tert-Butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) is the primary metabolite of butylated hydroxyanisole.[1] It is a widely used food antioxidant that acts by blocking free radicals to prevent the rancidity of oils and fats. TBHQ is also used as an antioxidant in cosmetic products.

tert-Butylhydroquinone may be used as an analytical standard for the determination of the analyte in soybean biodiesel by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) on glassy carbon (GC) electrode, and in oils, foods, biological fluids, and cosmetics by various chromatography techniques.