Ethyl Acetate
The fast-evaporating ester solvent supplied by Chelora Chemicals — the low-toxicity, fruity-odour solvent behind printing ink, coatings, nail-care and decaffeination applications — exported from Indonesia in drums and ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Ethyl Acetate is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as a fast-evaporating acetate ester, and the grade Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Ethyl Acetate is the ester formed from acetic acid and ethanol, combining a reactive carbonyl with a fast-evaporating, relatively low-toxicity profile that has made it one of the most widely used general-purpose solvents in industry. Esters like this one hydrolyse slowly back to the parent acid and alcohol under moist or basic conditions, which is the main chemical limitation formulators need to account for.
At room temperature it is a colourless, highly flammable, volatile liquid with a characteristic sweet, fruity odour, partially miscible with water and fully miscible with most organic solvents. It requires standard flammable-liquid storage with good ventilation and ignition-source control, and is one of the comparatively lower-toxicity solvents in the Chelora range.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Ethyl Acetate's largest use is as a fast-evaporating solvent in printing ink, nitrocellulose lacquer, nail-polish and coating formulation, where its evaporation profile helps set gloss and drying speed. It is also used as an extraction solvent in pharmaceutical and food processing, including decaffeination, and as a solvent for adhesives and cleaning formulations.
Grade we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Ethyl Acetate in industrial/coatings grade (99.5%+ assay) suitable for printing ink, lacquer, nail-care and extraction-solvent applications, supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Ethyl Acetate is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Ethyl Acetate is manufactured by the acid-catalysed Fischer esterification of acetic acid with ethanol, with removal of water to drive the equilibrium toward the ester: CH₃COOH + C₂H₅OH → CH₃COOC₂H₅ + H₂O. An alternative, increasingly used route is the Tishchenko-type catalytic condensation of acetaldehyde, which forms ethyl acetate directly without a separate acid and alcohol feed.
Why Fischer esterification remains the standard process
Reacting acetic acid directly with ethanol under acid catalysis is a simple, well-understood, scalable reaction from two widely available feedstocks, which is why it remains the most common commercial process for ethyl acetate even as some plants now use the acetaldehyde-based alternative.
Industries and processes that use it
Ethyl Acetate is consumed across printing, coatings, personal-care and extraction applications, where its fast evaporation and comparatively low toxicity are the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Printing Inks & Lacquers
Used as a fast-evaporating solvent in printing ink and nitrocellulose lacquer formulation, where its evaporation profile helps set gloss and drying speed.
Nail Polish & Personal Care
Used as the primary solvent in nail polish and nail-polish remover formulations, valued for fast drying and comparatively low toxicity.
Pharmaceutical & Food Extraction
Used as an extraction solvent in pharmaceutical processing and in decaffeination of coffee and tea, given its acceptable residue profile for food-contact applications.
Adhesives & Cleaning Formulations
Used as a solvent in contact adhesives and general industrial cleaning formulations where fast evaporation is an advantage.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The ester linkage, formed between an acid and an alcohol, governs almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Ethyl Acetate is converted or used.
Hydrolysis (Reverse Reaction)
Slowly hydrolyses back to acetic acid and ethanol under moist, acidic or basic conditions, the main degradation pathway to control in storage and formulation.
Transesterification
Can exchange its ethyl group with another alcohol under acid or base catalysis to form a different acetate ester, used in some specialty solvent syntheses.
Fischer Esterification (Upstream)
Acetic acid and ethanol condense under acid catalysis, with loss of water, to form ethyl acetate itself, the dominant industrial route in the whole chain.
Tishchenko-Type Condensation (Alternative Upstream)
Acetaldehyde is catalytically condensed directly to ethyl acetate, an alternative route used at some modern plants.
Ethyl Acetate against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Ethyl Acetate for printing, coatings or extraction applications often need a related industrial solvent. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ethyl Acetate | 141-78-6 | Fast-evaporating ester solvent | The product on this page — the low-toxicity solvent for printing ink, lacquers and extraction. |
| Methyl Ethyl Ketone | 78-93-3 | Fast-drying ketone solvent | A related fast-drying solvent often used alongside ethyl acetate in coatings — see its product page. |
| n-Hexane | 110-54-3 | Aliphatic hydrocarbon solvent | Another widely used industrial solvent, favoured for extraction applications — see its product page. |
| Isopropyl Alcohol | 67-63-0 | Secondary aliphatic alcohol / solvent | A related fast-evaporating industrial solvent — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Ethyl Acetate.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
Causes serious eye irritation.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Comparatively low acute toxicity relative to many industrial solvents, but should not be ingested or inhaled in quantity.
Chemical-resistant gloves and splash goggles are recommended for routine handling; ensure adequate ventilation.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame; ground and bond containers during transfer given the very low flash point.
High vapour concentrations in poorly ventilated areas can cause drowsiness or dizziness; ensure adequate ventilation.
Danger — GHS02 flammable and GHS07 irritant pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable liquid that causes serious eye irritation and may cause drowsiness or dizziness at high vapour concentrations, though it has a comparatively low acute toxicity relative to many industrial solvents. It must still be handled with chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof eye protection, adequate ventilation and strict control of ignition sources given its very low flash point. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and must be read in full and followed without exception before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area below 30 °C, away from heat sources, sparks, open flame and excess moisture, which can accelerate hydrolysis, in tightly closed original packaging. Standard solvent-handling PPE and good ventilation are sufficient for routine use. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay and acidity before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Ethyl Acetate leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of Ethyl Acetate shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Ethyl Acetate used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Ethyl Acetate?+
03How is Ethyl Acetate made?+
04What grade does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Why is Ethyl Acetate used in coffee decaffeination?+
06Is Ethyl Acetate hazardous?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply Methyl Ethyl Ketone and n-Hexane as well?+
Need Ethyl Acetate on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.