Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether

Chemical Properties

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is a colorless, high-boiling liquid with a mild odour. It is miscible in proportions with water, alcohol (methanol), ketones (acetone), ethers (ethyl ether), aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene), paraffinic hydrocarbons (n-heptane), and halogenated hydrocarbons (carbon tetrachloride). As it is an ether-alcohol type compound it possesses solvent action for many substances such as oils, dyes, gums, and natural and synthetic resins. It is used as a high-boiling solvent in nitrocellulose lacquers and other synthetic coatings, baking lacquers, flash-dry printing inks, and dye bath.

Uses

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether(DGBE) is widely used as a solvent for cellulose ester, lacquers, varnishes, cleaners, detergents, dyes, ink, and paint industries. it is also used as an intermediate for plasticizers and a diluent for hydraulic brake fluids, in addition to the production of piperonyl butoxy compounds. In France, its use in the cosmetics industry is permissible, wherein it is used as a solvent in hair dyes with a maximum concentration of 9%.

Application

Diethylene glycol mono-n-butyl ether has a wide variety of applications in Chiral chemistry and green chemistry. It is also used in cosmetics. It is used as diluents and leveling agents in the manufacture of paints and in baking. It is also used in the manufacture of nitrocellulose. In brake fluid, it is used as an additive. It is used in the printing industry due to its slow evaporation rate. It is also used as a fixative for perfumes and antiseptics. It is used as an additive to prevent ice buildup in jet fuel.

Preparation

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is prepared by co-heating ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol butyl ether under pressure.

General Description

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether is a colorless liquid with a mild pleasant odor. Mixes with water. (USCG, 1999)

Air & Water Reactions

Oxidizes readily in air to form unstable peroxides that may explode spontaneously [Bretherick, 1979 p.151-154, 164]. Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Butyldiglycol is a ether-alcohol derivative. The ether being relatively unreactive. Flammable and/or toxic gases are generated by the combination of alcohols with alkali metals, nitrides, and strong reducing agents. They react with oxoacids and carboxylic acids to form esters plus water. Oxidizing agents convert alcohols to aldehydes or ketones. Alcohols exhibit both weak acid and weak base behavior. They may initiate the polymerization of isocyanates and epoxides.

Health Hazard

Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether(DGBE) is an eye irritant. It showed low toxicity in test species.Toxic symptoms are similar to those ofother glycol ethers containing two etherealoxygen atoms. Inhalation for brief periods has no significant effect. Contact with liquid causes moderate irritation of eyes and corneal injury. Prolonged contact with skin causes only minor irritation. The high dosescaused pulmonary congestion. No renaldamage was reported. There is no reporton teratogenicity of this compound.

Fire Hazard

Butyldiglycol is combustible.

Flammability and Explosibility

Nonflammable

Contact allergens

This organic solvent belongs to the carbitols group and is included in waterbased liquids such as paints, surface cleaners, polishes, and disinfectants. It is considered to be an exceptional allergen.

Safety Profile

Moderately toxic by ingestion and intraperitoneal routes. Mddly toxic by skin contact. A severe eye irritant. Combustible when exposed to heat or flame; can react with oxidizing materials. To fight fire, use alcohol foam, CO2, or dry chemical. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes. See also GLYCOL ETHERS.

Purification Methods

Dry the ether with anhydrous K2CO3 or CaSO4, filter and fractionally distil it. Peroxides can be removed by refluxing with stannous chloride or a mixture of FeSO4 and KHSO4 (or, less completely, by filtration under slight pressure through a column of activated alumina). [Beilstein 1 IV 2394.]

Waste Disposal

DGBE is mixed with a combustible solventand burned in a chemical incinerator. Smallamounts may be disposed down the drainwith large amounts of water.

Consumer Uses

This substance is used in the following products: coating products, washing & cleaning products, fertilisers, heat transfer fluids, hydraulic fluids, cosmetics and personal care products, lubricants and greases, plant protection products, water treatment chemicals and perfumes and fragrances. Other release to the environment of this substance 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).