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2-Ethylhexanol

Chemical Name: 2-Ethylhexanol

CAS Number: 104-76-7

Chemical Formula: C₈H₁₈O

Appearance: Colorless transparent oily liquid, slight special odor, miscible with most organic solvents

Storage and Transportation Characteristics: Sealed, stored in cool dry ventilation (0-30℃); away from heat/open fire/oxidants; flammable liquid, anti-collision and leak-proof

Type of Transportation: Domestic: Road, railway (closed fireproof vehicles); International: Sea (Class 3 containers), air (small-batch), multimodal transport

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Detail

Chemical Composition and Formula

2-Ethylhexanol is a kind of alcohol compound, also known as iso-octanol. Its chemical structure contains a hydroxyl group (-OH) and an ethyl group attached to the hexane chain. It is mainly made from n-butyraldehyde through condensation and hydrogenation reactions. Its chemical formula is C8H18O, and its molecular formula can also be written as CH3(CH2)3CH(C2H5)CH2OH. Its molecular weight is 130.23. It is usually a pure product in industry, and no extra additives are needed in most cases.

Chemical Properties and Performance Characteristics

Melting point	-76 °C (lit.)	Biological source	Synthetic
Boiling point	183–186 °C (lit.)	Olfactory threshold	0.013 ppm
Density	0.833 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)	Fragrance type	Citrus
Vapor density	4.49 (vs air)	Explosion limit values	0.88%, 104°F
Vapor pressure	0.2 mm Hg (20°C)	Water solubility	1 g/L (20°C)
Refractive index	n20/D 1.431 (lit.)	JECFA Number	267
FEMA	3151 \| 2-Ethyl-1-hexanol	Merck	143,808
Flash point	171 °F	BRN	1719280
Storage conditions	Store below +30°C.	Dielectric constant	3.4 (18°C)
Solubility	Soluble in water	Stability	Stable. Flammable. Incompatible with strong oxidizers and strong acids.
Form	Liquid	InChlKey	YIWUKEYIRIRTPP-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Acidity coefficient (pKa)	15.05±0.10 (Predicted)	LogP	2.9 at 25°C
Color	Transparent	CAS Database	104-76-7(CAS DataBase Reference)
pH value	7 (1 g/L, H₂O, 20°C)	NIST Chemical Substance Information	1-Hexanol, 2-ethyl-(104-76-7)
Odor	Sweet.	EPA Chemical Substance Information	2-Ethylhexanol (104-76-7)

Applications

2-Ethylhexanol has good chemical and physical properties, so it is widely used in industrial production. Its main applications are as follows:

Plastic Industry

It is mainly used as raw material for PVC plasticizers. It can react with phthalic acid and other substances to make plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate (DOP). These plasticizers can make PVC products softer and more flexible, and are widely used in plastic products such as cables, hoses and films.

Chemical Industry

In the chemical industry, it is used to make 2-ethylhexanoic acid, surfactants and special solvents. It can also be used as a defoamer, dispersant and mineral processing agent, which can improve the efficiency of chemical production processes.

Coating and Printing Industry

It is used in printing and dyeing, paint and film industries. It can be used as a solvent or auxiliary agent in coatings and inks, which can improve the solubility and film-forming performance of coatings, making the coating more uniform and smooth.

Petroleum Industry

It is used as an additive in the petroleum industry. It can be added to gasoline or diesel oil to improve the performance of petroleum products and enhance their stability and combustion efficiency.

Other Fields

In some other fields, it is used as a raw material for daily chemical products and pharmaceutical intermediates. It is also used in the production of cosmetics and cleaning agents, but it needs to be diluted to ensure safety.