Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether

Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is an organic compound with the chemical formula BuOC2H4OH (Bu = CH3CH2CH2CH2). This colorless liquid has a sweet, ether-like odor, as it derives from the family of glycol ethers, and is a butyl ether of ethylene glycol. As a relatively nonvolatile, inexpensive solvent, it is used in many domestic and industrial products because of its properties as a surfactant.

Uses:
Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is a glycol ether with modest surfactant properties, which can also be used as a mutual solvent[clarification needed]. Glycol ethers consist of two components, an alcohol and ether. According to the nature of alcohol, molecules of this class can be divided into two groups: E series and P series which correspond to ethylene and propylene respectively. Glycol ethers are selected for specific purposes, such as solubility, inflammability, and volatility.

Commercial uses
Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is a solvent for paints and surface coatings, as well as cleaning products and inks. Products that contain Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether include acrylic resin formulations, asphalt release agents, firefighting foam, leather protectors, oil spill dispersants, degreaser applications, photographic strip solutions, whiteboard cleaners, liquid soaps, cosmetics, dry cleaning solutions, lacquers, varnishes, herbicides, latex paints, enamels, printing paste, and varnish removers, and silicone caulk. Products containing this compound are commonly found at construction sites, automobile repair shops, print shops, and facilities that produce sterilizing and cleaning products. It is the main ingredient of many home, commercial and industrial cleaning solutions. Since the molecule has both non-polar and polar ends, butoxyethanol is useful for removing both polar and non-polar substances, like grease and oils. It is also approved by the U.S. FDA to be used as direct and indirect food additives, which include antimicrobial agents, defoamers, stabilizers, and adhesives.

In the petroleum industry
Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is commonly produced for the oil industry because of its surfactant properties.

In the petroleum industry, Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is a component of fracturing fluids, drilling stabilizers, and oil slick dispersants for both water-based and oil-based hydraulic fracturing.[clarification needed] When liquid is pumped into the well, the fracturing fluids are pumped under extreme pressure, so Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether is used to stabilize them by lowering the surface tension. As a surfactant, Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether adsorbs at the oil-water interface of the fracture. The compound is also used to facilitate the release of the gas by preventing congealing. It is also used as a crude oil-water coupling solvent for more general oil well workovers. Because of its surfactant properties, it is a major constituent (30–60% w/w) in the oil spill dispersant Corexit 9527.