Butyl Acetate - 123-86-4

Key Functions: Food Contact & Additives, Industrial / Manufacturing, Solvents & Cleaning

Butyl acetate, also known as butyl ethanoate or 1-acetoxybutane, is an organic carboxylic acid ester. It exists as a colorless, flammable liquid at room temperature and has a sweet smell of banana or apple. Butyl acetate is predominately used as a solvent in the production of lacquers, coatings, artificial leathers, photographic films, plastics, food packaging, nail polish, home repair products, cleaning agents, and thermosets (PubChem 2023). Butyl acetate is considered a good solvent with low volatility that is prepared through the esterification reaction of butanol and acetic acid with the catalyst sulfuric acid (HSBD 2018). In Europe, butyl acetate does not have any restrictions when used in cosmetics or personal care products as a fragrance or solvent under EC Regulation No. 1223/2009 (EC 2023). The United States Food and Drug Administration (U.S. FDA) has approved butyl acetate as a direct food additive under 21 CFR §172.515 (Synthetic Flavoring Substances), and as an indirect food additive under 21 CFR §175.105 (Adhesives), §175.320 (Resinous and Polymeric Coatings for Polyolefin Films), and §177.1200 (Cellophane) (U.S. FDA 2023).

Chemical Synonyms Acetic acid, butyl ester; n-Butyl acetate; 1-Butyl acetate; Acetic acid n-butyl ester; Butyl ethanoate; EINECS 204-658-1; n-Butyl ethanoate; Butyl acetate, n-; n-Butyl acetate [UN1123] (PubChem 2023)

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