Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) ACS Grade

Product Overview

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) ACS Grade is a colorless, flammable liquid with a characteristic sweet ketone odor. As 4-Methyl-2-pentanone, it offers exceptional solvency, moderate volatility, and favorable compatibility with a broad range of organic solvents and polymers. The ACS-certified specification ensures compliance with high-purity requirements for analytical and industrial applications, including stringent assay, impurity, and residue controls. Typical assay ranges from 99.0 to 100.5 wt%, with a common specification around 99.7 wt% as determined by titration with standardized NaOH, supporting reliable chromatographic performance and consistent solvent quality across batches. Its low acidity (≤0.0005 meq/g) minimizes baseline drift in gradient HPLC and reduces catalytic interference in sensitive processes.

In practice, MIBK provides robust solvency for paints, coatings, electronics assembly materials, and pharmaceutical extraction workflows, while maintaining a relatively low water miscibility. Its density near 0.805 g/mL at 25°C, refractive index of 1.426, and low residue on evaporation contribute to predictable handling and minimal solvent carryover in closed systems. The product is prepared to meet ACS Reagent Grade and USP-NF Monograph standards, with comprehensive impurity control including trace metals, chlorides, sulfates, and aldehydes to support high-purity requirements in analytical and manufacturing settings.

Key Properties

• Appearance: Colorless liquid
• Odor: Sweet, ketone-like odor
• Boiling Point (range): 116-118°C
• Freezing Point: -50°C
• Solubility: Soluble in organic solvents; slightly soluble in water
• Flash Point: 11°C
• Vapor Pressure (20°C): 30 mmHg
• Viscosity (25°C): 0.54 cP
• Refractive Index (20°C): 1.426
• Density (25°C): 0.805 g/mL
• Molecular Weight: 86.13 g/mol
• Molecular Weight (unrounded): 86.142
• Vapor Density: 3.0 (air = 1)
• Partition Coefficient (logP): 0.3
• Decomposition Temp: Not expected to decompose below 180°C under normal conditions
• Cas: 108-10-1
• Chloride (ppm): ≤0.5 (typical 0.1)
• Water Content (%): ≤0.05 (typical 0.02)
• Acidity (meq/g): ≤0.0005 (typical 0.0002)

Common Applications

• Application Category: HPLC Mobile Phase – Used as a mobile phase component in reversed-phase HPLC for separation of organic compounds with reliable baseline stability and reproducible retention times.
• Application Category: Solvent for Paints and Coatings – Provides excellent solvency for resins, pigments, and additives in industrial coatings formulations.
• Application Category: Extraction Solvent – Employed in the extraction of active pharmaceutical ingredients and other compounds in pharmaceutical processing due to favorable selectivity.
• Application Category: Chemical Intermediate – Serves as an important intermediate in the synthesis of various ketone- and ester-based chemicals.
• Application Category: Cleaning Agent – Utilized as a solvent for industrial cleaning demanding effective residue removal without excessive water uptake.

Safety Precautions

Handle MIBK ACS Grade in a well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, and open flames. Use sealable, compatible containers (HDPE or glass). Keep containers tightly closed when not in use and store in a cool, ventilated space away from oxidizers and acids. Employ appropriate PPE including chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, and flame-resistant lab coats. Ensure adequate grounding and proper ventilation to mitigate vapor accumulation and inhalation risk.

In case of exposure, follow standard SDS procedures: for eyes, rinse cautiously with water for several minutes; for skin, wash with soap and water; for inhalation, move to fresh air and seek medical attention if symptoms persist; for ingestion, rinse mouth and do not induce vomiting. In the event of a fire, use extinguishing media suitable for organic solvents (e.g., dry chemical, CO2, or alcohol-resistant foam). Transport and handle as UN 1294 Methyl Isobutyl Ketone, Class 3, Packing Group II.

Benefits

✔ High Purity ACS Grade – Meets ACS Reagent Grade and USP-NF monographs with tight control of assay, color, and residue, ensuring reliable analytical results and process consistency.
✔ Predictable Solvency – Excellent solvency for resins, coatings, and analytical solvents with low moisture uptake, supporting stable formulations and chromatographic reproducibility.