Benzyl alcohol

Benzyl alcohol (CAS 100-51-6), also known as phenylmethyl alcohol, is an aromatic alcohol used as a solvent and preservative in pharmaceuticals, personal care, and industrial manufacturing.

Where is Benzyl alcohol used?

• Pharmaceuticals: bacteriostatic preservative in injectable formulations and solvent for active ingredients in topical preparations
• Personal care: preservative in rinse-off and leave-on products and fragrance component with a mild scent
• Industrial coatings and printing inks: slow-evaporating solvent that aids pigment dispersion and improves film formation
• Adhesives: reactive diluent and processing solvent
• It is a chemical intermediate.
• Solvent in textile dyes.
• In anhydrous paint-stripper formulations for dip-type, cured epoxy and polyester coatings, together with monoethanolamine and corrosion inhibitors.
• High efficacy against Gram-positive bacteria.
• Solvent in paint strippers and in graffiti and paint-application-equipment cleaning systems.

Good to know: Listed under FEMA 2137 for flavor applications. Standard grades include USP, BP, Ph. Eur., and FCC.

Typical specification

• The photo grade contains 0.01 to 0.02% hydroquinone monomethyl ether or hydroquinone monobenzyl ether as antioxidant to prevent formation of benzaldehyde.
• The technical grade must contain at least 98% benzyl alcohol.

Regulatory status

• Harmonized classification under Regulation 1272/2008 (CLP) in the EU.
• Benzyl alcohol DD is not intended for parenteral use.
• As a food additive, classified as generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the US FDA.

Storage, packaging and handling

• Should be stored in cool places away from direct light with the container kept tightly closed to prevent evaporation.
• Unstable and should not be stored for long periods, as it oxidizes in air to benzaldehyde and benzoic acid derivatives.

Frequently asked questions about Benzyl alcohol

In which agricultural applications is benzyl alcohol used?

It is mainly used in agriculture as a solvent for pesticides and fertilizers, as a preservative for agrochemicals, and as a biological pesticide.

Technical content is compiled and updated by the SoleChem product team from public technical sources; the certificate of analysis (COA) governs product-specific specifications.