Butylated Hydroxytoluene

Synonyms:  Agidol; BHT; 2,6-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-4-methylphenol; butylhydroxytoluene; butylhydroxytoluenum; Dalpac; dibutylated hydroxytoluene; 2,6-di-tert-butyl-p-cresol; 3,5-di-tert-butyl-4- hydroxytoluene; E321; Embanox BHT; Impruvol; Ionol CP; Nipanox BHT; OHS28890; Sustane; Tenox BHT; Topanol; Vianol

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

Chemical Name: 2,6-Di-tert-butyl-4-methylphenol

Antioxidant

• 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.

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.

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.

Observe normal precautions appropriate to the circumstances and quantity of material handled. Butylated hydroxytoluene may be irritant to the eyes and skin and on inhalation

Butylated hydroxyanisole.