Butyric acid - BEPOCH MASTER GLOBAL BUSINESS(JIANGSU)INC_Basic Chemicals

Butyric acid

Appearance and State: It appears as a colorless to pale yellow transparent oily liquid. It has a pungent and unpleasant odor that is quite characteristic and easily distinguishable.
Melting Point: The melting point of n-butyric acid is around -7.9 °C. At temperatures slightly below 0 °C, it remains in a liquid state, but its physical properties like fluidity may change as it approaches the melting point.
Boiling Point: It boils at 163.5 °C. At this temperature, it changes from a liquid to a gaseous state. This boiling point characteristic is often utilized in separation and purification processes such as distillation.
Relative Density: The relative density compared to water (with water taken as 1) is 0.9587. This means it is slightly less dense than water, so when mixed with water and left undisturbed, it will float on top of the water layer and form a separate layer.
Relative Vapor Density: With respect to air (taking air as 1), its relative vapor density is 3.04. This indicates that its vapor is heavier than air, and in case of leakage, the vapor tends to accumulate in low-lying areas.
Solubility: n-Butyric acid is highly soluble in water and can mix with water in any proportion. Additionally, it is also soluble in common organic solvents such as ethanol, ether, and acetone, which makes it suitable for use in a wide variety of chemical reaction systems and industrial applications.

MSDS

Applications

Food Industry:
- As a Food Flavor: Despite its pungent smell when in a concentrated state, n-butyric acid can add a unique flavor to foods when diluted. It is commonly used in the formulation of various edible flavors. For example, it plays an important role in shaping the flavors of dairy products, baked goods (such as cakes and breads), and candies, enriching the taste profiles of these products.
- As an Acidity Regulator: It can also be used as an acidity regulator in food processing. It helps adjust the pH of foods to meet the processing requirements of different foods and ensure the quality characteristics such as taste and stability of the products.
Chemical Industry:
- Production of Butyric Acid Esters: It is a crucial raw material for the synthesis of numerous butyric acid esters, like methyl butyrate and ethyl butyrate. These esters have wide applications in the chemical industry. For example, methyl butyrate can be used as a solvent and a flavor intermediate, while ethyl butyrate is often applied in coatings, inks, etc., to dissolve resins and improve the rheological properties of coatings.
- Synthesis of Butyric Acid Cellulose: n-Butyric acid participates in the synthesis of butyric acid cellulose. Compared with ordinary cellulose, butyric acid cellulose has better solubility, flexibility, and water resistance. It has specific application scenarios in fields such as coatings, plastics, and films, for example, in the manufacturing of high-quality coatings and plastic products with special performance requirements.