Diacetone Alcohol
- Other solvents
- CAS 123-42-2
- IUPAC: 4-hydroxy-4-methylpentan-2-one
CarCareTruth tracks Diacetone Alcohol (CAS 123-42-2) as a car-care ingredient. It is classified as a VOC.
Moderate irritant at high concentrations; no Prop 65 listing, no asthmagen classification. GHS07 exclamation hazard at high industrial exposures.
Diacetone alcohol (4-hydroxy-4-methylpentan-2-one, CAS 123-42-2) is a ketone-alcohol hybrid solvent used as a co-solvent in cleaning and coating formulas. It dissolves resins, varnishes, and grease residues effectively, and is slower-evaporating than acetone — giving it better penetration time in fuel injector and deposit-cleaning applications.
In health terms, diacetone alcohol is considerably milder than the aromatic solvents (toluene, xylene) it sometimes replaces: no Prop 65 listing, no respiratory sensitization, no GHS08 health-hazard classification. At industrial or occupational concentrations it is a CNS narcotic, but at consumer-use concentrations in formulated products it is classified as a category-4 health ingredient. Readily biodegradable per OECD 301B.
Health & environment profile
- VOC
- yes
- Prop 65 listed
- no
- Asthmagen
- no
- EPA Safer Choice
- no
- Aquatic toxicity
- no
- Biodegradable
- yes
- Bioaccumulative
- no
- Persistent
- no
- Ozone depleting
- no
- Microplastic
- no
- PFAS
- no
- Env. score
- 4/5
Common questions about Diacetone Alcohol
- What is Diacetone Alcohol used for in car care?
- Co-solvent and cleaning agent; improves solvency for varnish, grease, and resin deposits in fuel system and industrial cleaning formulas
- Is Diacetone Alcohol a VOC?
- Yes. Diacetone Alcohol is classified as a volatile organic compound (VOC).
- Is Diacetone Alcohol on California's Proposition 65 list?
- No. Diacetone Alcohol is not on California's Proposition 65 list.
- Is Diacetone Alcohol biodegradable?
- Yes. Diacetone Alcohol has a confirmed biodegradable profile.
No products on file contain this (yet)
Related
Health and environment notes translate the manufacturer Safety Data Sheet, the GHS classification, and authoritative regulatory listings (California Prop 65, EPA). Not medical advice. They describe the ingredient itself; whether a hazard applies to a finished product depends on its concentration and how it's used.