Product Overview
N-Butyl Alcohol — also called 1-Butanol or Butanol — is a four-carbon primary alcohol (CAS 71-36-3) used across industrial solvent operations, chemical synthesis, and analytical laboratory workflows. This is the ACS Grade offering, a designation that analytical labs, QC departments, and R&D purchasing groups commonly specify on their orders. Alliance Chemical offers N-Butyl Alcohol in sizes from 1-quart bottles through 55-gallon drums, covering everything from bench-scale method development to full-production solvent use.
Why This Concentration
The ACS Grade designation is a procurement-level distinction that matters when your SOP, method validation, or internal quality system calls for ACS-designated reagents. Buyers in analytical chemistry, pharmaceutical extraction, and HPLC work typically require this designation on purchase documentation to satisfy audit and traceability requirements. If your application demands that level of purity documentation — whether for chromatographic mobile phases, titrations, or synthesis intermediates — this is the SKU to specify.
For general-purpose solvent work like coatings blending, parts cleaning, or bulk degreasing where the ACS designation is not required by your process, a technical-grade butanol may serve the same function at lower cost. Match the grade to your actual workflow requirement, not the most expensive option on the shelf.
Chemical Profile
N-Butyl Alcohol is a colorless liquid with a harsh fusel odor carrying distinct banana notes. Its molecular formula is C₄H₁₀O with a molecular weight of 74.12 g/mol (CAS 71-36-3). At 68 °F the liquid has a density of 0.81 — less dense than water, so it floats on an aqueous layer. Water solubility is limited at roughly 9%, which is part of what makes it effective as an extraction solvent: it partitions well against aqueous phases without fully mixing. Vapor pressure sits at 15.51 mmHg, giving it a moderate evaporation rate — noticeably slower than acetone or methanol, which means longer open time in coatings work and less flash-off loss during handling. That same moderate volatility makes it a practical choice where controlled drying is more useful than rapid evaporation.
Industrial Applications
N-Butyl Alcohol is one of the more versatile C4 solvents in industrial distribution. Here is where it works and what it does in each process:
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Solvent for paints and coatings — Dissolves a wide range of resins, including nitrocellulose, acrylics, and alkyds. Its moderate evaporation rate improves film formation and reduces brush marks or orange peel in applied coatings. Formulators use it to adjust viscosity and flow without the aggressive flash-off of faster solvents.
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Chemical synthesis intermediate — Serves as a feedstock for producing butyl acetate, butyl acrylate, and other esters. The primary hydroxyl group reacts cleanly in esterification, making it a reliable building block in large-scale synthesis operations.
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Industrial cleaning — Cuts grease, oils, and resinous deposits from metal parts, tooling, and process equipment. Its solvency and moderate evaporation rate give operators working time to wipe or rinse before the solvent flashes off.
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HPLC mobile phase — Used as a mobile-phase component in high-performance liquid chromatography. The ACS Grade designation is particularly relevant here, where solvent purity directly affects baseline noise and peak resolution.
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Extraction solvent — Employed in liquid-liquid extraction to isolate target compounds from aqueous matrices. Its limited water solubility (roughly 9%) provides clean phase separation, and its density below water means the organic layer collects on top for straightforward decanting.
Handling & Storage
N-Butyl Alcohol carries a Danger signal word (per the product's GHS classification). The hazard statements governing this product are: H226 — flammable liquid and vapor; H302 — harmful if swallowed; H315 — causes skin irritation; H318 — causes serious eye damage; H335 — may cause respiratory irritation; H336 — may cause drowsiness or dizziness (per the product's GHS classification). Serious eye damage (H318) is the standout acute hazard — always wear chemical splash goggles and have an eyewash station within 10 seconds of travel.
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, and open flame. Use containers made of HDPE or glass. Keep away from strong oxidizing agents and concentrated acids. Ground and bond containers during transfer to prevent static discharge — this is a Class 3 flammable liquid and vapor accumulation in enclosed spaces is a real ignition risk. Wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles, and use local exhaust ventilation or respiratory protection when handling in poorly ventilated spaces. Review the Safety Data Sheet for full exposure limits and emergency procedures before first use.
Hazmat & Shipping
N-Butyl Alcohol ships as a regulated hazardous material under DOT. The governed classification:
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UN Number: UN1120 (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: III (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Butanols (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Packing Group III indicates the lowest degree of danger within Class 3, but the material still requires full hazmat shipping documentation, proper packaging, and placarding at applicable quantities. Every shipment from Alliance Chemical includes the required shipping papers and hazard labeling. Content reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet ships with every order of N-Butyl Alcohol, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis is available on request, documenting the actual analytical results for your shipment. A Technical Data Sheet is also available for buyers who need published property data for formulation or process validation.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
This N-Butyl Alcohol ACS Grade is available in pack sizes from single quarts to 55-gallon drums — so you can order a bench quantity for method validation and scale to drum volumes for production without switching suppliers. Alliance Chemical has operated as a hazmat chemical distributor since 1998, shipping DOT-regulated materials like Class 3 flammable liquids from our warehouse in Taylor, Texas. Shipping and handling guidance on this page has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
