Features

• Usages: Industries that use this solvent, in order of consumption: 1) Laboratory uses: In laboratories, ethanol is used in cases where water would interfere with the desired reaction. (pubchem)2) Cosmetics: This solvent is used in skin cleansers as a pore-shrinking agent. Ethanol is also added to lotions as an additive and to ensure that the lotion components do not separate, and to hair sprays to ensure that the spray compounds stick to the hair. Ethanol is also used as a solvent for the essential oils of various ingredients in the production of perfumes and fragrances. Its antibacterial properties have also led to its use in the production of hand sanitizers and mouthwashes to kill bacteria and help improve the performance of other effective components such as eucalyptol[1] and to improve the penetration of thymol[2] on plaque. Shampoos, dyes, hair creams and mousses, and nail polishes also contain ethanol. (chemical safety facts)3) Pharmaceutical industry: It is used in many drugs such as acetaminophen, ranitidine, furosemide[3], mannitol[4], phenobarbital[5], trimethoprim[6], sulfamethoxazole[7], iron supplements, and cough suppressants. Ethanol is used as a polar and non-polar solvent in reactions to produce active pharmaceutical ingredients; in reactions where the solvent is pure ethanol, adding water causes precipitation of non-polar powders, and in reactions producing very non-polar materials, adding ethanol causes precipitation of impurities. The solubility of ethanol on polar and non-polar compounds has led to many applications for ethanol in the pharmaceutical industry. (ASSIGNMENT POINT)4) Food industry: It is one of the most widely used solvents in the production of flavors and seasonings, and it can also cause better distribution of color in food. For example, the popular vanilla flavoring is produced in a solution of water, ethanol, and vanilla beans. (chemical safety facts) Ethanol is also produced and consumed in alcoholic beverages in various percentages and industrially.Note: In Iran, due to the ban on the production, import, and consumption of alcoholic beverages, many people produce and sell ethanol at home. The purchase and sale of these substances is prohibited and there is no supervision over its production and packaging; also, in many cases, profit-seeking individuals have caused poisoning, blindness, kidney failure, and death by purchasing industrial ethanol or methanol solvent and distributing it as an alcoholic beverage. Unlike ethanol, methanol alcohol is very toxic and can cause blindness and then death in very small doses. Many industrial ethanols available on the market contain significant amounts of methanol, which can cause irreparable harm if consumed orally.5) Fuel industry: Ethanol is considered a clean fuel because it burns completely, and this solvent is used in the production of gasoline to increase oxygen and reduce air pollution. Because pure ethanol damages tires and plastics and has a high octane number, it can only be used in cars that have a special design and can change the spark timing in the engine depending on the type of fuel. The fuel produced in the United States generally contains 90% gasoline and 10% ethanol (called E15). It is used as rocket fuel and fuel for light unmanned aircraft. The highest consumption of ethanol as fuel is in Brazil, where ethanol is produced in large ethanol refinery units by fermentation from wheat, sugar cane molasses, sugar beets, and corn; in Brazil, cars with 100% ethanol fuel and long-distance vehicles with 15% gasoline and 85% ethanol called E100 and E85 are used.6) Plastics Industry: Ethanol is a good alternative to fossil fuel-based chemicals and is widely used in the production of bioplastics. Polyethylene is produced from ethanol through a dehydration reaction, in which ethanol is converted to ethylene during the process of separating the water molecule, and then ethylene is converted to polyethylene. (ePURE)7) Automotive Industry: One of the applications of this solvent is its use as an antifreeze, which has led to its use in the production of car windshield washers. Car body cleaners and polishes also contain this solvent. (ePURE)8) Electrical Industry: It is used in electrode manufacturing[8] to degrease the surface of plates.9) Printing Industry: Water-based inks, which are widely used in flexographic and gravure printing[9] for various materials and in various sizes, contain ethanol and isopropyl alcohol in addition to water. If dilution is required, water or ethanol is also used. The presence of alcohol in this ink gives it a high gloss and evaporation rate, which distinguishes it from other inks. After the printing process is completed, water is used to wash the equipment before the ink dries, and alcohols such as methanol are used if the ink has dried on the equipment. (CINKARNA)10) Chemical industry: This solvent is used as an intermediate in the production of compounds such as glycols[10], glycol ethers[11], ethanolamines[12], ethylamines[13], ethyl propenoate (ethyl acrylate)[14] and ethanoate (acetate) esters[15]. (greener industry)11) Paint Industry: Solvents such as ethanol are used in paint production to reduce viscosity and improve paint distribution on surfaces. Ethanol is also used to clean paint from glass, paint brushes, and clothing. (The essential chemical industry-online, 2015) (SYDNEY SOLVENTS) Ethanol is not a very strong solvent, but it is used in the coating and printing industries as a co-solvent with ester, aromatic, and petroleum solvents in the formulation of thinners. The price of ethanol is lower than many ester, ketone, and aromatic solvents due to its renewable origin, so its use is economical; methanol also has this property, but is less used due to its toxicity.12) Adhesive Industry: The viscosity of an adhesive depends on the solubility of the monomers in the solvent, which can increase the spreadability of an adhesive on surfaces, especially on porous substrates. In the production of adhesives used in dentistry, mainly ethanol, acetone, and water solvents are used. (scielo)
• Storage conditions: 1. Proper storage temperatureThe storage temperature should be below 25 degrees Celsius and away from heat sources. Increasing temperature increases vaporization and the possibility of explosion.2. Proper ventilationThe ventilation system should be constantly active so that condensed ethanol vapors do not accumulate in the space. The use of explosion-proof ventilation is recommended.3. Storage containersEthanol should be stored in corrosion-resistant containers, polyethylene or stainless steel. The container lids should be tightly sealed and resistant to vapor pressure.4. Warning signsAll containers and storage areas should have warning labels such as: “Flammable”, “Toxic”, “Authorized persons only”.5. Explosion-proof equipmentAll lighting and electronic systems in the storage must be explosion-proof (EX Proof).6. Keep away from sources of sparks and flamesThe ethanol storage facility should be at least 50 meters away from furnaces, open flames, or sparking devices.