Denatured Ethanol

About Denatured Ethanol

Denatured ethanol contains toxic additives and/or bitter tastants to deter human ingestion. Sometimes, dyes are added to denatured ethanol to visually distinguish it from potable ethanol. While drinkable ethanol is subject to excise taxes to discourage excessive drinking, denatured ethanol can be sold more cheaply. The criteria for denatured ethanol are specifically laid out by the government to ensure that repurification is not feasible. As Methanol is the most common additive at concentrations up to 10%, denatured ethanol is sometimes called “methylated spirits.” Other additives have a disagreeable taste, such as diethyl phthalate and denatonium benzoate (Bitrex). Within government criteria, manufacturers can select denaturants based upon their product; for example, tert-butyl alcohol is commonly used in cosmetics because studies show that it has low toxicity in topical applications.

In the United States, the practice of adding mixing toxins into ethanol intended for non-food purposes was first implemented in the early 1900s, and amped up during prohibition because “renaturing” (re-purifying via distillation to restore drinkability) was common and successful – that is, successful in the sense that the re-natured ethanol was safe and nontoxic. As a result, the government called for the addition of more deadly toxins in higher concentrations, resulting in thousands of deaths from bootlegged alcohol.

It is important to note that the additives do not modify the actual chemical structure of ethanol, in order that denatured ethanol may still be used in the same way as unadulterated ethanol – for example, as lighter fuel or as a solvent. However, in this impure form, it remains inappropriate for all food and many non-food applications, since the additives may interfere in chemical reactions, assays, or instrumental analyses.

Denatured Ethanol Offerings at Lab Alley

Denatured ethanol is available in all sizes ranging from 500 ml to 270 gallons for quick shipping to your facility. 

Industries that Use Denatured Ethanol

• R&D/Laboratory
• Personal Care and Cosmetics

 Common Uses and Applications for Denatured Ethanol

• Fuel
• Solvent
• Reagent   
• Shampoo and soap making
• Petrochemical industry