ISOBUTANE

Chemical properties

colourless odourless gas (or colourless cryogenic liquid)

Chemical properties

2-Methylpropane (isobutane), C4H10, a flammable gas, occurs in small quantities in natural gas and crude oil. It has been detected in urban atmospheres at concentrations of 44–74 ppb. It also evolves from natural sources and has been measured in diesel exhaust at 1.4–11 ppm and in cigarette smoke at 10 ppm. The partition coefficient of propane between olive oil and air at 37℃ is 12 using the method described by Sato and Nakajima and Perbellini et al.. The lower explosive limit is 18,000 ppm in air.

The Uses of ISOBUTANE

Isobutane occurs in petroleum, natural gas,and petroleum cracking products. It is usedas a fuel gas or a liquefied petroleum gas. Itis also used in organic synthesis.

The Uses of ISOBUTANE

Organic synthesis, refrigerant, motor fuels, aerosol propellant, synthetic rubber, instrument calibration fluid.

The Uses of ISOBUTANE

In the production of propylene glycols and oxides and polyurethane foams and resins; as component of motor fuels and aerosol propellants; as an industrial gas carrier and general fuel source

Definition

ChEBI: An alkane that is propane substituted by a methyl group at position 2.

General Description

ISOBUTANE is a colorless gas with a faint petroleum-like odor. ISOBUTANE is shipped as a liquefied gas under its vapor pressure. Contact with the liquid can cause frostbite. ISOBUTANE is easily ignited. The vapors are heavier than air. Any leak can either be liquid or vapor. ISOBUTANE can asphyxiate by the displacement of air. Under prolonged exposure to fire or intense heat the containers may rupture violently and rocket.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable.

Reactivity Profile

ISOBUTANE is incompatible with the following: Strong oxidizers (e.g., nitrates & perchlorates), chlorine, fluorine, (nickel carbonyl + oxygen) .

Hazard

Highly flammable, dangerous fire and explosive risk; explosive limits in air 1.9–8.5%.

Health Hazard

Central nervous system depression ranging from dizziness and incoordination to anesthesia and respiratory arrest, depending on concentration and extent of inhalation. Irregular heartbeat is rare but is a dangerous complication at anesthetic levels.

Health Hazard

Isobutane, like other saturated aliphatic alkanes,is nontoxic. It is an asphyxiate. Exposureto high concentrations of 1% in air maycause narcosis and drowsiness. Other thanthis, there is no report of any adverse healtheffect from exposure to this gas.

Fire Hazard

EXTREMELY FLAMMABLE. Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames. Will form explosive mixtures with air. Vapors from liquefied gas are initially heavier than air and spread along ground. CAUTION: Hydrogen (UN1049), Deuterium (UN1957), Hydrogen, refrigerated liquid (UN1966) and Methane (UN1971) are lighter than air and will rise. Hydrogen and Deuterium fires are difficult to detect since they burn with an invisible flame. Use an alternate method of detection (thermal camera, broom handle, etc.) Vapors may travel to source of ignition and flash back. Cylinders exposed to fire may vent and release flammable gas through pressure relief devices. Containers may explode when heated. Ruptured cylinders may rocket.

Safety Profile

An asphyxiant. A common air contaminant. A very dangerous fire and explosion hazard when exposed to heat, flame, or oxidizers. To fight fire, stop flow of gas. When heated to decomposition it emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.

Source

California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained 2-methylpropane at a concentration of 1.04 g/kg. Gas-phase tailpipe emission rate from gasoline-powered automobiles equipped with a catalytic converter was 130 μg/km (Schauer et al., 2002).

Environmental Fate

Photolytic. Based upon a photooxidation rate constant of 2.34 x 10^-12 cm³/molecule?sec with OH radicals in summer daylight, the atmospheric lifetime is 59 h (Altshuller, 1991). At atmospheric pressure and 300 K, Darnall et al. (1978) reported a rate constant of 2.52 x 10^-12 cm³/molecule?sec for the same reaction. Rate constants of 1.28 x 10^-9 and 6.03 x 10^-12 L/molecule?sec were reported for the reaction of 2-methylpropane with OH radicals in air at 300 and 296 K, respectively (Greiner, 1967, 1970). Rate constants of 7.38 x 10^-13 and 6.50 x 10^-17 cm³/molecule?sec were reported for the reaction of 2-methylpropane with OH and NO3, respectively (Sablji? and Güsten, 1990).
Chemical/Physical. Complete combustion in air produces carbon dioxide and water vapor. 2- Methylpropane will not hydrolyze because it does not contain a hydrolyzable functional group.

Solubility in organics

(mole fraction):
In 1-butanol: 0.0897, 0.0491, and 0.0308 at 25, 30, and 70 °C, respectively; chlorobenzene: 0.157, 0.0837, and 0.0542 at 25, 30, and 70 °C, respectively; and octane: 0.301, 0.161, and 0.101 at 25, 30, and 70 °C, respectively (Hayduk et al., 1988).
In 1-butanol: 0.0889 and 0.0486 at 25 and 70 °C, respectively; in chlorobenzene: 0.162 and 0.0853 at 25 and 70 °C, respectively; and in carbon tetrachloride: 0.238 and 0.132 at 25 and 70 °C, respectively (Blais and Hayduk, 1983).

Purification Methods

Olefins and moisture can be removed by passage at 65o through a bed of silica-alumina catalyst which has previously been evacuated at about 400o. Alternatively, water and CO2 can be removed by passage through P2O5, then asbestos impregnated with NaOH. Treatment with anhydrous AlBr3 at 0o then removes traces of olefins. Inert gases can be separated by freezing the isobutane at -195o and evacuating out the system. [Beilstein 1 IV 282.]