How much do you know about iso-butane?

Iso-butane, also known as 2-methylpropane, is an organic Compound with the chemical formula C4H10. It is a colorless flammable gas at room temperature and pressure. It is slightly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol, ether, etc., and forms an explosive mixture with air. It mainly exists in natural gas, refinery gas and cracking gas. It is obtained by physical separation and is mainly used to produce isooctane through hydrocarbonization with isobutylene. It is used as an improver for gasoline octane number and can also be used as a refrigerant.

In terms of application, first of all, iso-butane is mainly used to produce isooctane through alkylation with isobutylene, which is used as a gasoline octane improver. It can be cracked to produce isobutylene and propylene, and alkylated gasoline can be produced by alkylation with n-butene and propylene. It can also produce methacrylic acid, acetone and methanol. Iso-butane can also be used as a refrigerant. In addition, high-purity iso-butane is mainly used as standard gas and for preparing special standard mixed gas.

In terms of storage, iso-butane should be stored in a cool, ventilated warehouse dedicated to flammable gases, and kept away from fire and heat sources. The warehouse temperature should not exceed 30°C. Iso-butane and oxidants should be stored separately and should not be mixed. It is recommended to use explosion-proof lighting and ventilation facilities. Mechanical equipment and tools that are prone to sparks are prohibited. In addition, the storage area should be equipped with leakage emergency treatment equipment.

When a leak occurs, personnel in the leaking contaminated area should be quickly evacuated to an upwind location for isolation, entry and exit should be strictly restricted, and the fire source and leak source should be cut off. It is recommended that emergency response personnel wear self-contained positive pressure respirators and anti-static work clothes. Use industrial coverings or adsorbents/absorbents to cover sewers and other places near the leak point to prevent gas from entering. Ventilate the leak as much as possible to accelerate gas diffusion, and spray water to accelerate dilution and dissolution. You can also build dikes or dig pits to contain the large amount of wastewater generated. If possible, use an exhaust fan to send the leaked gas to an open area or install an appropriate nozzle to burn it. You can also move the leaking container to an open area and pay attention to ventilation. It should be noted that leaking containers should be properly handled and used after repair and inspection.