Methyl Ethyl Ketone
The fast-drying ketone solvent supplied by Chelora Chemicals — known in the trade as MEK, the workhorse solvent for coatings, adhesives and printing ink manufacture — exported from Indonesia in drums and ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Methyl Ethyl Ketone is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a fast-drying ketone, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is a dialkyl ketone one carbon longer than acetone, with a methyl group on one side of the carbonyl and an ethyl group on the other. That slightly larger, still-polar structure gives it strong solvency for a wide range of resins and polymers while evaporating fast enough to suit high-speed coating and printing lines, a balance that makes it one of the most widely specified ketone solvents in industry.
At room temperature it is a colourless, highly flammable, volatile liquid with a sweet, sharp, acetone-like odour, partially miscible with water and fully miscible with most organic solvents. It requires standard flammable-liquid storage with good ventilation and ignition-source control, broadly similar to acetone but with a somewhat lower vapour pressure and slower evaporation rate.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
MEK's largest use is as a solvent in paint, varnish and coating formulation, where it dissolves nitrocellulose, vinyl, acrylic and other resin systems while drying fast enough for high-throughput finishing lines. It is also widely used in adhesive and printing-ink formulation, in PVC cement and pipe-jointing compounds, and as a catalyst-system carrier solvent for unsaturated polyester resin (peroxide) curing.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Methyl Ethyl Ketone in industrial/coatings grade (99.5%+ assay) suitable for paint, adhesive, printing-ink and resin-curing applications, supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Methyl Ethyl Ketone is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is manufactured by the catalytic dehydrogenation (or liquid-phase air oxidation) of sec-butyl alcohol (2-butanol), itself typically made by hydration of n-butenes from a refinery C4 stream: CH₃CH(OH)C₂H₅ → CH₃COC₂H₅ + H₂. The crude ketone is then purified by distillation.
Why sec-butanol dehydrogenation is the standard process
Dehydrogenating sec-butyl alcohol, itself readily made from refinery-stream butenes, gives a direct, well-understood catalytic route to MEK with good selectivity, which is why it has been the dominant commercial process since MEK was first commercialised and remains essentially the only route used at scale today.
Industries and processes that use it
Methyl Ethyl Ketone is consumed across coatings, adhesives and resin manufacture, where its combination of strong solvency and fast evaporation is the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Paints, Varnishes & Coatings
Used as a fast-drying solvent for nitrocellulose, vinyl, acrylic and other resin systems in paint, varnish and industrial coating formulation.
Adhesives & PVC Cements
Used as a solvent in contact adhesives, printing inks and PVC cement/pipe-jointing compounds, where fast tack and bond development are valued.
Unsaturated Polyester Resin Curing
Used as a carrier solvent for peroxide catalyst systems in unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) curing for fibreglass composites.
Specialty Cleaning & Degreasing
Used in selected industrial cleaning and degreasing applications where its solvency for resins and oils is an advantage.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The ketone carbonyl, flanked by methyl and ethyl groups, governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Methyl Ethyl Ketone is converted into a finished product or used directly as a solvent.
Nucleophilic Addition (Solvency Role)
The polar carbonyl group hydrogen-bonds with and dissolves a wide range of resin systems, the basis of its primary role as a coatings and adhesive solvent rather than a reactive intermediate.
Ketoxime Formation
Reacts with hydroxylamine to form methyl ethyl ketoxime, used as an anti-skinning agent in alkyd paint formulation.
Aldol-Type Condensation
Can undergo base-catalysed self-condensation under specialty conditions, relevant to some fine-chemical synthesis routes.
Catalytic Dehydrogenation (Upstream)
sec-Butyl alcohol is dehydrogenated over a metal catalyst to form MEK itself, the dominant industrial route in the whole chain.
Methyl Ethyl Ketone against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing MEK for coatings, adhesives or resin-curing applications often need a related industrial solvent. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone | 78-93-3 | Fast-drying ketone solvent | The product on this page — the workhorse solvent for coatings, adhesives and printing ink. |
| Ethyl Acetate | 141-78-6 | Ester solvent | A related fast-evaporating ester solvent used alongside MEK in coatings — see its product page. |
| n-Hexane | 110-54-3 | Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent | Another widely used industrial solvent, favoured for extraction applications — see its product page. |
| Acetone | 67-64-1 | Ketone co-product & solvent | The lighter ketone solvent related to MEK — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Methyl Ethyl Ketone.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Causes serious eye irritation.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Harmful if swallowed (large quantities).
Chemical-resistant gloves and splash goggles are recommended for routine handling; ensure adequate ventilation.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame; ground and bond containers during transfer given the very low flash point.
High vapour concentrations in poorly ventilated areas can cause drowsiness or dizziness; ensure adequate ventilation.
Danger — GHS02 flammable and GHS07 irritant pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable liquid that causes serious eye irritation and may cause drowsiness or dizziness at high vapour concentrations. It must be handled with chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof eye protection, adequate ventilation and strict control of ignition sources given its very low flash point. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and must be read in full and followed without exception before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area below 30 °C, away from heat sources, sparks, open flame and strong oxidizing agents, in tightly closed original packaging given its high volatility and flammability. Standard solvent-handling PPE and good ventilation are sufficient for routine use. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and water content before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Methyl Ethyl Ketone leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of Methyl Ethyl Ketone shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Methyl Ethyl Ketone used for?+
02What is the CAS number of MEK?+
03How is MEK made?+
04What grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Why is MEK preferred over acetone in some coating formulations?+
06Is Methyl Ethyl Ketone hazardous?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Ethyl Acetate and n-Hexane as well?+
Need Methyl Ethyl Ketone on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.