What is Methyl Acetate?
Methyl acetate, also known as Methyl
ethanoate, is an organic compound
composed of a methyl
group and an acetic acid group. The
molecular formula of methyl acetate is
CH3COOCH3. It
appears as a transparent liquid with a
fruity aroma under normal temperature
and pressure.
It is slightly soluble in water,
miscible in organic solvents such as
ether and ethanol, and
has strong volatility and
flammability, belongs to Class III
dangerous goods.
With the maturity of modern production
technology, the demand has become
increasingly
diverse, and the types of methyl
acetate have become increasingly
abundant. According to
differences in uses and chemical
properties, methyl acetate can be
roughly divided into
pharmaceutical grade methyl acetate,
fragrance grade methyl acetate,
solvent grade methyl
acetate, etc.
Main Application of Methyl Acetate:
The upstream of the methyl acetate
industry chain is mainly the raw
material industry, the
midstream is mainly the methyl acetate
production industry, which is
responsible for the
production and manufacturing of
different types of methyl acetate, and
the downstream is
mainly the application field. Methyl
acetate is mostly used in the
production of detergents,
acetic anhydride, coatings, adhesives,
foaming agents, extraction solvents
and other
products, and plays an important role
in daily production activities.
At present, the largest application
field of methyl acetate is detergent,
accounting for
42.3%, followed by the coating field,
accounting for 40.7%, extraction
solvent field ranks
third, accounting for 11.4%. In the
field of chemical industry, methyl
acetate is a very
important chemical raw material and is
mostly used to produce chemical
products such as
acetamide, acetic anhydride, and
methyl acrylate. In the pharmaceutical
field, methyl
acetate can be used directly as a
pharmaceutical intermediate and is
widely used in the
pharmaceutical market. As a new
organic solvent with strong
solubility, green and
environmental protection, methyl
acetate has gradually replaced
traditional solvents and its
application fields have gradually
expanded.
Unique Product Advantages:
Methyl acetate is miscible with most
organic solvents. It has a wide range
of dissolving
power and can dissolve acrylic, vinyl,
nitrocellulose, epoxy, polyurethane,
polyester,
phenolic resin, etc.
It has a higher flash point and higher
anti-whitening performance than
acetone, and can
better comply with coatings, paint
process formulas and user
requirements.
In process formulations that require
the use of low boiling point volatile
organic solvents,
it can replace the application of
ethyl ester, acetone, and butanone.
In polyurethane shoe materials, it can
replace cyclopentane,
chlorofluorocarbons, etc. as an
environmentally friendly foaming
agent.
Storage and Handling Precautions:
Storage precautions: Store in a cool,
ventilated warehouse. Keep away from
fire and heat
sources and keep container tightly
sealed. It should be stored separately
from oxidants,
acids, and alkalis to avoid chemical
reactions.
When operating methyl acetate, the
operating area should be ventilated,
and ventilation
equipment can be appropriately used to
increase air flow. Operators must
undergo special
training and strictly abide by
operating procedures. Operators must
wear self-priming filter
gas masks (half masks), chemical
safety glasses, anti-static overalls,
and rubber
oil-resistant gloves when handling
methyl acetate to avoid direct contact
with skin or eyes,
which may cause irritation.
