Product Overview
Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) ACS Grade is a clear, colorless ketone solvent with a pleasant odor, offered under CAS 108-10-1. MIBK dissolves a wide range of organic resins, polymers, and coating components, which makes it a workhorse solvent in analytical laboratories, coatings production, and liquid-liquid extraction processes. The ACS Grade designation is what buyers specify when their workflow demands a controlled grade of solvent for reproducible analytical or quality-controlled work.
Alliance Chemical offers MIBK ACS Grade in pack sizes from quarts through 55 gal drums, serving both bench-scale analytical runs and full production operations.
Why This Concentration
Buyers who specify ACS Grade MIBK are running processes where solvent quality directly affects the outcome — HPLC separations, gravimetric analyses, or extraction steps where trace impurities would interfere with results. The ACS Grade label tells a purchasing agent or QC lead that this product was procured to a defined grade tier, distinct from technical or industrial grades of MIBK.
If your process tolerates a broader specification — industrial cleaning, general-purpose degreasing, or non-critical formulation work — a technical grade may be more cost-effective. But for analytical methods, instrument work, or regulated extraction workflows, the ACS Grade designation is what your SOP likely calls for. Review the Technical Data Sheet for the full specification before ordering.
Chemical Profile
MIBK (molecular formula C6H12O, molecular weight 100.16, CAS 108-10-1) is a clear, colorless liquid at room temperature with a pleasant odor. Its density is 0.802 at 68 °F — less dense than water, so it floats on aqueous layers, a property that matters in liquid-liquid extraction setups. Solubility in water is limited, at 1 to 5 mg/mL at 70 °F. Vapor pressure sits at 5 mmHg at 67.5 °F and 10 mmHg at 86.0 °F, giving it a moderate evaporation rate that balances working time against drying speed in coatings and cleaning applications. The flash point is 73 °F, placing it firmly in the flammable liquid category. Vapors are heavier than air and can travel along floors to remote ignition sources.
Industrial Applications
MIBK ACS Grade serves several distinct industrial and laboratory workflows:
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HPLC Mobile Phase — Used as a mobile phase component in reversed-phase liquid chromatography for separating organic compounds. Solvent grade matters here because trace contaminants produce baseline noise and ghost peaks that compromise quantitation.
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Extraction Solvent — MIBK's low water solubility and favorable partition coefficients make it effective for liquid-liquid extraction of active compounds from aqueous matrices in pharmaceutical and chemical processing.
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Paints and Coatings — Dissolves a broad range of resins — acrylics, vinyls, nitrocellulose — with a moderate evaporation rate that gives formulators control over flow, leveling, and film formation.
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Chemical Intermediate — Serves as a feedstock or reaction medium in the synthesis of other organic compounds in chemical manufacturing.
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Industrial Cleaning — Effective at dissolving oils, greases, and adhesive residues from metal and polymer surfaces in manufacturing and maintenance environments.
Handling & Storage
MIBK carries a Danger signal word (per the product's GHS classification). The hazard statements for this product are:
- H225 — Highly flammable liquid and vapor (per the product's GHS classification)
- H319 — Causes serious eye irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
- H332 — Harmful if inhaled (per the product's GHS classification)
- H335 — May cause respiratory irritation (per the product's GHS classification)
- H351 — Suspected of causing cancer (per the product's GHS classification)
- EUH066 — Repeated exposure may cause skin dryness or cracking (per the product's GHS classification)
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, and open flame. The 73 °F flash point means ambient warehouse temperatures in warm climates can approach ignition territory — keep containers sealed and grounded during storage and transfer. Use containers compatible with ketone solvents: HDPE, glass, or lined steel. Avoid contact with strong oxidizing agents and strong acids. Wear chemical-splash goggles, nitrile or butyl rubber gloves, and use local exhaust ventilation or a respirator rated for organic vapors when handling open containers. Consult the SDS for complete exposure controls and first-aid procedures.
Hazmat & Shipping
MIBK is a regulated hazmat shipment. The DOT classification for this product:
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UN Number: UN1245 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 3 — Flammable Liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: II (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Methyl isobutyl ketone (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Every outbound shipment from our Taylor, TX warehouse is prepared with the required hazmat shipping papers, package markings, and labels. Our team handles DOT-compliant hazmat packaging and documentation daily.
Documentation
An SDS is included with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis (COA) is available, documenting the analytical results for the specific lot you receive. A Technical Data Sheet (TDS) is on file with the full product specification. Request any document before or after purchase.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
MIBK ACS Grade is available to order from quart bottles through 55 gal drums — with full hazmat documentation prepared for every shipment. Alliance Chemical has distributed industrial and laboratory chemicals since 1998, serving over 50,000 customers from our warehouse in Taylor, Texas. Shipping and handling guidance on this page has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
