Preparation of Butan-1-Ol
In the past, crotonaldehyde which was formed from acetaldehyde was used to produce butanol. It can also be produced by fermentation of glycerol, mannite, starches, and sugars in general by using bacteria like Bacillus butylicus. It can also be produced by using Clostridium acetobutylicum in industrial fermentation.
The main commercial source of 1-butanol is n-butyraldehyde, which can be formed through the oxo-reaction of propylene. In this process, a mixture of n and isobutyraldehyde is formed. This mixture can be either separated initially and the individual isomers of the aldehyde hydrogenated, or this mixture of isomeric aldehydes can be hydrogenated directly and the resultant mixture of the n-and isobutyl alcohol is separated by distillation.
Butan-1-Ol can also be produced by another method that involves the Reppe reaction of propylene with CO and water.
CH3CH=CH2 + H2O + 2CO → CH3CH2CH2CH2OH + CO2
Butan-1-Ol Formula
Butan-1-Ol is also termed 1-Butanol or n-butanol or n-butyl alcohol. It is a primary alcohol with the chemical formula C4H9OH that has a four-carbon structure. It has a linear structure with four carbon atoms, ten hydrogen atoms, and one oxygen atom. n-Butanol occurs naturally as a minor byproduct of the fermentation of sugars and carbohydrates. It is also present in many foods and drinks. Isobutanol, butan-2-ol, and tert-butanol are the isomers of butan-1-ol. It is a colourless and refractive liquid that has a harsh, mildly alcoholic, sweet, and banana-like odour. Small amounts of Butan-1-ol are produced in humans by gut microbes. It is used in organic chemical synthesis, plasticizers, detergents, etc.