Industrial solvents isobutanol

The key industrial applications and markets for normal and isobutanol and 2-ethylhexanol are discussed. As will be noted, the C4 oxo alcohols find use primarily within the coatings industry, either as solvents, per se, or as intermediates to manufacture solvents or protective coatings chemicals. Applications for 2-ethylhexanol, while numerous and varied, are basically oriented toward the manufacture of plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride. Total U.S. consumption of these alcohols in 1979 was approximately 1.3 billion pounds -730 million pounds of n-butanol, 190 million pounds of isobutanol, and 380 million pounds of 2-ethylhexanol. The consumption pattern is summarized in Table II and described in the following sections ... 

Commonly used water-immiscible solvents in industrial-scale processes include alcohols (isobutanol, -butanol), ketones (particularly methyl isobutyl ketone), acetates (butyl, ethyl, isopropyl), hydrocarbons (toluene, hexanes), and methylene chloride. These solvents are inexpensive, readily available, and exhibit physical properties of low viscosity and density significantly different from water. Common water-miscible solvents are the alcohols (particularly methanol). For laboratory-scale processes, the selection is greater since selection is not constrained by economics. Craig and Sogn (16) have prepared an extensive compilation of such solvents. 

Nowadays, the most commonly used solvents are mineral or white spirits. Aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, such as xylene and toluene, are used in certain specialized industrial paints. Other solvents include a wide variety of alcohols (isobutanol, i-butanol), esters (ethyl acetate, butyl or isobutylacetate) and ketones (acetone, methyl ethyl ketone). Often, a mixture of different solvents is used to ensure the desired outcome, e.g., in thinners (Mathias 1984 Valsecchi et al. 1992 Rose and Vance 1997 Leira 1997). In Scandinavia, there has been a tendency for more than a decade to reduce the use of the more toxic solvents, including benzene, n-hexane and the chlorinated solvents, particularly carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloroethane and trichloroethylene (Leira 1997). 

Isobutanol is a four-carbon, branched-chain, mono-hydroxyl, primary alcohol. It is used both as a solvent and as a feedstock/intermedier for syntheses in chemical, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industry. 

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