Gamma-ButyrolactoneGBL/Gamma-Butyrolactone

GBL is a 5-membered-ring lactone.

Common Names	Gammabutyrolactone, Dihydrofuran-2-one
Structure
CAS　No.	96-48-0
Japan Chemical Substances Control Law METI-No.	5-3337
Japan, Poisonous and Deleterious Substances Control Law	Not applicable
Japan, Fire Services Law	Hazardous material Class 4 Petroleums No.3 water soluble, Hazardous Rank III
Molecular Weight	86.1
Appearance	Clear colorless liquid
Odor	Faint ester smell
Specific Gravity (25/4℃)	1.13
Viscosity(mPa･s)	1.50（30℃）
Boiling Point (℃)	204
Freezing Point (℃)	-44
Vapor specific gravity	3
Flash Point (℃)	101 (Cleveland open cup)
Autoignition Temperature (℃)	455

Our Mizushima plant (Kurashiki-shi, Okayama-ken) produces high-grade GBL from maleic anhydride in a continuous production process.

• Solvent
  Used as a solvent for photosensitive resins and for special inks.
• Photography
  Used for dispersion and finishing agents.
• Electrical
  Used as the electrolyte solvent for capacitors and for lithium batteries.
• Casting Binder

Used as a raw material for the solvents listed below.

• 2-Pyrrolidone (2P)
  2P is a raw material for pharmaceutical intermediates, nylon-4, NMP, as well as a floor polish agent.
• N-Methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP)
  NMP is used for aromatic and butadiene hydrocarbon extraction, polyamide/polyimide varnish solvent, as well as semiconductor and color filter photoresist solvent, etc.
• N-Vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP)
  NVP is a raw material for PVP.  It's also used as a stripping agent and a petroleum additive.
• Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)
  PVP is used for cosmetics (hair spray and lotion thickening agent), medical products (tablet binder, plasma substitute, mouthwash), industrial applications (suspension stabilizer for colloidal suspension polymerization, dyeing agent, hardening oil viscosity modifier, adhesive thickening agent), and food (beer / wine clarification agent).
• Other
  There are many other applications such as methionine, etc.

GBL is classified under the Japanese Fire Services Act as a hazardous material, Class 4, Petroleums No.3 (4,000 liter quantity specified), water-soluble, Hazardous Rank III. 
Since GBL is hygroscopic, if moisture content is to be controlled, it is important to keep storage containers tightly closed or under a dry nitrogen atmosphere.  When handling,  protective equipment such as protective gloves and goggles should be worn.