoulder storage duties without real instruction. I learned early on that a lazy walkthrough didn’t cut it—real training sticks better than a faded safety poster. Regular refreshers, hands-on demonstrations, and open talks about near-misses give everyone a better shot at safe handling. No one leaves work hoping to be the lesson in "what went wrong."
You can cross paths with N-butyl acetate almost daily without even realizing it. This clear, fruity-smelling liquid hides in paint, nail polish, and even some cleaning supplies. I’ve spent years painting rooms and refinishing furniture, and every time I’ve opened a can or cleaned a brush, I’ve probably inhaled some of it. Simple as it seems, that faint, sweet odor signals more than a job well done—it means chemicals floating in the air. Spend an afternoon with windows closed, and your nose tingles and your head gets heavy. N-butyl acetate works fast on surfaces, but the body feels it too.
Any exposure above a mild sniff carries a price. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists headaches, dizziness, and respiratory irritation among the common side effects of inhaling its vapors. After a tough day repainting an old garage, I’ve felt a pounding head and burning eyes, and chalked it up to the job. In truth, it’s this solvent acting as an irritant. Longer exposures, especially at work without proper ventilation, spark more severe symptoms—fatigue, confusion, even nausea. Masks help, but once the air gets heavy with that particular smell, the body feels it.
If spilled, N-butyl acetate doesn’t just disappear. It evaporates easily, floating up as invisible vapor. Outdoors, in heavy use or by accidental spill, the solvent travels and can hang stubbornly under still conditions. This isn’t just a personal health risk. My neighbor once mentioned seeing oily patches lingering outside a local auto shop—the solvents weren’t just gone, they burned into the atmosphere, and rain sent them washing along the gutter and toward drains. Once in groundwater, this chemical doesn’t hang around for years, but for the time it’s present, it stresses fish and aquatic insects. The Environmental Protection Agency points to mild toxicity for wildlife, yet even mild effects add up when the chemical gets everywhere.
Household projects seem harmless until headache sets in or a family pet noses around a spill. If left open, N-butyl acetate evaporates fast, loading the air and irritating not just humans but other creatures that share our living spaces. I’ve learned that even quick jobs need an open window and a fan, especially where kids or pets play. Over time, those minor exposures might not stack up to lasting harm, but the risks come easily—fumes and spills linger long after the job looks done.
The clearest answer to the risks of N-butyl acetate is reducing exposure. Swapping open cans for containers with tight lids and always working near fresh air makes a real difference. Avoiding spills and never pouring it down a drain helps keep it out of water. Businesses switching to lower-toxicity products protect workers and cut the amount of solvent floating into the air every year. Labels and warnings work best when they urge not just caution but better habits—less use, more ventilation, and faster cleanup. The next time that sweet smell hits, it pays to open the window a bit wider and think twice about how much of that shine is worth the risks.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | butyl acetate |
| Other names |
Acetic acid n-butyl ester Butyl ethanoate n-Butyl ethanoate Butyl acetate |
| Pronunciation | /ˈɛnˈbjuːtɪl əˈsiːteɪt/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 123-86-4 |
| Beilstein Reference | 613873 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:31328 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1359 |
| ChemSpider | 8617 |
| DrugBank | DB02148 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 03b8bb0c-7cda-49c1-8d14-b96efa7e1e21 |
| EC Number | 204-658-1 |
| Gmelin Reference | 878 |
| KEGG | C01368 |
| MeSH | D009844 |
| PubChem CID | 31272 |
| RTECS number | AF7350000 |
| UNII | NLJ88TVW4X |
| UN number | 1123 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C6H12O2 |
| Molar mass | 116.16 g/mol |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
| Odor | fruity |
| Density | 0.882 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | 5.3 g/L (20 °C) |
| log P | 1.82 |
| Vapor pressure | 11.6 mmHg (20°C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | pKa ≈ 25 |
| Basicity (pKb) | pKb: 15.2 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -48.5 x 10^-6 cm^3/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.393 |
| Viscosity | 0.74 mPa·s (at 20°C) |
| Dipole moment | 1.84 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 276.0 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -481.6 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -2671 kJ·mol⁻¹ |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | N02BA09 |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Precautionary statements | P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P271, P280, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P337+P313, P403+P235, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | NFPA 704: 2-3-1 |
| Flash point | Flash point: 27°C |
| Autoignition temperature | 350 °C |
| Explosive limits | 1.7% - 7.6% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 Rat oral 13,100 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose) of N-Butyl Acetate: 13,100 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | NA0030 |
| PEL (Permissible) | 150 ppm |
| REL (Recommended) | 150 ppm |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | 1700 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Ethyl acetate Isobutyl acetate Methyl acetate n-Propyl acetate Butyl alcohol Acetic acid |
