Tributyl phosphate

Tributyl phosphate (TBP), also known as phosphoric acid tri-n-butyl ester and tri-n-butyl phosphate, has the molecular formula (CH₃CH₂CH₂CH₂O)₃PO, molecular weight 266.31. Its CAS number is 126-73-8. It is a common industrial chemical used in plasticizers and paints. Tributyl phosphate is a very strong, aprotic and polar solvent.

The chemical has both commercial and military applications, including as a plasticizer for cellulose esters, lacquers, chlorinated rubber, PVC, plastic and vinyl resins; heat exchange medium; solvent for nitrocellulose and cellulose acetate; pigment grinding assistant; painting additive; printing ink solvent; antifoam agent; dielectric; adhesive; and may be used for the production of synthetic resin and natural rubber solutions. . It is used as a defoamer in concrete additives (especially in concrete containing lignin sulfonate as a fluidizer); textile processing chemicals (especially in combination with wetting agents); and glues and adhesives, paper coating slurries, plastic dispersions, drilling fluids, cementations, lubricants, coatings, electroplating. TBP is used as an extracting agent in liquid-liquid extraction, e.g. for the separation and recovery of rare earths and platinum metals, in the cleaning of phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, nitric acid, and hydrofluoric acid, and

Military

A critical military use is in the PUREX step of plutonium reprocessing. It is also used in the concentration of uranium and thorium.

Health

It is used to disrupt the lipid coats of viruses during blood plasma production, such as HIV as well as hepatitis B and C.