- Ethyl acetate
Chembox new
Name = Ethyl acetate
ImageFile = Ethyl-acetate-2D-skeletal.png
ImageName = Ethyl acetate
ImageFile1 = Ethyl-acetate-3D-balls.png
ImageName1 = Ethyl acetate
IUPACName = Ethyl ethanoate
OtherNames = ethyl ester, acetic ester, ester of ethanol
Section1 = Chembox Identifiers
SMILES = CCOC(C)=O
CASNo = 141-78-6
RTECS = AH5425000
Section2 = Chembox Properties
Formula = C4H8O2
MolarMass = 88.105 g/mol
Appearance = colorless liquid
Density = 0.897 g/cm³, liquid
Solubility = 8.3 g/100 mL (20 °C)
Solvent =ethanol ,acetone ,diethyl ether ,benzene
SolubleOther = Miscible
MeltingPt = −83.6 °C (189.55 K)
BoilingPt = 77.1 °C (350.25 K)
Viscosity = 0.426 cP at 25 °C
RefractIndex = 1.3720
Section3 = Chembox Structure
Dipole = 1.78 D
Section7 = Chembox Hazards
ExternalMSDS =
MainHazards = Flammable (F),
Irritant (Xi)
NFPA-H = 1
NFPA-F = 4
NFPA-R =
RPhrases = R11, R36, R66, R67
SPhrases = S16, S26, S33
FlashPt = −4 °C
Section8 = Chembox Related
Function =carboxylate ester s
OtherFunctn =Methyl acetate ,Propyl acetate ,Butyl acetate
OtherCpds =Acetic acid ,ethanol Ethyl acetate (systematically, ethyl ethanoate, commonly abbreviated EtOAc or EA) is the
organic compound with the formula CH3COOCH2CH3. This colorless liquid has a characteristic, pungent smell (similar topear drops ) like certainglue s ornail polish remover s, in which it is used. Ethyl acetate is theester fromethanol andacetic acid ; it is manufactured on a large scale for use as a solvent.Properties
Ethyl acetate is a moderately polar solvent that has the advantages of being volatile, relatively non-toxic, and non-
hygroscopic . It is a weakhydrogen bond acceptor, and is not a donor due to the lack of anacidic proton (one directly bonded to anelectronegative atom such as fluorine, oxygen, or nitrogen). Ethyl acetate can dissolve up to 3%water and has asolubility of 8% in water at room temperature. At elevated temperature itssolubility in water is higher. It is unstable in the presence of strong aqueous bases andacid s.Preparation
Ethyl acetate is synthesized via the
Fischer esterification reaction fromethanol andacetic acid , typically in the presence of an acid catalyst such as concentratedsulfuric acid .:CH3CH2OH + CH3COOH → CH3COOCH2CH3 + H2OIt can also be prepared through
Tishchenko reaction , by combining two equivalents ofacetaldehyde in the presence of analkoxide base as catalyst. This way is a commercial method of producing ethyl acetate.Fact|date=May 2008:CH3CHO + CH3CHO → CH3COOC2H5
Industrial production
Industrially, ethyl acetate can be produced by the catalytic
dehydrogenation ofethanol . For cost reasons, this method is primarily applied to conversion of surplus ethanol feedstock as opposed to predetermined generation on an industrial scale. In addition, it is commonly accepted as far less practical and less cost effective.Catalysts for dehydrogenation include copper, operating at an elevated temperature but below 250 °C. The copper may have its surface area increased by depositing it on zinc, promoting the growth of snowflake, fractal like, structures. This surface area can be again increased by deposition onto a
zeolite , typically ZSM-5. Traces of rare earth metals or alkalies, such as that of sodium and potassium, have also been found to be beneficial to the process. Byproducts of hydrogenation includediethyl ether (thought to primarily arise due to aluminum sites in the catalyst), acetaldehyde, acetaldehyde aldol products, higher esters and ketones.Acetaldehyde andMEK complicate conversion and purification as ethanol forms anazeotrope with water, as does ethyl acetate with ethanol and water and MEK with both ethanol and the acetate. To obtain a high purity product, these azeotropes must be "broken", and this can be achieved by making use of pressure swing distillation.The composition of the distillate removed from the conversion products is biased towards acetate at atmospheric pressure and ethanol at increased pressure. First, the raw product is fed into a high pressure column where the bulk of the contaminating ethanol is removed. By then feeding the ethanol depleted distillate into a low pressure column, the acetate can be removed from the remaining ethanol azeotrope.
MEK forms during the conversion process from 2-butanol. The latter fails to form an azeotrope with the acetate and so MEK can be removed by hydrogenation of the contaminated product over nickel and further distillation to strip away 2-butanol. This provides the simultaneous benefit of removing the acetylaldehyde contaminant by returning it to an ethanol form and is easily accomplished as hydrogen is a byproduct of the initial dehydrogenation process.
It may also be possible to break the azeotropes with the use of membrane distillation, molecular sieves, an entrainer or absorption medium.
The distilled ethanol and rehydrogenated contaminants can then be recycled into the raw feedstock.
Uses
olvent
Ethyl acetate is primarily used as a
solvent . For example, it is commonly used to clean circuit boards to wash away any remaining flux residue, to dissolve the pigments fornail varnish es, and is responsible for the solvent-effect of some nail varnish remover (acetone andacetonitrile are also used). Industrially it is used todecaffeinate coffee beans and tea leaves.Fact|date=April 2007 It is also used in paints as an activator or hardener.Fact|date=December 2007In the laboratory, mixtures of ethyl acetate and other solvents are commonly used in
chromatography . It is also used as a solvent for extractions. Ethylacetate is rarely selected as a reaction solvent because it is prone tohydrolysis .Like most simple esters, ethyl acetate has a fruity smell. Ethyl acetate is present in confectionery, perfumes, and fruits. In perfumes, it evaporates quickly, leaving but the scent of the perfume on the skin.
Occurrence in wines
Ethyl acetate is the most common
ester found in wine, being the production of the most common volatileorganic acid -acetic acid and the ethanol alcohol created during the fermentation of wine. The aroma of ethyl acetate is most vivid in younger wines and contribute towards the general perception of "fruitiness" in the wine. Sensitivity varies with most people having a perception threshold around 120 mg/l. Excessive amounts of ethyl acetate is considered awine fault . Exposure tooxygen can exacerbate the fault due to theoxidation of ethanol creatingacetaldehyde . This can leave the wine with a sharpvinegar like taste. J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 259 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0198609906 ]Other uses
In the field of
entomology , ethyl acetate is an effective poison for use ininsect collecting and study. In akilling jar charged with ethyl acetate, the vapors will kill the collected (usually adult) insect quickly without destroying it. Because it is nothygroscopic , ethyl acetate also keeps the insect soft enough to allow proper mounting suitable for a collection.Reactions
Ethyl acetate can be
hydrolyzed in acid or basic conditions to regain acetic acid and ethanol. The use of an acid catalyst such assulfuric acid gives poor yields due to it being an equilibrium — the reverse reaction of the Fischer esterification.To obtain high yields, it is preferable to use a stoichiometric amount of strong base, such as
sodium hydroxide . This reaction gives ethanol andsodium acetate , which is not able to react with ethanol any longer::CH3CO2C2H5 + NaOH → C2H5OH + CH3CO2Na
References
* "Chembytes e-zine - Team effort: Steve Colley describes work to develop a new route to make ethyl acetate starting from low grade renewable feedstocks" (2001) [http://www.chemsoc.org/chembytes/ezine/2001/colley_aug01.htm#]
* "Ingenia Online - Renewable Processing: The Green Alternative; Using Bio-Ethanol To Manufacture An Industrial Solvent by Mike Ashley" (Issue 29, 2006) [http://www.ingenia.org.uk/ingenia/articles.aspx?index=403&print=true]
Some industrial plants use Ethylene----> Acetic Acid in the presence of an tungstasilic acid on a silica support. This is the catalyst and the Exothermic reaction is cooled by water/ethanol/acetic acid.
External links
* [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0260.html NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards]
* [http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/ipcsneng/neng0367.html International Chemical Safety Cards]
* [http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/e2850.htm Material safety data (MSDS)] for ethyl acetate
* [http://www.npi.gov.au/database/substance-info/profiles/38.html National Pollutant Inventory - Ethyl acetate fact sheet]
* [http://www.chm.bris.ac.uk/motm/ethylacetate/ethylh.htm Ethyl Acetate: Molecule of the Month]
* [http://hsc.csu.edu.au/chemistry/core/acidic/chem935/chem935net.html#net4 Purpose of Using Concentrated Sulfuric Acid in Esterification for Catalysis]
* [http://www.sekab.com/Eng/Informationssidor/Produktblad/Microsoft%20Word%20-%20New%20Ethyl%20acetate.DOC.165.pdf SEKAB Specification]
* [http://www.chemicalweekly.com/Profiles/Ethyl_Acetate.pdf A Techno Commercial Profile of Ethyl Acetate in India]
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