Dibutoxymethane or butylal, is an oligoether (more than one -O- grouping) or acetal containing two butyl groups and a methylene grouping.
Uses Dibutoxymethane is used as a solvent and can be classed as a green solvent, as it contains no halogens, and is not very toxic. It is used in cosmetics, as a cleansing agent, or solvent. It reduces the formation of soot and nitrogen oxides when added to diesel fuel.
It has also been used as a dry-cleaning solvent under the trade name SolvonK4, marketed by the Kreussler Company in 2010. It dissolves both water-based and oil-based stains."Acetal" in "Assessment of Alternatives to Perchloroethylene for the Dry Cleaning Industry" Toxics Use Reduction Institute. UMass Lowell. June 2012. page 21-22.
Production Butylal is produced by the reaction of n-butanol with formaldehyde or formaldehyde derivatives such as 1,3,5-trioxane and paraformaldehyde."Process for producing dibutoxymethane, diethoxymethane, dipropoxymethane or dipentoxymethane" (CN103965029B), patented to Li Yunyong, Zhou Tao, Cheng Yehua in China
Health and safety As butylal is a relatively new solvent in use, a little is known about its toxicological and ecological profile. It is a combustible liquid.
Butylal undergoes hydrolysis to produce butanol and formaldehyde. Both compounds have been detected in very low concentrations inside dry-cleaning facilities using the solvent. Formaldehyde is an irritant and a known human carcinogen.
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