Summary. Butyl cellosolve has four common names and several look-alike relatives, so the paperwork check matters. Match CAS 111-76-2 across quote, TDS, CoA and invoice, then test each of the five CoA results against the TDS limits (SPC-TDS-GLY-005), then check drum labels against the SDS transport entry (UN 2369, Class 6.1). The grade is Solvent Grade, not food or pharma grade.
Three documents, three jobs
When you buy butyl cellosolve (2-butoxyethanol, CAS 111-76-2), three documents describe it.
- Technical data sheet (TDS): the specification limits the product is offered against. Ours is SPC-TDS-GLY-005.
- Batch Certificate of Analysis (CoA): the measured results for the lot you receive. A batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery.
- Safety data sheet (SDS): hazards, handling, storage, exposure limits and transport entries.
The TDS tells you what to expect, the CoA tells you what arrived, and the SDS tells you how to handle it. The full limits and SDS values are on the product page under specifications and safety and storage; this guide is about checking one against the other.
Step 1: order by CAS, not by name
The same solvent is sold as butyl cellosolve, 2-butoxyethanol, butyl glycol (BG) and ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE): CAS 111-76-2. The word butyl appears in several different products, so a quote that says only butyl glycol can be ambiguous to a purchase department. The CAS number settles it.
| Name on a quote | What it is | CAS |
|---|---|---|
| Butyl cellosolve, butyl glycol, 2-butoxyethanol, EGBE | Ethylene glycol monobutyl ether: the product on this page | 111-76-2 |
| Butyl carbitol, butyl diglycol | Diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (general knowledge: butyl diglycol is the common name for butyl carbitol) | 112-34-5 |
| Butyl cellosolve acetate, sometimes called butyl glycol acetate | 2-butoxyethyl acetate, the acetate ester | 112-07-2 |
| Ethyl cellosolve | 2-ethoxyethanol, the ethyl analogue | 110-80-5 |
Source: CAS numbers from each product's TDS. See butyl carbitol, butyl cellosolve acetate and ethyl cellosolve for each product's own data. Butyl diglycol acetate is not covered on these pages.
Ordering mistakes to avoid
- Ordering butyl glycol acetate when you want the parent ether, or the reverse. The acetate is only limitedly soluble in water; the ether is miscible.
- Ordering butyl diglycol when you want butyl glycol. They are different products with different CAS numbers and boiling points (about 171 C and about 231 C).
- Accepting a document set where the CAS on the TDS, the CoA and the invoice do not all say 111-76-2.
For a performance comparison of these solvents, see our glycol ether selection guide. This page is about reading the paperwork.
Step 2: check the CoA against the TDS, row by row
A TDS limit is a boundary the product must stay inside, not a typical result. Our TDS does not state a test method for any row, so a dispute about a result should start with agreeing the method. Check each CoA result against its limit:
| Row | TDS limit | CoA result passes if |
|---|---|---|
| Butyl cellosolve purity | 99.0% wt min | at or above 99.0% wt |
| Water content | 0.10% wt max | at or below 0.10% wt |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | 0.010% wt max | at or below 0.010% wt |
| Colour, Pt-Co | 10 max | at or below 10 |
| Specific gravity at 20/20 C | 0.9005 to 0.9040 | inside the range, at the stated temperature basis |
Source: SPC technical data sheet SPC-TDS-GLY-005.
General notes, not additional specification: specific gravity at 20/20 C means liquid and reference water are both at 20 C, so a reading taken at another temperature should be corrected before comparing. The SDS quotes a relative density of 0.902 at 20 C, which sits inside the TDS range. A reading far outside the range is a reason to question the lot. Because the solvent is miscible with water, keep drums closed so water content does not drift after delivery.
If a result is outside its limit
General quality-control practice, not specific to our documents. First check that the unit and basis on the CoA match the TDS row (percent by weight, the Pt-Co scale, the 20/20 C basis). Then keep the drums closed and set the lot aside rather than releasing it to production. Ask the supplier which method produced the number, and if the result still matters to your process, have a retained sample tested by an independent laboratory using an agreed method. Record the batch number against every step, so the lot can be traced afterwards.
Step 3: confirm identity and traceability on the CoA
- Confirm the product name, CAS number 111-76-2 and grade (Solvent Grade) on the CoA.
- Match the batch number on the CoA to the batch number on the drum labels.
- Confirm that the drum label shows UN 2369, Class 6.1 and the product name, as SDS section 14 describes.
- File the CoA with the SDS. If any value is outside its limit, raise it with the supplier before using the lot.
General quality-control practice, not specific to our documents: a CoA that reports every value exactly at its limit is worth a question, since measured results normally sit somewhere inside the range. Likewise, a CoA with a different CAS or a different grade from the order should be rejected before the drums are opened.
Step 4: use the SDS for handling and labels
Our SDS gives the signal word Danger with H302, H312, H315, H318, H331, H332 and H227, and the transport entry UN 2369, Class 6.1, Packing Group III, shipping name 2-BUTOXYETHANOL. It describes evaporation as slow relative to n-butyl acetate. The SDS asks carriers to verify the transport entry against the current edition of the regulations, and so should you if you ship it yourself. Handling means ventilation, gloves and eye protection; see the safety and storage section for the full list.
Step 5: confirm the grade is right for the job
The grade on our TDS is Solvent Grade, for industrial and professional use. It is not a food grade or a pharma grade. If your process needs either of those, this grade is not the right material, and the SDS asks users to confirm suitability for the final application before use.
Quick checklist before you approve a lot
- CAS 111-76-2 on the quote, TDS, CoA and invoice.
- Five CoA results inside the TDS limits.
- MS drums labelled UN 2369, Class 6.1, batch number matching the CoA.
- Safety data sheet in the hands of whoever will handle the drums.
- HSN 2909 43 00 as stated on the TDS, for your own records. We do not state a duty or GST rate; confirm it with your adviser.
Get the documents with a quote
SPC is a Chennai importer and distributor of Butyl Cellosolve solvent, not a manufacturer, supplying from our Redhills warehouse across Chennai, Tamil Nadu and South India. Send the quantity, delivery location and intended use by WhatsApp to +91 86087 80096 or through the enquiry form on the butyl cellosolve product page, and we quote within 4 working hours. The TDS and SDS are on that page, and a batch Certificate of Analysis is supplied with every delivery.