Ethyl Acetate CAS 141-78-6
Chelora Chemicals supplies technical, food and pharmacopoeial grade ethyl acetate to printing ink, coatings, adhesive and pharmaceutical users worldwide, including bio-based grades. Every consignment leaves with a batch-specific COA covering purity, water, acidity and residue, the current SDS and full dangerous-goods documentation.
Also known as: EA · EtOAc · Acetic ester · Acetic acid ethyl ester · Ethyl ethanoate
Request a quotation
Price, lead time and a sample COA for Ethyl Acetate, usually within one working day. We ship worldwide.
Request a Quote Email the DeskDocumentation
- Batch-specific COA (purity, water, acidity, residue)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Transport and dangerous-goods documents
- Third-party inspection on request
- Certificate of origin
What is Ethyl Acetate?
Ethyl acetate is the ester of acetic acid and ethanol, C₄H₈O₂, a clear, volatile, flammable liquid boiling at 77 °C with a characteristic sweet, fruity odour that many people recognise from nail polish remover.
It is made by esterifying acetic acid with ethanol, by the Tishchenko route from acetaldehyde, or by direct addition of acetic acid to ethylene.
Its position among solvents is defined by a favourable toxicological profile: ethyl acetate is permitted as a food flavouring, accepted in pharmaceuticals, and carries none of the reproductive or neurological concerns attached to several alternatives.
Flexible packaging inks are the largest outlet, followed by coatings, adhesives, pharmaceutical processing and decaffeination.
Why ethyl acetate specifically
- Good solvency with a mild profile. Dissolves nitrocellulose, acrylics and many resins without the toxicological burden of ketones or aromatics.
- Fast, clean evaporation. Suits printing and coating where rapid, residue-free drying is needed.
- Food and pharmaceutical acceptance. Approved as a flavouring and widely used in pharmaceutical manufacture.
- Bio-based routes available. Can be made from bioethanol, giving a documented renewable carbon content.
How Ethyl Acetate is Manufactured
Ethyl acetate is made by esterification, by the Tishchenko reaction, or by direct addition, with bio-based ethanol increasingly used.
- Classical esterification. Acetic acid and ethanol react over an acid catalyst with continuous water removal.
- Tishchenko route. Two moles of acetaldehyde are condensed over an aluminium alkoxide catalyst.
- Direct addition. Acetic acid adds across ethylene over a solid acid catalyst in a single step.
- Ethanol dehydrogenation. A route from ethanol alone, used where bioethanol is cheap.
- Azeotrope management. Ethyl acetate forms azeotropes with water and ethanol, which must be broken by careful distillation.
- Finishing. Final distillation and treatment deliver the purity, acidity and residue limits the grade requires.
Typical Commercial Specification
Figures below are representative of commercial technical-grade ethyl acetate. Food and pharmacopoeial grades carry additional limits — tell us the use and we will send the matching sheet.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear colourless liquid, free of suspended matter |
| Ethyl acetate purity | 99.5% min by weight |
| Water content | 0.1% max |
| Acidity (as acetic acid) | To grade, typically 50 ppm max |
| Ethanol | To grade, typically 0.2% max |
| Non-volatile residue | To grade, typically 20 ppm max |
| Colour (Pt-Co) | 10 max |
| Density at 20 °C | 0.900 to 0.902 g/cm³ |
| Distillation range | Within 1 °C including 77.1 °C |
| Odour | Characteristic, free of foreign odour |
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | C₄H₈O₂ (CH₃COOC₂H₅) |
| Molecular weight | 88.11 g/mol |
| Appearance | Clear colourless liquid, sweet fruity odour |
| Boiling point | 77.1 °C |
| Melting point | −83 °C |
| Flash point | About −4 °C (closed cup) |
| Density | 0.902 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Vapour pressure | About 9.7 kPa at 20 °C |
| Vapour density (relative to air) | 3.0, heavier than air |
| Flammable limits in air | About 2.2 to 11.5% by volume |
| Autoignition temperature | About 426 °C |
| Solubility in water | About 8% at 20 °C |
| Evaporation rate (BuAc = 1) | About 4.0 |
| Incompatibilities | Strong oxidisers, strong acids and bases, nitrates |
Behaviour in the process
Ethyl acetate is an easy solvent to work with, provided its hydrolysis is understood:
- Hydrolyses with water and acid. Slowly reverts to acetic acid and ethanol, raising acidity in storage; keeping water low keeps acidity low.
- Forms azeotropes. With water and with ethanol, which is why recovery and recycling in solvent recovery plants is non-trivial.
- Attacks some plastics. Dissolves or swells polystyrene, PVC and many coatings; check container and seal compatibility.
- Static accumulation. Low conductivity means charge builds during splash filling; bonding and earthing are essential.
Ethyl Acetate Grades and Alternative Solvents
Ethyl acetate is bought by grade, with food and pharmacopoeial applications requiring documented certification.
| Material | Origin / type | When it is the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Technical-grade ethyl acetate | 99.5%+ | Printing inks, coatings, adhesives and general solvent use |
| Food-grade ethyl acetate | FCC compliant | Flavouring, extraction and decaffeination |
| Pharmacopoeial grade | USP or EP compliant | Pharmaceutical synthesis, crystallisation and cleaning |
| Bio-based ethyl acetate | From bioethanol | Where renewable carbon content certification is required |
| Methyl ethyl ketone | CAS 78-93-3 | Stronger solvency where the toxicological profile allows |
Stated plainly: where regulation or customer policy pushes against ketones and aromatics, ethyl acetate is the usual replacement, and it is often the reason a formulation is reworked at all. It gives up some solvency in exchange.
Industries We Supply Ethyl Acetate To
Ethyl acetate serves printing, coatings, adhesives, pharmaceuticals and food processing.
Where Ethyl Acetate is Used
Flexible packaging inks take the largest ethyl acetate volume, with coatings, adhesives and pharmaceutical processing behind them.
In flexible packaging inks
Ethyl acetate is the backbone solvent of gravure and flexographic inks for food packaging, chosen as much for its regulatory acceptability as for its performance. Residual solvent in the finished laminate is tightly limited, so the purity, odour and residue specifications of the incoming solvent carry straight through to the packaging compliance file.
In solvent recovery
Packaging converters recover and redistil ethyl acetate on site. The azeotropes with water and ethanol make this harder than it looks, and acidity rises in recovered solvent as hydrolysis proceeds. Blending recovered with virgin material to a controlled acidity figure is standard practice.
Need a specific grade, purity and packing format?
Tell us the grade, the grade, acidity limit and whether food or pharmacopoeial documentation is needed, the packing format you can receive and the annual quantity. We will come back with a price, a lead time, a sample COA and the full documentation set.
Quality Control & Testing
Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, with acidity and water reported alongside purity because they move together and both matter in printing.
- Ethyl acetate purity and water content — by gas chromatography and Karl Fischer titration.
- Acidity — the key stability and printing specification.
- Ethanol content — reported as the characteristic process impurity.
- Non-volatile residue — critical for packaging and pharmaceutical applications.
- Colour, odour and distillation range — confirming identity and freedom from contamination.
- Pharmacopoeial identity and purity tests — for USP and EP grades.
Common Process Problems & Likely Causes
When ethyl acetate causes trouble, it is usually acidity, water or odour. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Acidity rising in storage | Hydrolysis driven by water content | Water and acidity figures, container seal |
| Printing cylinder corrosion | Free acetic acid in the solvent or recovered stream | Acidity result and recovered solvent blending |
| Odour in the finished packaging | Residual solvent or trace impurities | Odour test, residue figure and drying performance |
| Ink drying too fast or too slow | Solvent blend rather than ethyl acetate itself | Evaporation profile of the full blend |
| Residue after cleaning | Non-volatile residue or contaminated equipment | Residue figure and line cleanliness |
| Container or seal attacked | Ethyl acetate dissolving incompatible polymer | Material compatibility of containers, hoses and seals |
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
- Standard packing. 200 L drums, 1000 L IBCs, flexitanks, ISO tank containers and bulk parcels.
- Storage. Cool, well-ventilated, earthed and bunded flammable-liquid storage away from ignition sources.
- Moisture control. Keep water low; moisture drives hydrolysis and rising acidity. Use dry breathers where specification is tight.
- Static control. Bond and earth all equipment and use bottom filling.
- Material compatibility. Carbon steel and stainless steel are fine. Ethyl acetate attacks polystyrene, PVC and many elastomers.
- Segregation. Keep apart from strong acids, bases and oxidisers.
- Shelf life. Typically 24 months in sealed dry storage; acidity is the practical check on older stock.
- Transport classification. UN 1173, ethyl acetate, Class 3 flammable liquid, packing group II.
Hazards & Safe Handling
Ethyl acetate is a highly flammable liquid with a mild toxicological profile. Fire and vapour control dominate its handling rather than health concerns.
- Flammability. Flash point about −4 °C with a flammable range of roughly 2.2 to 11.5%. Vapour is heavier than air and travels to ignition sources.
- Low toxicity. Permitted as a food flavouring and accepted pharmaceutically; among the more benign industrial solvents.
- Eye and respiratory irritation. Vapour irritates eyes and the respiratory tract at moderate concentration.
- Occupational exposure. Typical limits are around 400 ppm as an 8-hour average; confirm the limit in your jurisdiction.
- Narcotic effects. High vapour concentrations cause dizziness and drowsiness; ventilate enclosed spaces.
- Skin defatting. Repeated contact dries and irritates skin; use gloves for prolonged handling.
- Static control. Bond and earth transfer equipment; ethyl acetate accumulates charge during flow.
- Environment. Readily biodegradable; contain spills to prevent oxygen depletion in watercourses.
Regulatory & Compliance Notes
Ethyl acetate is widely traded with transport, food contact and VOC controls. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.
- GHS classification. Flammable liquid Category 2, eye irritation Category 2 and STOT SE Category 3 for narcotic effects.
- Dangerous goods transport. UN 1173, Class 3, PG II. ADR, IMDG, IATA and DOT rules apply to packaging, labelling and routing.
- Food additive status. Approved as a flavouring substance and extraction solvent, with FCC specifications applying to food grade.
- Pharmacopoeial grades. USP and EP monographs apply where ethyl acetate is used in pharmaceutical manufacture, including residual solvent limits.
- Packaging compliance. Residual solvent in food packaging laminates is limited by regulation and by retailer specification.
- VOC regulation. Solvent use in printing and coatings is subject to VOC emission limits in most regions.
We Supply Ethyl Acetate Worldwide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Ethyl Acetate from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.
- Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
- Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
- Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
- Flexible volumes. From a pallet of drums up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
- Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.
Buying Ethyl Acetate from Chelora
We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For ethyl acetate that means settling three things at enquiry: the grade and acidity limit your process requires, whether food, pharmacopoeial or bio-based documentation is needed, and the packing format for your receiving setup.
- Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (purity, water, acidity, residue), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
- Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
- Quantities. From a pallet of drums through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
- Grade matching. Technical, food, pharmacopoeial or bio-based ethyl acetate to the acidity, water and residue limits your application requires.
- Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
- Related products. Acetic Acid, Isopropyl Alcohol, Methyl Ethyl Ketone and other feedstocks alongside Ethyl Acetate from one supplier.
How ordering works
- Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
- We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
- Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
- Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
- Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
- Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.
Ethyl Acetate — Common Questions
The questions our technical desk is asked most often about Ethyl Acetate. If yours isn't here, call or email and you will reach someone who knows the chemistry.
What is the CAS number of ethyl acetate?
The CAS number for ethyl acetate is 141-78-6, and its EC number is 205-500-4. Its molecular formula is C₄H₈O₂ with a molecular weight of 88.11 g/mol, and it is classified under HS code 2915.31.
What is ethyl acetate used for?
Mainly as the solvent in flexible packaging gravure and flexographic inks and laminating adhesives. It also goes into coatings and thinners, pharmaceutical processing, coffee and tea decaffeination, and nail care products.
Do you supply ethyl acetate worldwide?
Yes. Chelora Chemicals supplies and exports ethyl acetate worldwide — across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, as well as throughout India, in technical, food, pharmacopoeial and bio-based grades.
Why is ethyl acetate preferred over ketones in packaging?
Because its toxicological profile is far milder — it is permitted as a food flavouring — and residual solvent limits in food packaging are easier to satisfy. It gives up some solvency in exchange.
How is ethyl acetate manufactured?
By esterifying acetic acid with ethanol, by the Tishchenko condensation of acetaldehyde, by direct addition of acetic acid to ethylene, or by ethanol dehydrogenation where bioethanol is cheap.
Why does acidity rise in stored ethyl acetate?
Because the ester slowly hydrolyses back to acetic acid and ethanol, driven by any water present. Keeping water content low keeps acidity low, and recovered solvent needs particular attention.
Is ethyl acetate hazardous?
It is a highly flammable liquid with a flash point around −4 °C, which is the main hazard. Its toxicity is low — it is approved as a food flavouring — though the vapour is an irritant and a narcotic at high concentration.
What are the UN number and transport class?
UN 1173, ethyl acetate, Class 3 flammable liquid, packing group II. ADR, IMDG, IATA and DOT rules apply to packaging, labelling and routing.
Is bio-based ethyl acetate available?
Yes. Ethyl acetate made from bioethanol is chemically identical to the petrochemical product and carries renewable carbon content certification where that is required by customers or regulation.
Can ethyl acetate be recovered and reused?
Yes, and most large packaging converters do. The azeotropes with water and ethanol complicate the distillation, and acidity rises with each cycle, so recovered solvent is normally blended with virgin material to a controlled figure.
What materials does ethyl acetate attack?
Polystyrene, PVC and many elastomers and coatings. Carbon steel and stainless steel are fine. Check hose, seal and container compatibility before a changeover.
What packing sizes are available?
200 L drums, 1000 L IBCs, flexitanks, ISO tank containers and bulk parcels. Orders run from a pallet of drums up to repeat bulk cargoes on contract supply.
Ready to source Ethyl Acetate?
Send us your specification, grade and annual volume. You will get a price, a realistic lead time and a sample COA from someone who understands what the material has to do in your process — delivered anywhere in the world.