Definition and Usage Areas of Ethyl acetate

Ethyl acetate is a compound formed by replacing the acetate hydroxyl group with ethoxy. Its simplified structural formula is: CH3COOCH2CH3. Pure ethyl acetate is a colorless transparent liquid with an aromatic odor. It has a strong ether-like scent as well as a clear fruity wine flavor that is easy to diffuse but not persistent. Slightly soluble in water, soluble in most organic solvents such as alcohol, ketone, ether and chloroform. Ethyl acetate, excellent solubility, quick-drying property, is a very important organic chemical raw material and excellent industrial solvent, widely used in the production of cellulose acetate, ethyl-based fiber, chlorinated rubber, vinyl resins, cellulose acetate resins, synthetic rubber and paints.

Its main functions include its use as an industrial solvent applied to paint, adhesive, ethyl cellulose, leather, linoleum colorant, synthetic fibers; use as a binder to be applied to printing inks, artificial pearl production; extractant used in medicine and in the manufacture of organic acids; a spice raw material pineapple, banana and strawberry and whiskey is used as the main raw material for the flavors of butter. There is always talk of the good taste of old wine. This is for wine containing fruit flavored ethyl acetate. Wine contains small amounts of acetic acid, which can react with ethanol to form ethyl acetate. Because this is a reversible reaction, it takes a long time for ethyl acetate to accumulate, leading to the aroma flavor of stale wine.
In some developed countries, it is used as a non-toxic, pollution-free solvent, gradually replacing benzene solvent and methyl ethyl ketone solvent, which can cause great harm to humans and the environment. Currently, ethyl acetate production ways can be divided into esterification, acetaldehyde condensation, ethylene addition and ethanol hydrogenation. The ethanol dehydrogenation method adopted at the company was a new technology developed in the late 1990s that could produce ethyl acetate through one-step dehydrogenation of ethanol while producing by-product hydrogen gas. Using this method, it can produce high purity ethyl acetate with low amount of water and various heavy metals.

Usage areas

• CH3COOCH2CH3 is primarily used as a preferred solvent and diluent due to its low cost, low toxicity and pleasant odour.
• Coffee beans and tea leaves are decaffeinated with this solvent.
• It is also used as an activator or hardener in paints.
• In perfumes, it evaporates quickly, leaving a perfume smell on the skin.
• It can be used as standard material and solvent for analytical reagents and chromatography analysis.
• It can also be used for environmental protection and analysis of pesticide residues.
• It can also be used for organic synthesis and spice production.
• It can also be used as a solvent and for the synthesis of dyes and some drug intermediates.
• It can also be used for liquid nitrocellulose ink for copying machine.
• In the laboratory, mixtures containing ethyl acetate are widely used in column chromatography and extractions.
• In a kill jar filled with CH3COOCH2CH3, the vapors quickly kill the collected insects without destroying them. Because it is non-hygroscopic, CH3COOCH2CH3 keeps the insect soft enough to allow proper assembly suitable for a collection.
• CH3COOCH2CH3 is also the raw material for the manufacture of dyes, medicines and perfumes. CH3COOCH2CH3 is also a highly effective solvent of many resins and is widely used in the manufacture of ink and leather.