Supply Specifications
- Purity
- 99.5%+
- Cylinder sizes
- 20 lb, 100 lb, 420 lb
- Certification
- DOT-compliant cylinders
- Delivery
- Direct to your facility
Technical Properties
- Boiling point
- ≈ -11.7°C (11°F)
- Structure
- Branched isomer of butane
- Relative vapor pressure
- Between n-butane and propane
- Explosive limits (LEL/UEL)
- 1.6% / 8.4%
The Isomer Difference
Isobutane shares n-butane's molecular formula, C4H10, but not its structure. Where n-butane is a straight chain, isobutane is branched, with a central carbon bonded to three methyl groups. That branching changes packing efficiency, vapor pressure curve, and evaporation behavior.
Because n-butane and isobutane are frequently co-produced and separated from the same natural gas liquids stream, cylinders should specify which isomer they contain along with a certificate of analysis. Treating the two as interchangeable because they share a formula is a common and costly mistake.
Where Isobutane Fits in a Production Line
Isobutane's higher vapor pressure at a given temperature means it recovers faster than straight-chain n-butane while still running at lower system pressure than propane. Facilities working with equipment rated for moderate pressure ranges, but wanting shorter turnaround than straight n-butane, often evaluate isobutane or isobutane-forward blends for that reason.
In post-extraction texture, isobutane's faster escape from the extract matrix is more often associated with fluffier, aerated results like budder, or the sauce phase in a diamonds-and-sauce separation. Processors working with lower-quality or degraded input material sometimes favor it specifically because its extraction behavior is generally considered less aggressive toward undesirable pigments and off-flavor compounds than propane.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the difference between isobutane and n-butane?
- They share the formula C4H10 but differ structurally: n-butane is a straight chain, isobutane is branched. Isobutane has a higher vapor pressure and faster evaporation profile, which affects recovery speed and final extract texture.
- Does isobutane require different equipment than n-butane?
- Isobutane runs at higher vapor pressure than n-butane at the same temperature, so your closed-loop system must be rated and validated for those pressures. Any change in solvent should go through your facility's engineering and safety review before production.
Butane vs Propane vs Isobutane for BHO Extraction →
Technical comparison of n-butane, isobutane, propane, and 70/30 blends for hydrocarbon extraction: physical properties, selectivity, and purity grades.