Ingredient Dictionary

MIBK

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) can cause cancer according to California Labor Code.

Definition

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone (MIBK) can cause cancer according to California Labor Code. It can cause developmental toxicity according to The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII U5T7B88CNP · registered name Methyl isobutyl ketone · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Gives the product a scentPERFUMINGBase that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENTMakes alcohol undrinkableDENATURANT

Safety & regulatory references

Banned: ASEAN · European Union · United Kingdom · 유럽

Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

EU Cosmetics Regulation, Annex II (prohibited substances), entry 1689

Source: EU prohibited substances (Annex II)

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report: Amended Safety Assessment of MIBK as Used in Cosmetics

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

Reviewed by CIR: Safety Assessment of MIBK (Methyl Isobutyl Ketone)

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name ＭＩＢＫ: 本品は、次の化学式で表される脂肪族ケトンである。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

MIBKINCI미비케이Korean label name (MFDS standard)2-Pentanone, 4-methyl-Synonym

CAS No.chemical registry number: 108-10-1
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 203-550-1
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID5021889
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID701889

IUPAC: 4-Methylpentan-2-one
Molecular formula: C6H12O
Molecular weight: 100.161 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Methyl isobutyl ketone appears as a clear colorless liquid with a pleasant odor. Flash point 73 °F. Less dense than water. Vapors heavier than air. · CBI, Liquid
Odour: Pleasant odor · Faint, ketonic and camphor odor
Boiling point: 243 to 244 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 115.7 °C
Melting point: -120.5 °F (NTP, 1992) · -85 °C
Solubility: 1 to 5 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992) · Water/air, blood/air, oil (olive oil)/air, oil/water, and oil/blood partition (or solubility) coefficients of methyl isobutyl ketone were measured by vial-equilibration in combination with gas chromatography. Partition coefficients for methyl isobutyl ketone: water/air: 79, blood/air: 90, oil/air: 926. The blood/air partition coefficients for ketones are almost in the same range as the water/air,
Density: 0.802 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float
Colour: colourless
Melting/freezing point: -84 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 116.5 ℃
Flash point: 14 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 7.5 / 1.4 %
Vapour pressure: 2.1 ㎪(20℃)
Water solubility: 19000 ㎎/ℓ
Vapour density: 3.45
Relative density: 0.7978
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 1.31
Auto-ignition temperature: 460 ℃
Viscosity: 406000 P(g/㎝·s)(25℃)
Molecular weight: 100.16

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 36 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Solvent25
Fragrance3
Flavouring and nutrient2
Processing aids not otherwise specified2
Defoamer1
Intermediate1
Diluent1
Catalyst1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

5 skin studies and 6 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low3

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 11 studies

Category 6.3B (Category 3)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to EU Method B.4 (Acute Toxicity: Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Classification not possible
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Not likely to be sensitizing
skin sensitisation: in vivo (non-LLNA) · Screening · according to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation) 1981 equivalent or similar to OECD Guideline 406 (Skin Sensitisation)
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Moderate or Mild Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Moderate or Mild Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to EU Method B.5 (Acute Toxicity: Eye Irritation / Corrosion) 1992 according to
Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening