Isobutylene - C4H8
This page gathers the main information on isobutylene or "isobutene, 2-methypropene" (C4H8) such as its physical characteristics, its effects on health, the ways to detect it (C4H8 gas detector) as well as the adapted respiratory protection equipments (gas mask or powered air purifying apparatus with gas filter type AX).
Main characteristics of toluene (C4H8)
Isobutylene (C4H8) is a branched alkene with four carbon atoms and is a colorless and flammable gas at normal temperature and pressure. The main method of industrial production remains the catalytic dehydrogenation of isobutane7. The production of isobutene increased significantly in the 1990s with the increase in demand for MTBE (methyl tert-butyl ether), a gasoline additive, which increases its octane rating.
| CAS | TWA (8 hours) | STEL (15 minutes) | LEL | IP | Density / Air | Filter / SCBA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 203-625-9 | 1.8 % | 9.24 eV | 1.94 | AX |
Health effects of isobutylene (C4H8)
Isobutene is a highly flammable gas. It presents risks of explosion. It is generally stored as a compressed gas, the risk being, in addition to explosions, that it produces an asphyxiating atmosphere if it is released in an uncontrolled way by simple depletion of oxygen.
Isobutylene detector (C4H8)
Colorless and odorless, only a C4H8 gas detector can accurately measure the concentrations of this gas. Although explosive at 1.8 % volume, an explosivity measurement is useless with this toxic gas, so we will use isobutylene detection in ppm.
For calibration and gas tests of your fixed or portable gas detectors, cylinders of isobutylene calibration gas are available.
C4H8 respiratory protection (Isobutylene)
Respiratory protection with filters such as half-masks or full-face masks with AX-type anti-gas filters should be used for short-duration work, or a powered air purifying respirator (which is more comfortable) for long and demanding work.