2-Butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol, often recognized by its acronym BEPD, has carved out a role in both chemical and industrial sectors. The molecule draws interest because of its straightforward three-carbon backbone, with bulky butyl and ethyl groups attached at a central carbon. Chemically, this compound falls under glycol derivatives, where the diol suggests two available hydroxyl groups along its propanediol spine. Lab technicians handling it quickly notice its versatility, as it appears in many different forms — a solid at room temperature, often as flakes or pearls, but capable of dissolving easily into a solution ready for further processing.
The formula C9H20O2 highlights a clear picture about BEPD’s makeup. Every molecule brings 9 carbon atoms, 20 hydrogens, and 2 oxygens together. The structure stays simple visually, but it’s the branching from its ethyl and butyl side chains that delivers distinct qualities to this diol. The molecular weight clocks in at roughly 160.25 g/mol, which isn’t bulky by any means and allows it to blend into various chemical reactions easily. Laboratory notes will confirm — when melted, BEPD can switch between flaky crystals and a viscous liquid, a property that’s been helpful in thermal storage and specific cooling formulations. This adaptability traces to its melting point at about 40-43°C and its boiling point sitting well above 200°C.
Material scientists talk density for a reason. BEPD shows a density in the range of 0.97-0.99 g/cm³ at room temperature—significant when comparing transport or formulation loads in manufacturing environments. Even as a solid, BEPD’s white crystalline flakes look very clean, reflecting purity above 98% in many batches, a factor carefully monitored through quality control. For users, the tactile feel—soft, waxy, slightly slippery—is hard to miss when poured from its shipping containers. Commercial shipments often use bags lined with polyethylene, especially for the powder and flake forms—both designed to keep exposure to moisture at a minimum.
Raw material buyers can pick up BEPD in multiple forms suited for their workflow. Solid flake, fine powder, bead-like pearls, or even as a clear to slightly hazy liquid solution—each form serves a particular use case. Flakes and powders edge out in performance for quick dissolution, while pearls tend to keep dust levels down in large-scale mixing. Some production lines, especially those in heat transfer or specialty coatings, swap between crystal solid and tracked liter-based solutions, depending on batch size or downstream integration. Shipment usually follows packaging guidelines that shield the material from heat, water, and sunlight, given BEPD’s low melting threshold. HS Code 290539 signifies regulatory tracking for customs and international trade, a shared language for importers/exporters worldwide.
BEPD has a noteworthy reputation as a chemical raw material. Many in refrigerant circles know it as a cooling, freezing, or thawing agent—a property layered on by its stable melting point. Lubricant formulators see its diol backbone as a softening or viscosity control agent, especially in niche oil and grease blends. Everyday encounters pop up in adhesives, coatings, and even as an intermediate in other specialty chemical syntheses. Laboratories searching for a mild but effective polyol index find BEPD reliable, as the two hydroxyls link well with various acids or anhydrides, opening doors to new polymers or plasticizers. From a personal angle, anyone developing chemical recipes values products where you can predict how things will behave batch after batch—and BEPD rarely surprises you with variability.
Handling BEPD calls for standard chemical safety measures. Inhalation and ingestion risks sit low, as the solid form limits volatility, but direct contact might irritate the skin or eyes — it pays to keep gloves and goggles handy. SDS sheets flag it as non-flammable and non-explosive in solid form, which reassures work crews during storage and handling, though heating past its boiling point does need vented environments to avoid breathing any vapors. Waste disposal routes BEPD toward industrial wastewater streams, where biodegradation looks good based on available eco-toxicity data; yet, responsible manufacturers check off every regulatory box and keep accidental release to a bare minimum. Harmful or hazardous potential rates as moderate, with no major red flag warnings, yet transparency in reporting batch quality and shipment records cannot slip—track, test, record, repeat.
Anyone in chemical logistics senses supply volatility for specialty diols like BEPD. Raw material price shocks ripple out from oil-based feedstocks, especially during geopolitical flashes or refinery outages. The answer: strengthen supplier diversity. Integrating recycled or biobased acetone derivatives into the synthesis pipeline could buffer costs, if purity holds up across lots. Another gap to close shows up in crystal handling and packaging—powder forms dust up and threaten clean-room protocols. Manufacturers can turn toward granular or pearlized grades with secondary dust suppressant coatings to cut inhalation hazards and environmental spread. On the regulatory side, clearer unified protocols in customs handling (for instance, better harmonization of HS codes with chemical composition data) can cut border delays. Digital tracking of every kilogram, down to batch and lot, helps with traceability for recalls or downstream formulation sameness, something more producers are building into their supply models.
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