EB - Ethylene Glycol Monobutyl Ether — Frequently Asked Questions

Because the longer butyl chain changes the dominant metabolic route. EB is metabolised primarily to butoxyacetic acid rather than to the metabolites responsible for the reproductive effects seen with the methyl and ethyl homologues, so it is not classified as a reproductive toxicant. It does cause haemolysis in rodents and carries skin and eye irritation classifications, so it is not hazard-free, but it remains in general industrial use.

It combines full water miscibility with strong solvency for oils and greases, which is an unusual pairing. Most solvents strong enough to dissolve grease separate out of an aqueous formulation. EB stays dissolved in the water phase while attacking the oily soil, so the soil is taken into solution and rinsed away rather than merely dispersed.

Slow. Its boiling point is around 171 degrees Celsius, so it evaporates well after the faster solvents in a blend have gone. In coatings that makes it a tail solvent, keeping the film mobile long enough to level; in cleaners it means the product stays wet on a vertical surface long enough to work rather than drying before it is wiped.

Yes, all three names refer to the same substance, CAS 111-76-2. Cellosolve is a historic trade name for the ethylene glycol ether series and butyl glycol is the common European name. The CAS number is the reliable identifier, since the trade and common names vary by region and by supplier.