Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) or butanone, with the chemical formula C4H8O, is a colorless, flammable liquid with a boiling point and low viscosity and very high strength. It has a very pungent and sweet odor (similar to that of mint), is water-soluble and oil-soluble, and evaporates rapidly.
What is Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)?
Like acetone, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) is made from wood distillation or dehydrogenation of olefin derivatives of type 2 alcohol. Ketoxim methyl ethyl ketone is used as the main material in the production of methyl ethyl ketone peroxide. It is also known by other names, including ethyl methyl ketone, methyl acetone, and 2-butanone.
It is a synthetic material but is also found in natural resources in the environment. It is naturally produced by some trees and is found in small amounts in some fruits and vegetables. For example, natural water is an apple, bean, chicken, honey and cheese.
Application of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)?
this material has many applications in industry, for example, it can be used in the manufacture of plastics, textiles, paraffin wax production in alcohol, paint cleaner, paint production, varnish and also in the production of coatings. It can also be used as a polyurethane solvent for Kauchou Nitrile Neoprene, which is the basis of industrial cement and for printing ink, adhesive cleaning solution and rubber adhesives. Other applications include polyurethane solvent in the synthetic leather industry, aluminum foil and transparent paper.
It is used to extract waxes, oils, fats and vegetable oils, and natural resins from crude oil, and is used in refineries to separate aromatherapies. It is also used as an intermediate in the preparation of antioxidant fragrances and as a separating agent in the preparation of reinforced glass wool polyester, which is used in vehicles such as ships, cars, and tanks that hold chemicals.