1butanol

1-butanol, or butan-1-ol, is a colorless, flammable liquid with the chemical formula C4H10O. It is the straight-chain four-carbon primary alcohol and is also known as n-butanol or butyl alcohol. It is widely used as a solvent and chemical intermediate in paints, coatings, inks, adhesives, and cleaners. It has limited water solubility and mixes with many organic solvents.

Commercial production is mainly via petrochemical routes, notably hydroformylation of propylene to butanal followed by hydrogenation to 1-butanol. A renewable route uses fermentation (the acetone–butanol–ethanol, ABE, process) to produce 1-butanol and other solvents. Development efforts focus on improving yield, purity, and energy efficiency for pure 1-butanol.

Key properties include a molecular weight of 74.12 g/mol and a boiling point of about 117.7 °C. The liquid density is around 0.81 g/mL at 20 °C. It is flammable and moderately soluble in water (roughly 7 g per 100 mL at 25 °C), with higher solubility in many organic solvents.

Applications include use as a versatile solvent for coatings, inks, adhesives, and cleaning agents; a feedstock for esters such as n-butyl acetate and n-butyl acrylate; and an intermediate in the manufacture of plasticizers and specialty chemicals. In energy contexts, 1-butanol is explored as a biofuel or fuel additive because of its higher energy content and lower hygroscopicity compared with ethanol.

Safety and environmental factors: exposure can irritate skin, eyes, and the respiratory tract. It is flammable and should be stored away from ignition sources. Spills require ventilation and containment. It is biodegradable but can pose aquatic toxicity, so handling follows standard industrial hygiene and environmental guidelines.