NBA decoded — and where this guide goes next
NBA is n-butanol: normal butyl alcohol, also written butan-1-ol, CAS 71-36-3. That single sentence settles the abbreviation. If you are decoding a longer list of trade terms, our glossary of 42 Indian chemical trade abbreviations handles NBA alongside CPW, MDC and SMBS. This guide goes deeper on the substance itself: what n-butanol does, the esters made from it, why its branched isomer is a different purchase, and the grade we hold. Ready to buy? Go straight to the Butanol (NBA) product page.
What is n-butanol?
n-Butanol is a four-carbon, straight-chain primary alcohol, molecular formula C₄H₁₀O. It is a clear colourless liquid. In the coatings and ink industries it earns its keep twice over — once as a direct solvent, and again as the feedstock for butyl esters and glycol ethers. On transport and customs paperwork it moves as UN 1120, hazard Class 3 (flammable liquid), under HSN code 2905 13 00.
The prefix matters. Butanol names a family of isomers, and Indian trade shorthand separates them by prefix. NBA always denotes the normal, straight-chain isomer.
n-Butanol vs iso-butanol: two different purchases
Iso-butanol — isobutyl alcohol or 2-methyl-1-propanol, CAS 78-83-1 — is the branched-chain butanol. It shares n-butanol's molecular formula but not its structure, and it carries a different evaporation profile. A formulation written around one does not accept the other unless it says so. We stock both, which is exactly why our paperwork never says just "butanol".
| Butanol (NBA) | Iso-Butanol | |
|---|---|---|
| Chemical name | n-Butanol (normal butyl alcohol, butan-1-ol) | Isobutyl alcohol (2-methyl-1-propanol) |
| CAS number | 71-36-3 | 78-83-1 |
| Structure | Straight-chain | Branched-chain |
| Grade we stock | Industrial Grade (BIS certified), 99.50 wt% min | BPCL Commercial Grade, 99.5% min |
| Manufacturer | The Andhra Petrochemicals Limited (APL), Visakhapatnam | BPCL |
| Packaging | Bulk road tanker | MS/HDPE drums or bulk road tanker |
Both product pages carry the full record: Butanol (NBA) and Iso-Butanol.
What n-butanol is used for
Butyl acetate and butyl acrylate feedstock
The biggest pull on n-butanol is esterification. With acetic acid it gives butyl acetate (CAS 123-86-4) — the slower-evaporating ester whose flow and levelling control keeps it in automotive and industrial coating formulations. With acrylic acid it gives butyl acrylate (CAS 141-32-2), the MEHQ-inhibited monomer behind acrylic emulsion polymers for water-based paints, pressure-sensitive adhesives and textile binders. Both esters sit in our catalogue alongside the alcohol they come from.
Paints, coatings and lacquers
As a solvent in its own right, n-butanol goes into paint, coating and lacquer formulations, and into the thinner blends that serve them. It is one of the standard alcohols a coatings formulator specifies when a blend needs an alcohol component.
Printing inks
Ink makers use n-butanol as a solvent in printing-ink formulations. Its ester butyl acetate serves the same industry, and the two frequently appear on the same purchase order.
Adhesives, resins and plasticizer intermediates
Adhesive and resin formulations take n-butanol as a solvent. It also works as an intermediate on the plasticizer side — the dibutyl esters, such as DBP, are built on it.
Glycol ether feedstock
n-Butanol is the butyl half of butyl cellosolve — ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, CAS 111-76-2 — the slow-evaporating, high-solvency glycol ether specified for coatings and cleaners. Feedstock demand from glycol-ether production sits alongside ester demand as a steady pull on NBA volumes.
The grade we stock
We hold one NBA grade, chosen for volume buyers who take full tanker loads. It is manufactured by The Andhra Petrochemicals Limited (APL) at Visakhapatnam — we are the distributor, not the manufacturer — and every consignment ships against APL's batch Certificate of Analysis.
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Grade | Industrial Grade (BIS certified) |
| Purity | 99.50 wt% min (Normal Butanol, per manufacturer's CoA) |
| Appearance | Clear colourless liquid |
| Manufacturer | The Andhra Petrochemicals Limited (APL), Visakhapatnam |
| Packaging | Bulk road tanker |
| HSN code | 2905 13 00 |
| UN number | 1120 |
| Hazard class | Class 3 — Flammable liquid |
Specification values are indicative of the grade; the batch Certificate of Analysis governs. The TDS and SDS for Butanol (NBA) are in our documents library.
Handling and storage
n-Butanol is a Class 3 flammable liquid. Keep it away from heat, sparks and open flames. Store and transfer it in well-ventilated areas, with grounding and bonding in place during transfer. Read the SDS before first receipt — it carries the full hazard, first-aid and spill-response detail.
FAQ
Is NBA the same as butanol?
NBA is one specific butanol. Butanol names a family of isomers, and NBA always denotes n-butanol — the normal, straight-chain isomer, CAS 71-36-3. If a document says only "butanol", confirm which isomer is meant before quoting or despatching.
What is the difference between n-butanol and iso-butanol?
They are isomers, not substitutes. n-Butanol (CAS 71-36-3) is straight-chain; iso-butanol (CAS 78-83-1) is branched, with a different evaporation profile. A formulation written around one does not accept the other unless it says so. We stock both.
Which chemicals are made from n-butanol?
Its esters and ethers. Butyl acetate (CAS 123-86-4) for coatings and printing inks, butyl acrylate (CAS 141-32-2) for acrylic emulsion polymers, butyl cellosolve (CAS 111-76-2) on the glycol-ether side, and dibutyl esters such as DBP on the plasticizer side.
What grade of n-butanol does SPC supply?
BIS-certified Industrial Grade, 99.50 wt% minimum purity, manufactured by The Andhra Petrochemicals Limited (APL) at Visakhapatnam. Every consignment ships against the manufacturer's batch Certificate of Analysis.
How is NBA supplied and transported?
By bulk road tanker from Chennai, with dispatch across South India. It travels as UN 1120, hazard Class 3, under HSN code 2905 13 00.
Raise an NBA enquiry
Write the product line as "Butanol (NBA), n-butanol, CAS 71-36-3", add the quantity and the delivery point, and a quotation can be prepared without a follow-up call. Reach Sanketh on WhatsApp at +91 86087 80096, write to admin@supremepetrochemicals.com, or use the contact page.