Database/Solvent/Ethyl Acetate
Route-dependent · ISO 16128

Is Ethyl Acetate natural?

It depends. Only the acid half varies. Acetic acid is route-dependent on this site, made either by fermentation or by carbonylating methanol, while the ethanol half is fermentation-derived, so the ester never falls to zero.

INCI nameEthyl Acetate
CAS141-78-6
FormulaC4H8O2 · 88.11 Da
FunctionSolvent · Perfuming
FeedstockMade by esterifying acetic acid with ethanol. Ethanol…

Why the score varies

This ingredient is made commercially by more than one route, and ISO 16128 scores the feedstock actually used. Without a supplier certificate of origin the value cannot be claimed.

RouteFeedstockNOIShareNotes
fermentation ethanol + petrochemical acetic acidsugarcane or grain ethanol; methanol-carbonylation acetic acid0.51majority of bulk solvent supplyonly the 45.06 Da ethoxy fragment is natural origin
fermentation ethanol + fermentation acetic acidfermentation of both halves1.00minority, natural-labelled grades
Ask your supplier. A batch-specific certificate of origin or bio-based carbon test (ASTM D6866) settles which route applies.

How we scored it

Ethyl acetate is C4H8O2, 88.11 Da: the ethoxy fragment C2H5O is 45.06 Da and the acetyl fragment C2H3O is 43.04 Da. Ethanol is a fermentation product on this site, so the ethoxy half is natural origin on every route. With petrochemical acetic acid the value is 45.06/88.11 = 0.51; with fermentation-derived acetic acid the whole molecule is natural, 1.00.
What counts. ISO 16128-2 scores the atoms that remain in the final ingredient. Reagents, solvents, catalysts and protecting groups used during manufacture leave no mass behind and are not counted.

How it’s made

Fischer esterification of acetic acid with ethanol. Each curved arrow moves one electron pair, and the film ends on the score above.

Where it comes from

Made by esterifying acetic acid with ethanol. Ethanol is fermented from sugarcane, corn or grain. Most bulk acetic acid is made industrially by carbonylating methanol with carbon monoxide, with a smaller vinegar-grade fermentation supply.

In plain English

A fast-evaporating solvent, familiar from nail polish remover, that dissolves other ingredients and carries fragrance. Made by combining ethanol with acetic acid; the ethanol can come from fossil sources or from fermented plants.

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Structure

2D structure of Ethyl Acetate

ethyl acetate

PubChem CID 8857 ↗

References

  1. 1ISO 16128-1:2016 and ISO 16128-2:2017 — Guidelines on technical definitions and criteria for natural and organic cosmetic ingredients and products. ISO, Geneva.
  2. 2Ethyl Acetate. PubChem CID 8857. National Center for Biotechnology Information. pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov ↗
  3. 3ETHYL ACETATE. CosIng — European Commission cosmetic ingredient database. ec.europa.eu/cosing ↗
  4. 4ETHYL ACETATE. CosIng u2014 European Commission database for information on cosmetic substances and ingredients. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/tools-databases/cosing/search?search=ETHYL%20ACETATE