Ethanol

Ethanol is a primary alcohol that is ethane in which one of the hydrogens is substituted by a hydroxy group.  It is a primary alcohol, an alkyl alcohol, a volatile organic compound and a member of ethanols. It is a conjugate acid of an ethoxide.It mixes easily with water. Ethanol appears as a clear colorless liquid with a characteristic vinous odor and pungent taste.  Vapors are heavier than air.It is also known as grain alcohol,  Ethanol is present in emissions from plants, fires, volcanoes, animal wastes, insects and natural fermentation of sugars. It has a role as an antiseptic drug, a polar solvent, a neurotoxin, a central nervous system depressant, a teratogenic agent, a NMDA receptor antagonist, a protein kinase C agonist, a disinfectant.Ethanol is an important commercial chemical.

1. It is one of the important basic chemical raw materials, widely used in organic synthesis, medicine, pesticides and other industries, and also an important organic solvent.

2. Used as fuel for self-service hot pots, field travel, etc. It is often used as an analytical reagent and also in the pharmaceutical industry.

3. Used as a basic organic chemical raw material, also as an organic solvent, for the production of alcoholic beverages, and in the food industry.

4. Extraction solvent; carrier solvent; flavor solvent; flavor enhancer; preservative.

5. Approved as a food processing aid by GB 2760-96.

6. Applications: Ethanol is an important organic solvent, widely used in medicine, coatings, sanitary products, cosmetics, oils and fats, etc., accounting for about 50% of the total ethanol consumption.

7. Ethanol is an important basic chemical raw material, used to manufacture acetaldehyde, ethylene, ethylamine, ethyl acetate, acetic acid, ethyl chloride, etc., and derives many intermediates for pharmaceuticals, dyes, coatings, flavors, synthetic rubber, detergents, pesticides and other products.

8. A 75% ethanol aqueous solution has strong bactericidal activity and is a commonly used disinfectant. Specially refined ethanol can also be used to make beverages.

9. Similar to methanol, ethanol can be used as an energy source. Some countries have begun to use ethanol alone as automobile fuel or blend it into gasoline (more than 10%) to save gasoline.

10. Widely used in organic synthesis industries such as plastics, synthetic fibers and synthetic rubber. Used in the production of alcoholic beverages and in the food industry. Used as a solvent, for the analysis of nickel, potassium, magnesium and acid value of fats, as an extractant, dehydrating agent and cleaning agent.