Ethyl acetate (CAS 141-78-6) is one of the most widely used esters in industry — a clear, colourless solvent with a characteristic fruity odour, fast evaporation and excellent solvency for resins, coatings and extractions. This guide covers its main uses, available grades and safe handling.
What is ethyl acetate?
Ethyl acetate is the ester of ethanol and acetic acid. It is moderately polar, evaporates quickly, leaves no residue and has relatively low toxicity compared with many other solvents — a combination that makes it a workhorse across coatings, printing and laboratory work.
Common uses
- Coatings, paints & lacquers — a fast-evaporating solvent for nitrocellulose and acrylic systems.
- Printing inks & adhesives — a key solvent in flexographic and rotogravure inks.
- Extraction — decaffeination of coffee and tea, and extraction of flavours and active compounds.
- Laboratory — one of the standard solvents for extractions and column chromatography.
Grades and purity
Ethyl acetate is supplied in technical grade for industrial use and high-purity (≥99.7%) reagent grade for laboratory and analytical work. Match the grade to your application — see our guide to chemical purity grades — and request a COA for documented specifications.
Safe handling
Ethyl acetate is highly flammable and its vapours can irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. Store cool, in tightly closed containers, away from ignition sources and oxidisers, and use with good ventilation. An SDS is provided on request — see also how to store chemicals safely.
Buy ethyl acetate from Ozon Chemical
Ozon Chemical supplies ethyl acetate (≥99.7%) and a full range of solvents as an EU-registered, REACH-compliant supplier, with COA/SDS on request and worldwide shipping. See also choosing the right solvent.
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