The Trace Numbers Behind High Purity N-Butane
Contamination in a solvent does not disappear. It concentrates. That is why the lot analysis matters more than the headline percentage, and this one comes with it. N-butane runs 99.5% or better, with isobutane under 1,500 ppm and neo-pentane under 550 ppm. Propane sits under 500 ppm, isopentane under 20 ppm and ethane under 10 ppm. Water is under 3 ppm, oxygen under 3 ppm, nitrogen under 10 ppm, and sulfur is non-detected. BVV still advises distilling any solvent before use, which is sound practice whatever the certificate says.
What an R600 Butane Tank Is and Is Not
R600 is the refrigerant designation for n-butane, so the same tank answers to two vocabularies depending on which industry is asking. What it is not is a consumer fuel cylinder. There are no hydrogen-sulfide-based mercaptan odorants here. That keeps the solvent clean and removes the warning smell, so ventilation and monitoring have to do that job instead. The vessel is a DOT refillable LP tank with a dip tube for liquid withdrawal, shipping under UN1011 at hazard class 2.1. This is a licensed-operator product with real regulatory strings attached, and the California limits below are not boilerplate.
Key Features
- 99.5% or better n-butane, documented: A trace analysis rather than a purity number with nothing behind it.
- Sulfur non-detected, water under 3 ppm: Two of the traces that matter most, both reported rather than left blank.
- No ethyl mercaptan odorant: Clean, colorless and odorless, which also means no smell to warn you of a leak.
- R600 / UN1011, hazard class 2.1: Refrigerant and transport designations for cross-referencing any spec sheet or shipping paperwork.
- DOT refillable LP tank with dip tube: Transport-rated vessel with liquid withdrawal, sourced in the USA.
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Solvent | N-Butane |
| Refrigerant Designation | R600 |
| Guaranteed Purity | 99.5% |
| Lot Analysis - N-Butane | 99.5%+ |
| Isobutane | <1500 ppm |
| Neo-pentane | <550 ppm |
| Propane | <500 ppm |
| Isopentane | <20 ppm |
| Ethane | <10 ppm |
| Water | <3 ppm |
| Oxygen | <3 ppm |
| Nitrogen | <10 ppm |
| Sulfur | Non-detected |
| Odorant | None - no ethyl mercaptan |
| Tank | DOT refillable LP, dip tube for liquid withdrawal |
| UN Number | UN1011, hazard class 2.1 |
| Origin | USA sourced |
Handling and Regulatory Notes
- Use only in a well-ventilated area, and only for purposes permitted under your local laws and ordinances.
- BVV advises distillation of every solvent before use.
- California restricts retail supply of butane above 150 mL. Permitted channels include licensed volatile-solvent extraction operators under CA Bus & Prof Code Division 10. Medical collectives under CA Health & Safety Code 11362.775 and resellers are also permitted.