Sciencemadness Discussion Board - 2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) in Canada

2-butanone (methyl ethyl ketone) in Canada

vmelkon - 12-5-2015 at 08:54

I went to Canadian Tire on Sunday and they actually had 2-butanone. WOW.
Been looking for it for a couple of years.
It is made by Recochem, the Canadian company.
946 mL and 12.99$

Get it while you can.

Hawkguy - 12-5-2015 at 14:43

Where in Canada is this?

DraconicAcid - 12-5-2015 at 14:49

Canadian Tire, obviously...

http://www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/mek-946-ml-0475884p.html#....

(I like how they can't decide it's it's 946 mL or 3.78 L)

You can even check to see if your local store has any in stock (there's none in my area, but they do have them in several Vancouver locations).

[Edited on 12-5-2015 by DraconicAcid]

Hawkguy - 12-5-2015 at 18:43

Okay so I went to the Cambie location in Vancouver, and I bought like 2L. Thanks a bunch man. I asked because if Can Tire is similar to Home Hardware, then there are vastly different products at different stores.

Volanschemia - 13-5-2015 at 00:12

It's strange how it's difficult for you to get it.
In Australia you can get 2-butanone in pretty much any hardware store as a PVC pipe primer.

j_sum1 - 13-5-2015 at 00:24

Thanks TAS. I did not know that. I will have to check that out.

Volanschemia - 13-5-2015 at 01:43

j_sum1 (and any other Australian scientists interested), here is a product from Bunnings that is ~95% 2-Butanone. (MSDS)
It has a dye in it and probably some other impurities but it should be relatively easy to purify by distillation.

vmelkon - 13-5-2015 at 07:25

Quote: Originally posted by TheAustralianScientist

It's strange how it's difficult for you to get it.
In Australia you can get 2-butanone in pretty much any hardware store as a PVC pipe primer.

Yes, it is strange specially when they have Propanone, Xylene, paint thinner (80%toluene, 10% methanol, 10% 2-butanone), Toluene, Methanol from that same company, Recochem.

There is PVC primer from another company but it doesn't have 2-butanone. I think it has THF plus plenty of other things and it is 6$ for a tiny can.

I'm going to redo my hydrazine sulfate experiment one day.

[Edited on 13-5-2015 by vmelkon]

Hawkguy - 14-5-2015 at 06:24

Quote: Originally posted by vmelkon

Quote: Originally posted by TheAustralianScientist

It's strange how it's difficult for you to get it.
In Australia you can get 2-butanone in pretty much any hardware store as a PVC pipe primer.

Thats probably the first time I have ever heard someone call Acetone 'Propanone'. Good job you deserve an award. BTW when I was there the other day, there was no Toluene or paint thinner, just MEK, Xylene, and Acetone.

NedsHead - 14-5-2015 at 07:02

TheAustralianScientists, (G'day) my local Bunnings carries two brands of MEK, the one you linked too and another called Vinidex Qwik Prime.

The Vinidex is a good product if you can find it, it also comes in 500ml bottles in either clear or red and both labels claim to be 100% MEK.

I believe I paid about $7 a bottle

Hawkguy - 14-5-2015 at 21:07

$7 for 500 ml? Thats craaaaazy. Until vmelkon nicely pointed out the Canadian Tire situation, I was going to pay $40 for that amount...

j_sum1 - 14-5-2015 at 22:36

Quote: Originally posted by NedsHead

TheAustralianScientists, (G'day) my local Bunnings carries two brands of MEK, the one you linked too and another called Vinidex Qwik Prime.

The Vinidex is a good product if you can find it, it also comes in 500ml bottles in either clear or red and both labels claim to be 100% MEK.

I believe I paid about $7 a bottle

I have just searched the Bunnings site and wasn't able to find this at all. Of course, not everything is always listed online so a trip to the store might be in order. Thanks for the info though. Something to keep my eyes open for.

NedsHead - 14-5-2015 at 23:51

Yeah $7 Hawkguy, I buy it up when it's on sale otherwise it's about $9rrp. It pays to browse the aisles of hardware stores, nurseries and even grocery stores, never know what you might find on an ingredient label.

Hopefully Canadian tire keep stocking it

[Edited on 15-5-2015 by NedsHead]

NedsHead - 15-5-2015 at 01:20

No worries j_sum1, they may only advertise the widely available products and the Vinidex brand could be limited to certain regions. I'm in S.A. And it's available here

blargish - 15-5-2015 at 14:03

Just picked up some MEK at Canadian Tire today

Saw it on the shelves more than a year ago but it seemed to disappear for the last while.

I also picked up what appears to be a concentrated sulfuric acid drain cleaner I haven't seen at CT before called "Ro-tyme Liquid Drain Opener". MSDS calls for over 90% sulfuric acid. The liquid isn't stark black, but it's brown with carbonization; however, it's really cheap.

Hawkguy - 15-5-2015 at 15:07

Which Can tire? Btw I tried making MEKP with the Recochem MEK today, and got a white powder. I don't know if it was contaminated with Acetone. because the powder sublimes.

blargish - 15-5-2015 at 15:23

It was one near I live in Toronto; I've been to it a bunch of times before but never saw the sulfuric acid. Strange that you got a white powder for your MEKP... The MSDS for the recochem claims 100% MEK. Is the solid energetic?

Hawkguy - 15-5-2015 at 18:01

I'm checking that now. What does Methyl Ethyl Ketone SMELL like compared to Acetone? BTW it also acted funny while I was making Hydrazine

[Edited on 16-5-2015 by Hawkguy]

NedsHead - 15-5-2015 at 20:37

Smells just like acetone to me, I really can't tell the difference by smell. The peroxide however has a very sweet identifiable smell

TGT - 16-5-2015 at 00:50

Thanks a million! I have been looking for MEK for two years a couple times a week at various stores, including Canadian Tire. I just checked various stores in my area from my computer, thanks to your post, and finally it is available! They must have not restocked this in a long while and finally got it replenished. Better late then never.

Sometimes when I asked for this at various stores the clerk or owners would look at me like I had to heads lol.

I am so happy! Thank you.

TGT