Ethyl Alcohol

Ethyl alcohol is an important industrial chemical with a wide variety of uses; it is used as a solvent, in the synthesis of other organic chemicals, and as an additive to automotive gasoline. Ethyl alcohol is also the intoxicating ingredient of many alcoholic beverages such as beer, wine and distilled spirits.

Synonyms: Ethanol, TSDA I 1-hydroxyethane I EtOH
Chemical Formula: C2H6O
CAS Number: 64-17-5

Characteristics

Molar Weight: 46,07 g/mol

Melting Point: -114,1 °C

Boiling Point: 78,37 °C

Flash Point: 14 °C

Density: 0.79

Forms: Liquid (clear)

Uses and Applications

Key applications

Ink, toner and colourant
Food additive
Sanitizers
Preservative
Solvents
Cosmetic products
Beauty products
Paint and Coatings

Industries

Ethyl alcohol

Ethyl alcohol, known in everyday language as alcohol, is also called TSDA or 1-hydroxyethane. Ethyl alcohol is an aliphatic, monohydric alcohol with the molecular formula C2H6O and the semi-structural formula C2H5OH. Ethyl alcohol is often abbreviated as EtOH.

In nature, ethyl alcohol is found in different parts of various plants such as carrots, onions and rosemary. It is also produced during the fermentation of sugary fruits. Ethyl alcohol is also a component of human blood.

Ethyl alcohol is produced on a large scale. The largest market for ethyl alcohol is the production of alcoholic beverages such as wine, beer and spirits. Biomass, such as crops containing sugar or starch, is used for its production. Ethyl alcohol is produced in a natural process through alcoholic fermentation triggered by yeasts. Sugar reacts with yeast fungi to form ethyl alcohol.

For industrial purposes, ethyl alcohol is produced from ethene. It serves as a solvent for substances used for medical or cosmetic purposes. In addition, ethyl alcohol is a starting material for the synthesis of other compounds such as carboxylic acid ethyl ester. Another important application of ethyl alcohol is its admixture as biofuel.

Ethyl alcohol is a colourless, clear, highly flammable, hygroscopic liquid with a characteristic burning taste and pungent odour. The substance belongs to the linear n-alkanols. It can be mixed with water. In the process, a volume contraction occurs with the development of heat. If ethyl alcohol is not stored in an airtight container, it can oxidise to acetic acid. The alcohol is not conductive.

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Ethyl alcohol in the food industry

In controlled production, the food industry produces wine from the fermentation of grapes, beer from malt and hops. In contrast to wine and beer, spirits such as brandy, whisky, cognac, rum, schnapps and vodka contain alcohol obtained by distillation. Liqueurs also belong to the category of spirits; sugar and aromas are added to them after distillation. Colloquially, the process of distilling biomass is known as "distilling".

However, ethyl alcohol is not only a raw material for the production of alcoholic beverages, it also serves as a widespread food additive in the form of so-called fortification. With the addition of the alcohol, the fermentation process is terminated at a certain point in time. As a result, the stimulants - for example liqueurs and wines - have a higher sugar content and are very sweet. Ethyl alcohol is also added to food as a flavouring, not least as a preservative.

Small amounts of ethyl alcohol are found naturally in many foods. In sauerkraut, for example, there is an ethyl alcohol content of up to 0.5 percent by volume - the same amount can be found in non-alcoholic beer. In apple juice, the content is up to 0.4 percent by volume, in grape juice up to 0.6 percent by volume, in bread up to 0.3 percent by volume. Ripe bananas and kefir have up to one percent ethyl alcohol by volume. For comparison: full beers have about 3 to 5 percent by volume, wines around 12 percent by volume and spirits an average of 40 percent by volume.

Ethyl alcohol in the chemical industry

In the chemical industry, ethyl alcohol plays an important role as a solvent and intermediate, for example, in the production of ethyl chloride, acetaldehyde and acetic acid. Its esters lead to downstream products such as ethyl acrylate, ethyl acetate - a solvent for adhesives and nail varnish and suitable for the extraction of antibiotics - and glycol ether, a solvent for oils, resins, fats, waxes and varnishes.

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Ethyl alcohol in the cosmetics industry

Ethyl alcohol is an ideal solvent for cosmetic products. For example, it is a carrier for odorous substances in perfume, deodorant and fragrance spray.

Ethyl alcohol in the household

Ethyl alcohol is an effective ingredient in cleaning agents for glass, chrome and plastic. It is also used in stain removers and car windscreen washes and as an antifreeze. Furthermore, ethyl alcohol is traded under the name of methylated spirits or hard alcohol as fuel for camping cookers.

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Ethyl alcohol as fuel

Bioethanol or agricultural ethyl alcohol is used as a fuel for petrol engines, primarily as a mixture with petrol (for example in a five-percent concentration under the trade name E5 or in an 85-percent concentration as E85).

It is produced from fermented sugar (sugar cane and sugar beet) and starch (maize and wheat). In addition to pure ethyl alcohol, its derivatives - used to increase the octane rating of petrol - are also used in the fuel sector.

Ethyl alcohol in medicine

When ethyl alcohol is used as an antiseptic in the pharmaceutical industry, the concentration of the ethyl alcohol-water mixture is decisive for the effectiveness of the disinfection, for example of the hands. The optimal alcohol content is between 50 and 80 percent. In this case, the bacterial envelope is destroyed and the potential pathogen dies. Ethyl alcohol has only limited effect against viruses; it is not effective as an antiseptic against bacterial endospores. In addition, alcohol is not suitable for disinfecting open wounds.

Very high-percentage or pure ethyl alcohol is used in cancer therapy for the treatment of thyroid nodules and other tumours such as hepatocellular carcinoma. In liquid medicines, ethyl alcohol acts as a solvent and preservative.

High-percentage ethyl alcohol solutions are also used among commercial products such as rubbing alcohol to promote blood circulation.

Ethyl alcohol is also used to treat poisoning with methanol. In intravenous therapy, the conversion of methanol via the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase into the toxic methanal is inhibited. In cases of severe alcohol addiction, alcohol predelir can be interrupted with ethyl alcohol.

Other uses of ethyl alcohol

The widely used capillary thermometers with blue and red liquid columns work with coloured ethyl alcohol. If the tube is long enough, temperatures can be measured from the melting point (-114.5 °C) to near the boiling point (78.32 °C).

Liquid preparations from biology and human medicine are often preserved and fixed with an ethyl alcohol-water mixture.

In addition, ethyl alcohol is used in printing works.