Ethanol

Ethanol (CAS 64-17-5), also designated E1510 and abbreviated EtOH, is a primary-grade alcohol produced through fermentation or synthetic routes.

Where is Ethanol used?

• Pharmaceuticals: solvent for active ingredients and excipients in oral liquids, tinctures and topical formulations
• Personal care: fast-evaporating carrier in perfumes, hand sanitizers and aerosol sprays
• Food and beverage: flavor carrier and extraction solvent for botanical extracts and aroma compounds
• Printing and packaging: ink formulations for flexographic and gravure printing on flexible substrates
• It acts as a solvent, carrier, preservative and processing aid in regulated and industrial markets.
• Preservative in vaccines and other injectable drugs to prevent contamination by bacteria and other microorganisms.
• Sanitizing equipment and production environments in food processing due to antimicrobial properties.
• Dissolves fats and many plastics particularly well.
• Used to produce ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, butanol, and ethylene, which are used directly or converted to plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene.

Good to know: Controlled concentration and purity are critical to regulatory compliance; USP, BP and Ph. Eur. standards apply. Food-grade and denatured technical grades are governed by regional regulations affecting import and end-use eligibility.

Regulatory status

• Classified as a harmonised hazard under CLP Regulation 1272/2008.
• Carries hazard statement H225: highly flammable liquid and vapour.
• In the European Union, alcoholic beverages are subject to high excise taxes and their sale generates significant tax revenue, so production and distribution of alcohol are strictly controlled.
• Denaturing, for example by mixing with chemicals, serves to make the alcohol irreversibly unfit for human consumption.

Frequently asked questions about Ethanol

What purity requirements apply to ethanol used in food and beverage production?

Alcohol used for alcoholic beverages and food production must meet the highest purity requirements for health and safety reasons, so the addition of chemicals to undenatured alcohol is not allowed.

Does denatured ethanol for industrial use incur tax liability?

Tax liability does not apply if the alcohol is denatured for certain industrial uses.

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