Butyleneglycol is also identified as Butanediol. It is a chemical compound, an organic alcohol, aliphatic diol. It is produced industrially by the catalytic hydrogenation of acetaldehyde with catalysts such as copper, Raney nickel, platinum oxide. It follows a distillation procedure to make it purer.

It takes the form of a clear, viscous, colourless, water-soluble, hygroscopic liquid. It has a sweetish taste and is odourless. Soluble in water, acetone, alcohol, aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons . Insoluble in aliphatic hydrocarbons, benzene, toluene and carbon tetrachloride.

Cosmetics

Wetting agent, solvent, plasticiser and emulsifier. Emulsifiers have the property of directly influencing the stability, sensory properties and surface tension of sunscreens, modulating their filmometric performance.  

Adjuvant in retarding the loss of aromas in essential oils, solvent for benzoates and perfumes, preservative for the deterioration of microorganisms. It is one of the most effective polyols as an antimicrobial agent. It inhibits both gram-positive and gram-negative microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Corynebacterium hofmanii, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Pityrosporum oxalicum, Fusarium sp., and Candida albicans), as well as moulds and yeasts. However, it is not sporicidal. 

Like most chemical compounds, it can induce skin irritation and sensitisation.

Medical

Parenteral drug solvent.

Plastic Industry

Cellophane humectant in the production of plasticisers for polyesters

Butyleneglycol studies

Caratteristiche tipiche del prodotto commerciale 

• Molecular Formula   C₄H₁₀O₂
• Molecular Weight     90.12
• CAS  25265-75-2    107-88-0
• UNII    
• EC Number   607-675-6
• DSSTox Substance ID  DTXSID7074745
• IUPAC  butane-1,1-diol
• InChI=1S/C4H10O2/c1-2-3-4(5)6/h4-6H,2-3H2,1H3 
• InChl Key      CDQSJQSWAWPGKG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
• SMILES   CCCC(O)O
• MDL number  
• PubChem Substance ID    

Synonyms

• Butanediol
• butane-1,1-diol