Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) — properties & hazards overview
Boiling point
~ 78.4 °C
Flash point
~ 13 °C (closed cup)
Odour threshold
Low–moderate (tens of ppm)
Water solubility
Complete (miscible)
Flammability
Low FP; wide LEL–UEL
Toxicity
Irritant; CNS effects
Chronic risk
Low (process dependent)
Environmental
COD/BOD in effluent
| Property | Value / Note |
|---|---|
| Chemical identity | Polar protic alcohol; clear, volatile liquid with mild characteristic odour. |
| Molar mass | 46.07 g/mol; density ~0.79 g/mL (20 °C). |
| Flammability limits | LEL ~3.3 vol% / UEL ~19 vol% in air (indicative). |
| Reactivity | Oxidizes to acetaldehyde/acetic acid; incompatible with strong oxidizers. Can soften some elastomers. |
| Behaviour in gas streams | High water affinity → water scrubbing effective; efficiency improves with cooling and higher L/G. At high loads, consider polishing for residual VOC. |
| Best analytical detection | GC–FID — robust, highly sensitive quantification of alcohols; excellent for speciated ethanol monitoring (ppb–ppm) for compliance and troubleshooting. |
*Indicative values; confirm exact limits and handling data via current SDS (“verify via SDS”).