Product Name: Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
Chemical Formula: C6H12O
CAS Number: 108-10-1
Manufacturers and Suppliers: Several industrial chemical producers including major multinationals found in North America, Europe, and Asia. Contact information for safety inquiries is commonly available on product labels and official company websites.
Recommended Uses: Solvent for resins, paints, varnishes, nitrocellulose lacquers, rubber, pharmaceuticals, adhesives, cleaning fluids, and extraction processes.
Emergency Phone Number: Accessible via regional poison control centers or local safety authorities.
GHS Classification: Flammable liquids (Category 2), Acute toxicity (Category 4, oral, dermal, inhalation), Eye irritation (Category 2A), Specific target organ toxicity (single exposure, Category 3, narcotic effects).
Signal Word: Danger
Hazard Statements: Highly flammable liquid and vapor. Causes serious eye irritation. Harmful if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed through skin. May cause drowsiness, dizziness, or central nervous system depression. Vapors may form explosive mixtures with air.
Precautionary Statements: Keep away from heat, sparks, open flames, and hot surfaces. Avoid breathing mist, vapors, or spray. Use explosion-proof equipment. Wear protective gloves, clothing, and eye protection. Use only outdoors or in well-ventilated areas.
Substance: Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
CAS Number: 108-10-1
Concentration: Typically 99-100% in pure solvent form. Commercial grades may contain trace impurities, mainly water, and minor linear or branched ketones below 1%. Impurity levels vary by supplier.
Inhalation: Remove person to fresh air immediately. Seek medical attention if symptoms include dizziness, headache, or difficulty breathing. Monitor respiratory health closely in cases of sustained exposure.
Skin Contact: Rinse thoroughly with soap and water for at least 15 minutes. Remove contaminated clothing and shoes, launder before reuse. Prolonged skin contact can cause dryness or irritation.
Eye Contact: Rinse eyes with plenty of water for several minutes while lifting eyelids. Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do. Seek prompt medical attention for persistent irritation.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth with water. Seek emergency medical attention, especially if symptoms of depression of the nervous system appear, such as confusion or unsteady movement.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Carbon dioxide, dry chemical powder, foam, or water spray. Water streams may spread liquid.
Special Hazards: Produces toxic gases, including carbon monoxide, during combustion. Flash point is approximately 14°C (57°F). Vapors may travel long distances and can ignite at a distance from the source.
Protective Equipment for Firefighters: Full protective clothing, self-contained breathing apparatus. Cool exposed containers with water spray. Remove containers from fire zone if possible without risk.
Personal Precautions: Evacuate unnecessary personnel from area. Ventilate area to dissipate vapors. Avoid all ignition sources.
Spill Containment: Contain spillage using sand, earth, or inert absorbent. Prevent entry into sewers and drains.
Cleanup Procedures: Absorb residue onto inert material and place in tightly sealed containers for disposal under local regulations. Use spark-proof tools and explosion-proof equipment.
Handling: Ground and bond containers when transferring material to eliminate static discharge. Use local exhaust ventilation to control airborne levels below permissible exposure limits.
Storage Conditions: Store in tightly closed containers in cool, well-ventilated areas, away from direct sunlight, heat, and sources of ignition. Separate from oxidizing agents, acids, and food items. Ensure safety signage and spill response material remain accessible in storage areas.
Occupational Exposure Limits: OSHA PEL: 100 ppm (410 mg/m³) TWA; ACGIH TLV: 20 ppm (82 mg/m³) TWA. Short-term limits set for peak exposures.
Engineering Controls: Use explosion-proof ventilation systems. Maintain eyewash stations and emergency shower facilities in areas of routine use.
Personal Protection: Wear chemical splash goggles, solvent-proof gloves (nitrile, butyl rubber), flame-retardant clothing, and if vapor levels exceed limits, NIOSH-approved organic vapor respirators.
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid with characteristic sweet, ketone odor.
Boiling Point: 117°C (243°F)
Melting Point: -84°C (-119°F)
Density: 0.802 g/cm³ at 20°C
Vapor Pressure: 16 mmHg at 20°C
Solubility: Moderately soluble in water (1.9 g/100 mL at 20°C), miscible with most organic solvents.
Flammability: Forms flammable mixtures with air; flash point roughly 14°C (57°F).
Autoignition Temperature: 460°C (860°F)
Odor Threshold: Typically around 1.6 ppm.
Chemical Stability: Stable under ordinary conditions of storage and handling.
Reactive Substances: Vigorous reactions with strong oxidizers, acids, and reducing agents. May attack plastics and rubber under certain conditions.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and various hydrocarbons formed during incomplete combustion.
Polymerization: Not known to undergo hazardous polymerization.
Acute Toxicity: LD50 (oral, rat): 2080 mg/kg. Inhalation exposure at high concentrations causes central nervous system depression, drowsiness, headache, nausea, and potential unconsciousness. Skin absorption possible but not a major route under normal conditions.
Chronic Effects: Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause dermatitis or liver and kidney effects. Animal studies indicate potential reproductive effects at high doses.
Irritation Potential: Eye and mucous membrane irritant. Skin contact produces moderate irritation, especially with repeated exposure.
Carcinogenicity: Not classified as a probable or known human carcinogen by IARC or NTP, although ACGIH lists as Group A3 (Confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans).
Environmental Fate: Readily biodegradable. Volatilizes rapidly from water or soil surfaces.
Ecotoxicity: Toxic to aquatic life at moderate concentrations, acute LC50 (fish, 96h): 496 mg/L (Pimephales promelas). Slight potential for bioaccumulation.
Persistence: Does not persist under usual environmental conditions, degrades via microbial action and hydrolysis.
Mobility: High mobility in soil and water; may contaminate groundwater if released in substantial quantity.
Waste Management: Dispose as a hazardous waste in accordance with local, regional, or national regulations. Do not landfill untreated material.
Recommended Disposal Methods: Incineration under controlled conditions with flue gas scrubbing. Recovery or recycling possible in approved commercial solvent recovery operations.
Container Handling: Empty containers retain product residue. Avoid welding, cutting, or exposing containers to heat or open flames. Complete rinsing procedures before recycling or discarding containers.
UN Number: UN1245
Proper Shipping Name: Methyl Isobutyl Ketone
Transport Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable liquid)
Packing Group: II
Labels Required: Flammable liquid, keep away from heat and ignition sources.
Transportation by Road, Rail, Air, or Sea: Follows regulations set by ADR/RID, IMDG, IATA, and USDOT. Emergency response guides recommend special spill procedures and secure stowage.
U.S. Regulations: Listed as a hazardous air pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Subject to SARA Title III reporting (Section 313). OSHA considers MIBK a hazardous chemical, requiring workplace disclosure.
EU Regulations: Listed in REACH Annex XVII as a substance with restrictions. Covered under CLP and dangerous substances directives.
Canada and Asia-Pacific: Listed on DSL/NDSL and Australian Inventory of Chemical Substances (AICS). All storage and handling subjected to region-specific health, fire, and environmental codes.
Consumer Protection: Use in consumer paints or coatings subject to restrictions in some jurisdictions, prioritizing exposure mitigation and product labeling.
