Product Overview
Methyl n-Propyl Ketone (MPK) ACS Grade — also listed as 2-Pentanone or methyl propyl ketone, CAS 107-87-9 — is a clear, colorless ketone solvent we stock and ship from our Taylor, Texas warehouse. It is a fast, effective solvent with a moderate evaporation rate, which is why it shows up in analytical labs as an HPLC mobile phase component and on production floors as a solvent for coatings, adhesives, extractions, and equipment cleaning.
This is a flammable liquid with a flash point of 45 °F, so it moves under full DOT hazmat rules. We pack it accordingly: sealed, labeled, and documented, whether you order a single quart for method development or a 55-gallon drum for a production line. The buyers we ship it to most are analytical and QC labs, coatings formulators, pharmaceutical extraction operations, and maintenance teams degreasing machinery.
Why This Concentration
ACS Grade is the right call when purity has to be defensible. If MPK is going into an HPLC mobile phase, an extraction of an active ingredient, or a synthesis step, trace contaminants become peaks, carryover, or off-spec product. ACS Grade minimizes that risk, and every lot we ship is backed by a lot-specific Certificate of Analysis so your QC team can verify before the container is opened.
If your application is less demanding — bulk degreasing, general-purpose solvent work — a lower grade of solvent can sometimes do the job at lower cost. But when the material touches an analytical method or a regulated process, buy the ACS Grade and keep the paperwork. Review the technical data sheet against your own process specification before you order; it ships with the documentation for exactly this reason.
Chemical Profile
Methyl n-Propyl Ketone is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic acetone-like odor — most operators describe it as smelling like fingernail polish. The molecule is C5H10O with a molecular weight of 86.13, CAS 107-87-9. Density is 0.809 g/cm³ at 68 °F, so it is lighter than water and will float on it. It is partially water-soluble, at 10 to 50 mg/mL at 72 °F. Vapor pressure climbs with temperature — 12 mmHg at 68 °F, 16 mmHg at 77 °F, and 21 mmHg at 86 °F — and the vapors are heavier than air, which matters for ventilation: vapor will pool low, near floor drains and pits, not rise away from the work area. Flash point is 45 °F, well below room temperature, so treat every open container as a fire hazard.
Industrial Applications
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HPLC mobile phase — used as a mobile phase component in reversed-phase liquid chromatography, where its solvency and purity profile support clean separation of organic compounds. This is the application where ACS Grade earns its price.
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Coatings and adhesives solvent — dissolves resins and binders in paint, coating, and adhesive formulations, with a moderate evaporation rate that gives formulators control over film formation and open time.
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Extraction solvent — employed in pharmaceutical work to extract active ingredients from natural sources, where its partial water solubility and density below water support phase separation.
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Organic synthesis intermediate — serves as a building block and reaction solvent in the manufacture of other organic compounds.
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Cleaning and degreasing — cuts grease and oil residues on machinery and process equipment, then flashes off without leaving a heavy residue.
Handling & Storage
The signal word for this product is Danger (per the product's GHS classification). The hazard statements are H225 highly flammable liquid and vapor, H302 harmful if swallowed, H319 causes serious eye irritation, and H335 may cause respiratory irritation (per the product's GHS classification). Handle it the way you would any low-flash ketone: chemical splash goggles, solvent-resistant gloves, and mechanical ventilation sized for vapors that sink rather than rise.
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, direct sunlight, and every ignition source — that includes non-rated electrical fixtures near the storage rack. Keep it away from strong oxidizing agents and acids. HDPE or glass containers are appropriate; keep containers closed when not dispensing, and bond and ground during transfers. Our shipping and handling guidance is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
Hazmat & Shipping
This product ships as a regulated flammable liquid. The UN number is UN1249 (per 49 CFR 172.101). It is Hazard Class 3 (per 49 CFR 172.101), Packing Group II (per 49 CFR 172.101), and the proper shipping name is Methyl propyl ketone (per 49 CFR 172.101). We pack every order in UN-rated packaging with the correct marks, labels, and shipping papers before it leaves our dock. You receive a container that is legal to receive, store, and re-ship — no surprises at your receiving door and no carrier rejections.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese — useful if your EHS program or workforce needs multilingual documentation. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis is available for every lot, and a technical data sheet is available so you can confirm specifications against your process before you buy.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
We are hazmat operators. We stock Methyl n-Propyl Ketone ACS in Taylor, Texas, and ship it daily in DOT-compliant packaging — quarts and gallons for the bench, 5-gallon pails and 55-gallon drums for production. Every shipment goes out with correct hazmat marks, labels, and papers, and our shipping and handling practices are reviewed by a DOT Hazmat Specialist. Order the size that matches your burn rate; the documentation and compliant packaging come standard, and there are no hazmat fees added at checkout.
