123-51-3

content analysis

determined through non-polar column method of gas chromatography(GT-10-4). Toxicity? GRAS (FEMA). Use limits FEMA (mg/kg): soft drinks 17; cold drinks 7.6; candy 52; baked goods 24; pudding 46; gum 300; alcohol 100. Modest limit (FDA § 172.515, 2000).

Production methods

(1) This product naturally presents in the form of esters in strawberries, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus oil and rum and so on. It can be synthesized by acid method or the hydroformylation of C4 alkenes. 3-methyl-1-butanol (85% in the fusel oil) can be obtained by chemical treatment and distillation separation of the fusel oil that is the side products form the alcohol fermentation of starch and sugar. (2) Derived from fusel oil fractionation. Pentane performs chlorination and hydrolysis reaction to form mixed alcohol, and then isoamyl alcohol can be derived from the mixed alcohol.

Hazards & Safety Information

Category???? Flammable liquids Toxic classification?? moderate toxic Acute Toxicity?? Oral-rat LD50: 1300 mg/kg; celiac-mouse LD50: 233 mg/kg Stimulation Data?? Skin-Rabbit 20mg/24hours Moderate; Eye-Rabbit 20mg/24hours Moderate Explosives hazardous characteristics?? Mix with air to be explosive Flammability hazard characteristics?? In case of fire, high temperature and oxidant flammable; combustion to release excitive smoke Storage and transportation characteristics?? Ventilation; Low temperature; dry; Separate storage with oxidizing agent Extinguishing agent? dry powder, dry sand, carbon dioxide, foam, 1211 extinguishing agent Occupational Standard? TLV-TWA 100 PPM (360 mg /m3); STEL 125 PPM (450 mg/m3)

Production Methods

3-Methyl-1-butanol is used as solvents for oils, fats, resins, and waxes; in the plastics industry in spinning polyacrylonitrile; and in manufacturing lacquers, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. It is also used as flavoring agents and in fragrances. Industrial exposure is principally by the dermal contact and inhalation.

Preparation

Industrially prepared by rectification of fusel oil.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

3-Methyl-1-butanol attacks plastics [Handling Chemicals Safely, 1980. p. 236]. Mixtures with concentrated sulfuric acid and strong hydrogen peroxide may cause explosions. Mixing with hypochlorous acid in water or water/carbon tetrachloride solution can generate isoamyl hypochlorites, which may explode, particularly on exposure to sunlight or heat. Mixing with chlorine would also yield isoamyl hypochlorites [NFPA 491 M, 1991]. Base-catalysed reactions with isocyanates can occur with explosive violence [Wischmeyer,1969].

Hazard

Moderate fire risk. Vapor is toxic and irritant. Explosive limits in air 1.2–9%.

Health Hazard

Very high vapor concentrations irritate eyes and upper respiratory tract. Continued contact with skin may cause irritation.

Flammability and Explosibility

Flammable

Biochem/physiol Actions

3-Methyl-1-butanol is a pentanol isomer useful in biofuels. It is used as a starting material for the production of isoamyl acetate, a flavoring agent applicable in the food industry. 3-Methyl-1-butanol shows anti-fungal action by inhibiting the hyphal formation and reducing biofilm formation in Candida albicans. It is also used in DNA extraction protocols.

Potential Exposure

(n-isomer); Suspected reprotoxic hazard, Primary irritant (w/o allergic reaction), (iso-, primary): Possible risk of forming tumors, Primary irritant (w/o allergic reaction), (sec-, active primary-, and other isomers) Primary irritant (w/o allergic reaction). Used as a solvent in organic synthesis and synthetic flavoring, pharmaceuticals, corrosion inhibitors; making plastics and other chemicals; as a flotation agent. The (n-isomer) is used in preparation of oil additives, plasticizers, synthetic lubricants, and as a solvent.

Environmental fate

Biological. Using the BOD technique to measure biodegradation, the mean 5-d BOD value (mM BOD/mM isoamyl alcohol) and ThOD were 4.46 and 59.5%, respectively (Vaishnav et al., 1987). Chemical/Physical. Isoamyl alcohol will not hydrolyze because it has no hydrolyzable functional group (Kollig, 1993).

Shipping

UN2811 Pentanols, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3- Flammable liquid. UN1987 Alcohols, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid.

Purification Methods

Dry the alcohol by heating with CaO and fractionally distilling, then heating with BaO and redistilling. Alternatively, boil it with concentrated KOH solution, wash it with dilute H3PO4, and dry it with K2CO3, then anhydrous CuSO4, before fractionally distilling it. If very dry alcohol is required, the distillate is refluxed with the appropriate alkyl phthalate or succinate as described for ethanol. It is separated from 2-methyl-1-butanol by fractional distillation, fractional crystallisation and preparative gas chromatography. [Beilstein 1 IV 1677.]

Incompatibilities

Forms an explosive mixture with air. Contact with strong oxidizers and hydrogen trisulfide may cause fire and explosions. Incompatible with strong acids. Violent reaction with alkaline earth metals forming hydrogen, a flammable gas.

Waste Disposal

Dissolve or mix the material with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinerator equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal, state, and local environmental regulations must be observed.

Chemical properties

Colorless to pale yellow clear oily liquid. Apple brandy aroma and spicy flavor. Melting point:-117.2 °C. Boiling point: 130 °C. Relative density (d2525): 0.813. Refractive index (nD20): 1.4075. Vapors are toxic. Miscible in ethanol and ether. Slightly soluble in water. Natural products present in the form of esters in strawberries, peppermint, lemongrass, eucalyptus oil and rum and so on.

Physical properties

Clear, colorless liquid with a pungent odor. An odor threshold concentration of 1.7 ppbv was reported by Nagata and Takeuchi (1990).

Definition

ChEBI: An alkyl alcohol that is butan-1-ol substituted by a methyl group at position 3.

Aroma threshold values

Detection: 250 ppb to 4.1 ppm

Taste threshold values

Taste characteristics at 50 ppm: fusel, fermented, fruity, banana, ethereal and cognac

General Description

Colorless liquid with a mild, choking alcohol odor. Less dense than water, soluble in water. Hence floats on water. Produces an irritating vapor.