Butanone (CAS 78-93-3): storage and disposal
Butanone is a ketone solvent kept in school, college and university stores, often under an older name. It is a highly flammable liquid that causes serious eye irritation and may cause drowsiness or dizziness. Many bottles carry methyl ethyl ketone or MEK on the label, and some read methyl acetone, which invites confusion with acetone. Getting the name right on the waste record is half the job.
- CAS number
- 78-93-3
- Form
- Liquid
- Storage class
- Flammable
- Signal word
- Danger
- Usual EWC code
- 16 05 06*
Flammable
Harmful or irritant
What to do this week
- Check the label is readable and write down the opened date if it is not already there.
- Check it is stored as flammable stock and apart from the items listed under "Do not store with".
- If you no longer need it, add it to your disposal list so it goes on the next collection.
Safe storage in a school or lab
Start with what it must be kept away from. Nitric acid reacts violently with organic solvents like butanone and can ignite them or build pressure in a waste bottle, and perchloric acid forms explosive mixtures with organic material. Those two should never share a shelf or a tray with it. Flammable stock goes in a ventilated fire-resistant cabinet with spill containment, away from ignition sources and oxidisers. A school prep room that keeps its solvents on an open shelf near the acids is the usual weak point. Only a spark-free refrigerator should hold it if cooling is needed. Keep the label name readable on every bottle, including older names.
How to tell it has deteriorated
A technician will see level first. A highly volatile solvent in a bottle that has been opened often drops steadily, so compare the bottle with the stock list. Next look at the label, since older bottles carry names such as methyl ethyl ketone or methyl acetone and the print fades where it has been splashed. Check for a bulging or sucked-in container, a leaking seal, a stained cap thread and a bottle that has thickened or changed colour. Butanone has few visual signs of age beyond these, so the container and label are what you are judging. A bottle with no readable name is treated as unknown stock.
How it must be disposed of
By specialist collection only. It never goes down the drain or into general waste. It is normally packed in a flammable laboratory pack with compatible chemicals.
Before asking for a collection, write down the container itself: its size, how full it is, the name printed on the label and any other name on it. Because butanone appears as methyl ethyl ketone and methyl acetone, a record that gives only one name can lead to it being mistaken for another solvent. The collector groups it with compatible organic liquids in a lab pack and describes it under waste code 16 05 06*, or 16 05 08* where it is a discarded organic chemical outside a pack. It does not belong in a sink, a drain or a skip, and treating it first is not an option.
| EWC code, laboratory chemicals | 16 05 06* |
|---|---|
| Discarded organic chemical, not a laboratory pack | 16 05 08* |
| Hazardous waste | Yes |
20 01 13* (solvents) belongs to municipal collections and is shown for reference only. It is not the normal code for a laboratory collection.
The code depends on where the waste came from and what it is mixed with. Use the waste code finder to see why.
Do not store with
- OxidiserOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
- AcidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
- CorrosiveA leak of corrosive stock can break down flammable containers and feed a fire.
Named chemicals to keep apart
- Acetic acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
- Calcium hypochloriteOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
- Hydrochloric acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
- Hydrogen peroxideOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
- Nitric acidNitric acid reacts violently with organic solvents and can ignite them or build pressure in waste bottles.
- Perchloric acidPerchloric acid forms explosive mixtures with organic material.
- Potassium nitrateOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
- Potassium permanganateOxidisers can ignite flammable materials or make a fire far more intense.
Show 3 more
- Sulfuric acidOxidising acids can ignite flammable materials, and acid fumes attack containers and seals.
- Thionyl chlorideA leak of corrosive stock can break down flammable containers and feed a fire.
- Zinc chlorideA leak of corrosive stock can break down flammable containers and feed a fire.
Common quantities we collect
Usually held as: neat.
Part-used bottles and full containers are both fine. Tell us the size and how many, and an estimate is enough for a first price.
Where it is commonly held
Hazard statements
- H225 Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
- H319 Causes serious eye irritation.
- H336 May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Precautionary statements
- P210 Keep away from heat, hot surfaces, sparks, open flames and other ignition sources. No smoking.
- P233 Keep container tightly closed.
- P240 Ground and bond container and receiving equipment.
- P241 Use explosion-proof electrical, ventilating and lighting equipment.
- P242 Use non-sparking tools.
- P243 Take action to prevent static discharges.
- P261 Avoid breathing dust, fume, gas, mist, vapours or spray.
- P264+P265 Wash hands and exposed skin thoroughly after handling. Do not touch eyes.
- P271 Use only outdoors or in a well-ventilated area.
- P280 Wear protective gloves, protective clothing, eye protection and face protection.
- P303+P361+P353 IF ON SKIN (or hair): Take off immediately all contaminated clothing. Rinse skin with water or shower.
- P304+P340 IF INHALED: Remove person to fresh air and keep comfortable for breathing.
- P305+P351+P338 IF IN EYES: Rinse cautiously with water for several minutes. Remove contact lenses, if present and easy to do. Continue rinsing.
- P319 Get medical help if you feel unwell.
- P337+P317 If eye irritation persists: Get medical help.
- P370+P378 In case of fire: Use suitable extinguishing media to extinguish.
- P403+P233 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep container tightly closed.
- P403+P235 Store in a well-ventilated place. Keep cool.
- P405 Store locked up.
- P501 Dispose of contents and container in accordance with local, regional, national and international regulations.
Substance as classified, dilutions may differ.
Questions
Is butanone the same as acetone?
No. They are different chemicals, though both are ketone solvents with similar hazard statements. Some old labels use methyl acetone for butanone, which causes mix-ups, so record the CAS number or full label name when you list stock.
Can we keep butanone next to perchloric acid if both are in trays?
No. Perchloric acid forms explosive mixtures with organic material, and a spill or leak between trays is enough. Put them in separate cabinets, with the acid in a corrosive store and the solvent in the fire-resistant cabinet.
What do we do with a butanone bottle labelled only MEK?
Treat MEK as a short name for methyl ethyl ketone, which is another name for butanone, but check the supplier label and any CAS number printed on it. If you are not sure, mark it unknown and tell the collector.
Do we need to count the volume left in each bottle?
Yes. Give an approximate fill for each bottle and note whether it is sealed. The collector packs by container, and a part empty bottle with a loose cap is described differently from a sealed one.
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