Butoxyethanol is a chemical compound, a primary alcohol consisting of ethanol.
It is produced by an ethoxylation reaction of butanol with ethylene oxide.
Chemical name 2-butoxyethanol
Safety
The term 'eth' refers to the ethoxylation reaction with ethylene oxide after which residues of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, chemical compounds considered carcinogenic, may remain. The degree of safety therefore depends on the degree of purity of the compound obtained. At present, no manufacturer is known to provide this information on the label.
What it is used for and where
Cosmetics
Fragrance. It plays a very important role in the formulation of cosmetic products as it allows perfume to be enhanced, masked or added to the final product, improving its commercial viability. The consumer always expects to find a pleasant scent in a cosmetic product.
Solvent. It is the substance for dissolving or dispersing surfactants, oils, dyes, flavourings, bactericidal preservatives in solution.
Surfactant - Suspending agent. Cosmetic or pharmaceutical suspensions are known to be thermodynamically unstable and it is therefore essential to include in the formulation a suspending agent capable of dispersing any sedimented particulates and reducing the rate of sedimentation. The presence of this agent increases the consistency of the suspension medium and exerts a protective colloidal action with a surfactant action.
Synonyms: EC number 203-905-0
CAS: 111-76-2