Liquid cargo of the month

Liquid cargo of the month – Butylbenzene

Published: 01 June 2023

The BIMCO Liquid Cargo database is intended for use by for shore-side staff and to some extent for newcomers on board tankers and should only be used as a reference tool providing brief information regarding the approximately 310 commonly transported liquid cargoes including butylbenzene.

Trade names:

1-phenylbutane; 2-phenylbutane; 2-methyl-2-phenylpropane; Isobutylbenzene; n-butylbenzene; sec-butylbenzene; tert-butylbenzene.

A clear colourless liquid, toxic and flammable, less dense than water and insoluble in water

Cargo specifications to obtained prior to acceptance of cargo in order to use correct product name. (Butylbenzene could for example be found in Alkyl (C3-C4) benzenes which may consist of a mixture of propylbenzenes and butylbenzenes)

Cargo tank wall wash could be required before loading – depending on previous cargo(s).

Carriage requirements includes; Ship Type 2 and Tank Type 2G. Not to be stowed adjacent to oil fuel tanks or other heat sources above 35 degrees C. Separate piping systems (Piping systems which serve tanks containing incompatible cargoes are to be isolated from each other by means of removable pipe lengths and blank flanges. Isolating shut-off valves, single or double, or spectacle flanges are not acceptable as equivalent arrangements). Cargo tank relief-valve setting minimum 0.02 MPa gauge (= 200 mBar) and tank high-level alarm as well as an instrument or detector tubes for detection of toxic cargo vapours shall be on board. MARPOL Annex II and Pollution Category X.

Prewash is required after carriage. Due to the large molecules of Butylbenzene, it can be difficult to remove cargo residues entrained in the coating, - from zinc coating in particular

Use: Organic synthesis; pesticide manufacturing; solvent for coating compositions; plasticizer; surface active agents; polymer linking agent; asphalt component; naphtha constituent

The BIMCO Liquid Cargo Database contains information on some 310 cargoes, all updated to the IBC Code 2021 amended requirements, but to ensure that the BIMCO Liquid Cargo Database information is kept updated, we highly welcome any feedback in the form of comments, response, information or data regarding a specific cargo.

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