Butylated Hydroxytoluene

Description

The antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene(BHT) is contained in food, adhesive glues, industrial oils and greases, including cutting fluids. Sensitization seems very rare. Formulations containing BHT have been used as antioxidant cosmetic and food additives.

Chemical properties

Butylated hydroxytoluene occurs as a white or pale yellow crystalline solid or powder with a faint characteristic phenolic odor.

Occurrence

Not reported found naturally.

The Uses of Butylated Hydroxytoluene

Butylated Hydroxytoluene is also known as butylated hydroxy toluene. It is an anti-oxidant that also has preservative and masking capabilities.

Preparation

Butylated Hydroxytoluene is produced commercially by the alkylation of para-cresol with isobutylene. Butylated Hydroxytoluene is also produced by several western European manufacturers, production/processing plants in Germany, France, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and Spain.

Production Methods

Prepared by the reaction of p-cresol with isobutene.

Definition

ChEBI: A member of the class of phenols that is 4-methylphenol substituted by tert-butyl groups at positions 2 and 6.

General Description

White crystalline solid.

Air & Water Reactions

Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

Phenols, such as 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol, do not behave as organic alcohols, as one might guess from the presence of a hydroxyl (-OH) group in their structure. Instead, they react as weak organic acids. Phenols and cresols are much weaker as acids than common carboxylic acids (phenol has Ka = 1.3 x 10^[-10]). These materials are incompatible with strong reducing substances such as hydrides, nitrides, alkali metals, and sulfides. Flammable gas (H2) is often generated, and the heat of the reaction may ignite the gas. Heat is also generated by the acid-base reaction between phenols and bases. Such heating may initiate polymerization of the organic compound. Phenols are sulfonated very readily (for example, by concentrated sulfuric acid at room temperature). The reactions generate heat. Phenols are also nitrated very rapidly, even by dilute nitric acid. Nitrated phenols often explode when heated. Many of them form metal salts that tend toward detonation by rather mild shock. May react with oxidizing materials.

Health Hazard

2,6-Di-tert-butyl-p-cresol or Butylated Hydroxytoluene is of relatively low acute toxicity in animals, and there is no evidence of either acute or chronic effects among exposed workers.

Fire Hazard

2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol is combustible.

Flammability and Explosibility

Non flammable

Pharmaceutical Applications

Butylated hydroxytoluene is used as an antioxidant in cosmetics, foods, and pharmaceuticals. It is mainly used to delay or prevent the oxidative rancidity of fats and oils and to prevent loss of activity of oil-soluble vitamins.
Butylated hydroxytoluene is also used at 0.5–1.0% w/w concentration in natural or synthetic rubber to provide enhanced color stability.
Butylated hydroxytoluene has some antiviral activity and has been used therapeutically to treat herpes simplex labialis.

Biochem/physiol Actions

Butylated hydroxytoluene is a phenolic antioxidant. It has been shown to inhibit lipid peroxidation. It causes lung injury and promotes tumors in mice, but this may be due to a metabolite of Butylated Hydroxytoluene, 6-tert-butyl-2-[2′-(2′-hydroxymethyl)-propyl]-4-methylphenol. Metabolites of Butylated Hydroxytoluene have also been reported to induce DNA strand breaks and internucleosomal DNA fragmentation (a characteristic of apoptosis) in cultured cells. In rats, a single intraperitoneal injection of Butylated Hydroxytoluene (60 mg/kg body mass) results in a significant increase in nuclear DNA methyl transferase activity in the liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, brain and lungs. Incubation of alveolar macrophages with Butylated Hydroxytoluene significantly reduced the level of TNF-α which may explain the mechanism by which this antioxidant reduces inflammation. Preincubation of aspirin-treated platelets with Butylated Hydroxytoluene inhibits the secretion, aggregation, and protein phosphorylation induced by protein kinase C activators. Butylated Hydroxytoluene was also found to inhibit the initiation of hepatocarcinogenesis by aflatoxin B1.

Contact allergens

This antioxidant is contained in food, adhesive glues, industrial oils, and greases, including cutting fluids. Sensitization seems very rare.

First aid

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove anycontact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least15 min, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts theskin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediatelywith soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. Ifthis chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure,begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR ifheart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medicalfacility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and inducevomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.

Butylated Hydroxytoluene Application

Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) as a general antioxidant is used widely in polymer materials, petroleum products and food processing industries. It is commonly used rubber antioxidant, heat, oxygen aging have some protective effect, but also can inhibit copper harm.

Carcinogenicity

The IARC has determined that there is limited evidence for the carcinogenicity of Butylated Hydroxytoluene in experimental animals.Butylated Hydroxytoluene has given primarily negative results in a large number of in vivo and in vitro genotoxic assays.No significant reproductive effects were observed in three-generation toxicity studies in mice administered up to 0.4% in the diet.6 The 2003 ACGIH threshold limit valuetime- weighted average (TLV-TWA) for 2,6-ditert- butyl-p-cresol is 2mg/m3.

Environmental Fate

The metabolites of Butylated Hydroxytoluene can bind to cellular macromolecules, such as proteins and DNA, and cause toxicity.

Potential Exposure

DBPC is used as a food and feed additive, flavor, and packaging material; as an antioxidant in human foods and animal feeds. It is also used as an antioxidant to sta- bilize petroleum fuels, rubber and vinyl plastics.

Safety Profile

Poison by intraperitoneal andintravenous routes. Moderately toxic by ingestion. Anexperimental teratogen. Other experimental reproductiveeffects. A human skin irritant. A skin and eye irritant.Questionable carcinogen with experimental carcinogenicand.

Safety

Butylated hydroxytoluene is readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and is metabolized and excreted in the urine mainly as glucuronide conjugates of oxidation products. Although there have been some isolated reports of adverse skin reactions, butylated hydroxytoluene is generally regarded as nonirritant and nonsensitizing at the levels employed as an antioxidant.
The WHO has set a temporary estimated acceptable daily intake for butylated hydroxytoluene at up to 125 μg/kg body-weight.
Ingestion of 4 g of butylated hydroxytoluene, although causing severe nausea and vomiting, has been reported to be nonfatal.
LD₅₀ (guinea pig, oral): 10.7 g/kg
LD₅₀ (mouse, IP): 0.14 g/kg
LD₅₀ (mouse, IV): 0.18 g/kg
LD₅₀ (mouse, oral): 0.65 g/kg
LD₅₀ (rat, oral): 0.89 g/kg

Storage

Exposure to light, moisture, and heat causes discoloration and a loss of activity. Butylated hydroxytoluene should be stored in a wellclosed container, protected from light, in a cool, dry place.

Shipping

UN2811 Toxic solids, organic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required.

Purification Methods

Dissolve Butylated Hydroxytoluene in n-hexane at room temperature, then cool with rapid stirring, to -60o. The precipitate is separated, redissolved in hexane, and the process is repeated until the mother liquor is no longer coloured. The final product is stored under N2 at 0o [Blanchard J Am Chem Soc 82 2014 1960]. It has also been recrystallised from EtOH, MeOH, *benzene, n-hexane, methylcyclohexane or pet ether (b 60-80o), and is dried in a vacuum. [Beilstein 6 IV 3511.]

Toxicity evaluation

Butylated Hydroxytoluene is a white crystalline solid. It is insoluble in water and alkalies; but soluble in most common organic solvents such as alcohol and ether. Its melting point is 70°C, boiling point is 265°C, flash point is 127°C, and specific gravity is 1.048 at 20°C.

Incompatibilities

Butylated hydroxytoluene is phenolic and undergoes reactions characteristic of phenols. It is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents such as peroxides and permanganates. Contact with oxidizing agents may cause spontaneous combustion. Iron salts cause discoloration with loss of activity. Heating with catalytic amounts of acids causes rapid decomposition with the release of the flammable gas isobutene.

Regulatory Status

GRAS listed. Accepted as a food additive in Europe. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (IM and IV injections, nasal sprays, oral capsules and tablets, rectal, topical, and vaginal preparations). Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.