Ethanol is also commonly known as alcohol, ethyl alcohol, or grain alcohol and it is a clear, colourless liquid. It is also the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages, amidst other products.
Ethanol can readily dissolve in water and any other organic compounds, making it perfect for use in personal care and beauty products, as well as paints, varnishes, and fuel. There are many bulk ethanol 99.9% suppliers in South Africa, and before selecting one, it is important to consider the safety facts, uses, and benefits of Ethanol.
Ethanol Safety Facts
Ethanol is commonly known as primary alcohol and ethane in which hydrogen is substituted by a hydroxy group, making it ideal as an antiseptic drug, polar solvent, neurotoxin, central nervous depressant, and many other functions.
However, it is important to note that Ethanol is highly flammable and subsequently should not be used near any open flames. In addition to this, inhalation of Ethanol can cause coughing or headaches.
Ethanol is safe to use in food products, but because it is a very pure form of alcohol, Ethanol consumption and use in foods is highly regulated. To discourage people from drinking pure Ethanol from either personal care, beauty or cleaning products, a “denaturant”, or bitter flavour, is added to these products.
Denaturants make alcohol unsuitable for human consumption without changing the inherent properties of Ethanol.
Ethanol Uses
Ethanol has many uses, including some of the following common applications:
- As alternative fuels, known as ethanol fuel, relieves pressure from using fossil fuels. This is because Ethanol is a renewable fuel that is made from different plant materials known as “biomass”. More than 98% of gasoline contains ethanol and can be used in a variety of flexible fuel vehicle types, subsequently helping to minimise greenhouse gases.
- Ethanol can be used as a window and glass cleaner.
- Ethanol can remove grease and stains from surfaces and clothing.
- It is commonly used as an anti-bacterial cleaner to disinfect surfaces, areas, and skin.
- Ethanol or Bioethanol is used for Ethanol heaters.
- Ethanol can be used for pest control.
- Ethanol is used in many cosmetics and beauty products as an astringent that helps to clean skin, preserve lotions, and to ensure those lotion ingredients do not separate.
- Ethanol is used as an effective solvent in paints, lacquers and varnish, along with many household products.
- As a food additive, ethanol helps to distribute food colouring evenly and enhance the flavour of food extracts.
- Ethanol is also used in a wide range of alcoholic beverages such as beer, clear spirits, and many others.
Benefits of Ethanol
The benefits of using Ethanol are:
- It is proven to reduce combustion emissions and greenhouse gases.
- Ethanol creates a wide range of extremely useful byproducts.
- It can be used in our existing infrastructure.
- It is an energy-balanced fuel that ensures that fewer fossil fuels are used.
- It can be made from a wide range of different bioproducts.
- It has a wide range of uses and is considered safe if used correctly.
- It plays an important role in different products without negatively impacting the environment or human health.