Adoption of Ethyl Acetate in Various Industries on the Rise Especially in Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Industries

 

  Ethyl acetate is the simpler of the two main esters in wine - it's the product of a fermentation process rather than being the result of simple distillation. It's the product of two distinct alcohols, namely, ethanol and acetic (or fruit-flavonoid) acid. Ethanol can be seen as the parent alcohol; the other is Acetone, which is derived from sugar cane. Ethyl acetate is produced on a large scale for industrial use as a solvent; ethyl is also used for treating leather and rubber.

  Ethyl acetate is a volatile organic compound and emissions to air can contribute to photochemical smog. In the U.S. the chemical is on the Hazardous Substance List because it is regulated by OSHA and cited by ACGIH, DOT, NIOSH, HHAG, NFPA, and EPA. Because it has two key ingredients, and because it's relatively simpler than many industrial solvents, ethyl acetate is used for a wide range of purposes, including that of a cleaning solvent for printers and photo printers, as a printing fuel (a source of petroleum jelly), in photo processing, as an oxidizing agent, as a stabilizer, in the textile industry, and as a foaming agent.

  Commonly used in the laboratory, the solvents created by ethyl acetate are frequently found in biological processes, especially the production of nucleic acids and DNA, and as some sort of a buffer or base in chemical processes such as in making polymers and plastics. In addition to these more widely known uses, it has also been found that ethyl can be used for the production of a particular type of foam, called polyurethane foam. Further chemical reactions involving this foam lead to the formation of another highly useful material called polyvinyl ester (PV).

  Ethyl acetate is very soluble in water; the only solvent it is unable to emulsify is oil. In order to use this solvent effectively, you must keep it at room temperature and apply direct pressure onto the substance to be cleaned or drop the container into hot water. The container must be kept upside down to prevent damage. If the container is kept flat, the process is much like mounting a dilute solution of any other oil-based cleaning solvent, i.e. mineral spirits, nail polish remover, white vinegar, kerosene, etc. Apply the solvent and leave it to an appropriate time, and then turn it back into a solid form.

  There are many uses and applications for ethyl acetate. In chemistry, it is widely used as a stabilizer, an oxidizing agent, an x-ray diffuse, and in the separation of lighter hydrocarbons and lighter oil derivatives. In biology, many bacteria and viruses utilize this compound as an energy source, and it has also been found to inhibit the growth of cancer cells. It is also used extensively in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry, particularly as an oxidizing agent in skincare products, as a trisaccharide substitute in sugar production, and in binding and improving the texture of cosmetics.