1-Butanol is the most important in industries and the most extensively studied. 1-Butanol is a colorless liquid with a strong, mildly alcoholic odor. It is used in chemical derivatives and as a solvent for paints, waxes, brake fluid, and cleaners.

Butanol is the allowable food flavors documented in the “food additives health standards” of China. It is mainly used for the preparation of food flavors of bananas, butter, cheese and whiskey. For the candy, the usage amount should be 34mg/kg; for baked foods, it should be 32mg/kg; for soft drinks, it should be 12mg/kg; for cold drinks, it should be 7.0mg/kg; for the cream, it should be 4.0mg/kg; for alcohol, it should be 1.0mg/kg.

It is mainly used for the manufacture of the n-butyl plasticizers of phthalic acid, aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and phosphoric acid that are widely applied to various kinds of plastic and rubber products. It can also be used as the raw material of producing butyraldehyde, butyric acid, butyl-amine and butyl lactate in the field of organic synthesis. It can also be used as the extraction agent of oil, drugs (such as antibiotics, hormones and vitamins) and spices as well as the alkyd paint additives. It can be used as the solvent of organic dyes and printing ink and de-waxing agent.