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| HS Code | 856318 |
| Name | Methyl Acetate |
| Chemical Formula | CH3COOCH3 |
| Iupac Name | Methyl ethanoate |
| Molecular Weight | 74.08 g/mol |
| Cas Registry Number | 79-20-9 |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
| Odor | Fruity, sweet, acetone-like |
| Density | 0.932 g/cm3 at 20 °C |
| Melting Point | -98 °C |
| Boiling Point | 56.8 °C |
| Flash Point | -10 °C (closed cup) |
| Solubility In Water | 24% w/w at 20 °C |
As an accredited Methyl Acetate factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Methyl Acetate supplied in 200-liter steel drums with secure bungs, labeled for safe handling and transport. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Methyl Acetate: stow UN-approved drums upright in 20′ FCL, segregated from oxidizers, secured with dunnage, labeled Class 3 flammable liquid. |
| Shipping | Methyl Acetate is shipped as UN 1231, a flammable liquid (Class 3, Packing Group II). It must be transported in properly grounded, sealed containers, away from heat, sparks, and oxidizers. Ensure adequate ventilation, secure upright loading, and display flammable warning labels. Follow all dangerous goods regulations for road, rail, or sea transport. |
| Storage | Store methyl acetate in tightly sealed, approved containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat, and ignition sources. Keep separated from strong oxidizers and incompatible materials. Use explosion-proof equipment and grounding precautions. Ensure secondary containment, proper labeling, and compliance with local fire and safety regulations. |
| Shelf Life | Store tightly sealed, away from heat and ignition. Under proper conditions, Methyl Acetate typically has a shelf life of two years. |
Because methyl acetate has a boiling point of 57 °C and high solvency for polyurethane and nitrocellulose resins, it is used in solvent-based flexographic and gravure lamination inks as a letdown solvent where evaporation balance is controlled to avoid cylinder drying and dot gain instability. In press-ready formulations, methyl acetate is typically added at 25–45 wt% of total wet ink mass; in polyurethane lamination systems the methyl acetate fraction of the solvent blend may reach 50 wt% when ethyl acetate and n-propyl acetate together account for 30–50 wt% of the blend, with the mixture adjusted to a DIN 4 cup flow time of 15–25 s at 23 °C. Compliance for food-contact printed flexible packaging is anchored to EU 1935/2004 Article 3 general safety and the Swiss Ordinance SR 817.023.21 Annex 2 positive list, where non-listed migrating substances are limited to 0.01 mg/kg food; EuPIA Good Manufacturing Practice requires documented raw-material suitability, migration risk assessment, and batch traceability. Production on high-speed rotogravure and flexo lines uses enclosed ink pans, viscosity-controlled solvent dosing, doctor blade metering, and drying tunnels maintained between 55 °C and 80 °C with continuous lower explosive limit monitoring at or below 25% LEL. Terminal products include two-layer solvent-based lamination inks for polyester/aluminium/polyethylene snack pouches, confectionery wrappers, and boil-in-bag laminates, with retained solvent measured by headspace gas chromatography and migration testing aligned to EN 1186 and EN 13130 methods where applicable.
| Compliance instrument | Constraint applied to methyl acetate in ink |
|---|---|
| EU 1935/2004 Article 3 | No migration to food that endangers human health or alters food composition |
| SR 817.023.21 Annex 2 | Non-listed substances migration ≤ 0.01 mg/kg |
| EuPIA GMP | Raw-material suitability and migration risk assessment required |
| CLP 1272/2008 | Flammable liquid Category 2; H225 labelling and ventilation controls |
In precision metal and electronics cleaning, methyl acetate functions as a low-toxicity replacement for dichloromethane, trichloroethylene, and methyl ethyl ketone in vapour degreasing and ultrasonic immersion operations. Cleaning baths are operated at 80–100 vol% methyl acetate, with ethanol or isopropanol blended at 5–20 vol% to modify evaporation and solubility for mixed polar and non-polar soils. Compliance under US EPA SNAP evaluates methyl acetate as an acceptable substitute for ozone-depleting and chlorinated solvents, while CLP 1272/2008 governs classification and labelling, and electronic assemblies are processed under IPC-CH-65B cleanliness guidelines and IPC-TM-650 test methods for ionic contamination and surface insulation resistance. Workpieces are processed in stainless steel single-chamber degreasers with 40 kHz ultrasonic transducers at 35–45 °C, spray-in-air at 0.3–0.5 MPa, and freeboard chillers held at −5 °C to 5 °C to control solvent carryover; drying is normally completed in less than 60 seconds at 60 °C. Because methyl acetate hydrolyzes in the presence of water, water content must be kept below 0.1 wt% by Karl Fischer titration, and amine-containing corrosion inhibitors are avoided because alkaline pH accelerates hydrolysis to acetic acid and methanol, corroding aluminium parts and shortening bath life. Published data for high-water-content cleaning configurations is limited, so acid value and water content are monitored at least once per shift. Terminal products include precision bearings, fuel system components, medical device subassemblies, and printed circuit assemblies prior to conformal coating.
The production of acetic anhydride by methyl acetate carbonylation consumes methyl acetate in a bubble-column or stirred autoclave reactor where carbon monoxide is added over a rhodium/iodide catalyst system at published industrial conditions of 160–200 °C and total pressure 20–40 bar. Feedstock specification for this application limits methyl acetate purity to 99.5 wt% minimum, methanol to 0.1 wt% maximum, water to 0.05 wt% maximum, and acidity as acetic acid to 0.01 wt% maximum, because water and methanol alter the methyl iodide promoter balance and can destabilize the homogeneous catalyst complex. Compliance is managed under Directive 2012/18/EU Seveso III for major-accident hazards associated with carbon monoxide and flammable liquids, ISO 9001:2015 for batch traceability, and REACH registration requirements for methyl acetate and downstream acetic anhydride. Process equipment uses Hastelloy C-276 wetted parts and high-pressure carbon monoxide sparging with continuous gas chromatography for methyl acetate, methyl iodide, and acetic anhydride. Water ingress above 0.05 wt% increases hydroiodic acid concentration and can accelerate pitting corrosion in stainless steel pump heads, reducing mean time between repair. Terminal products are acetic anhydride and co-produced acetic acid, with acetic anhydride converted on-site or supplied to cellulose acetate producers for filter tow, textile fibres, and engineering plastics.
In acetone-free nail polish remover compounding, methyl acetate is typically charged at 35–60 wt% of the anhydrous formula under ISO 22716:2007 Good Manufacturing Practice and EC 1223/2009 product safety obligations. A representative batch combines methyl acetate with ethanol at 10–25 wt%, water at 5–15 wt%, a cellulose rheology modifier such as hydroxyethylcellulose at 0.5–2.0 wt%, and a low-odour emollient at 1–5 wt% to reduce nail-bed defatting. The process is conducted in closed stainless steel vessels under nitrogen inerting, with cold blending below 25 °C and propeller agitation at 500–1000 rpm; filling lines use flameproof pumps and HDPE or PET bottles fitted with child-resistant closures. Classification under CLP 1272/2008 imposes Flammable Liquid Category 2 labelling and drives transport and storage ventilation requirements. The lower flash point and higher evaporation rate of methyl acetate relative to ethyl acetate limit its use in formulas requiring prolonged skin contact, and published data for prolonged occlusive exposure is limited. Terminal product types include acetone-free nail polish removers, saturated pads, and salon-use soak-off remover formulations.
Methyl acetate serves as a process solvent in pharmaceutical API crystallization and extraction because it is classified as a Class 3 residual solvent under ICH Q3C(R8), with a permitted daily exposure of 50 mg/day and a concentration limit of 5000 ppm in drug substances under USP <467>; final drug-product limits are derived from the same class and route of administration. In small-molecule API purification, methyl acetate is typically charged at 5–15 L/kg of input intermediate for dissolution, phase separation, or anti-solvent crystallization, with anti-solvent addition controlled to maintain a cooling rate of 0.1–0.5 °C/min for seeded batch crystallization. Process equipment is glass-lined or 316L stainless steel, and vacuum drying is carried out at ≤ 50 °C with nitrogen bleed to keep methyl acetate below the flash point during solvent stripping. Compliance is demonstrated through batch records under EU GMP Annex 15 process validation requirements and residual solvent analysis by headspace gas chromatography. Terminal products include APIs and advanced intermediates for cardiovascular, antiviral, and central nervous system therapies, where methyl acetate is selected only when downstream residual solvent removal data confirm compliance with ICH Q3C(R8).
| Control parameter | Acceptance criterion / operation range |
|---|---|
| ICH Q3C(R8) class | Class 3 |
| PDE | 50 mg/day |
| USP <467> drug substance limit | 5000 ppm (0.5%) |
| Process solvent ratio | 5–15 L/kg API intermediate |
| Drying temperature | ≤ 50 °C |
Nitrocellulose clear and pigmented wood lacquers incorporate methyl acetate in thinner blends at 20–40 wt% of the thinner, equivalent to 15–30 wt% of spray-ready lacquer after dilution, where it replaces a portion of ethyl acetate and acetone to adjust evaporation rate and dry-to-touch time under ASTM D1640. In cold spray booths at relative humidity above 60%, absorbed water may hydrolyze methyl acetate to acetic acid and methanol; the resulting acid value can rise above 0.2 mg KOH/g in stored thinners, attacking tinplate can linings and altering nitrocellulose viscosity. Compliance for wood furniture coatings is assessed under Decopaint Directive 2004/42/EC VOC phase limits and ASTM D3359 cross-cut adhesion, with methyl acetate counted as a VOC because it is not listed in VOC-exemption schedules. Spray application is performed with HVLP guns at 0.10–0.15 MPa air cap pressure and 1.2–1.4 mm fluid nozzle, followed by forced hot air drying at 45–60 °C for 20–40 minutes before sanding. Terminal products are nitrocellulose sealer and topcoat systems for interior wood furniture, millwork, and musical instruments, where methyl acetate is used only in formulations with water content controlled by Karl Fischer titration and acid scavengers evaluated for nitrocellulose compatibility.
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Commercial methyl acetate (CAS 79-20-9, EC 201-185-2, CH3COOCH3) is supplied as a clear, low-boiling carboxylate ester with molecular weight 74.08 g/mol, boiling point 56.9 °C at 101.3 kPa, solidification point -98 °C, density 0.934 g/cm³ at 20 °C, viscosity 0.38 mPa·s at 20 °C, and vapour pressure 21.7 kPa at 20 °C. The closed-cup flash point is -10 °C, autoignition temperature is 454 °C, and explosive limits in air are 3.1–16 vol%. The product is offered in several commercial grades—technical grade at ≥99.0 wt% ester, high-purity grade at ≥99.5 wt%, and urethane grade with restricted hydroxyl-bearing impurities. These grades are distinguished by water, methanol, and acidity specifications that control polymer raw-material compatibility and downstream blending latitude.
The most common high-purity sales specification sets ester assay at ≥99.5 wt%, water at ≤0.05 wt%, methanol at ≤0.10 wt%, acidity as acetic acid at ≤0.005 wt%, non-volatile residue at ≤0.001 g/100 mL, and APHA colour at ≤10. Distillation range by ASTM D1078 typically falls between 56.0 and 58.0 °C, with the observed 5–95 mL interval narrower than 1.0 °C. Water is determined by Karl Fischer titration according to ASTM D1364; acidity is titrated according to ASTM D1613; colour is read against platinum–cobalt standards according to ASTM D1209; non-volatile matter is measured by ASTM D1353. Urethane-grade material is produced by controlling methanol below 0.05 wt% and water below 0.03 wt% in some producer certifications because residual hydroxyl groups consume isocyanate in two-pack polyurethane formulations. Technical grade may permit water up to 0.10 wt% and methanol up to 0.20 wt%; it remains suitable for solvent-borne adhesives where minor hydroxyl content does not alter performance. In bulk chemical trade, the term “model” is usually replaced by grade denomination: low-alcohol urethane grade, high-purity assay grade, and general technical grade.
Methyl acetate solubility behaviour is defined by Hansen parameters of δD 15.5 MPa0.5, δP 7.2 MPa0.5, and δH 7.6 MPa0.5. These values place it close to ethyl acetate in dispersion force but higher in polar contribution, giving effective solvency for nitrocellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate, and certain acrylic resins used in flexographic inks and nail-care coatings. The evaporation rate relative to n-butyl acetate is approximately 6.0; this makes methyl acetate intermediate between acetone and methyl ethyl ketone in spray-booth dry times but significantly faster than ethyl acetate. The main application consequence is a reduction in flow-out time after atomisation: high-solids coatings formulated with methyl acetate may require retarder solvents such as ethyl lactate or propylene glycol methyl ether acetate to maintain sag resistance at 35–40 °C and relative humidity above 60%. Water solubility is approximately 24.5 g/100 mL at 20 °C, which permits solvent recovery by decantation from water streams while still requiring hydrolysis controls in waterborne systems.
In two-pack polyurethane systems, methyl acetate is used as a non-HAP replacement for methyl ethyl ketone and methyl isobutyl ketone but introduces stricter raw-material constraints because the ester carbonyl is not entirely inert to isocyanate. Water content in the solvent must be held below 0.05 wt%; water reacts with aliphatic polyisocyanate at a 1:1 NCO:water molar ratio to release carbon dioxide, increase molar mass, and reduce pot life by 20–40% when measured in a DIN cup 4 at 23 °C. Methanol content must be controlled below 0.05–0.10 wt% because the hydroxy group consumes NCO at rates comparable to primary alcohols and shifts stoichiometry. Production-scale automotive refinish booths with HVLP guns report dry spray and poor leveling when methyl acetate replaces the full methyl ethyl ketone volume at booth temperatures above 30 °C, requiring partial replacement or addition of 2–5 wt% slow tail solvent. The polar solubility parameters make methyl acetate effective in dissolving acrylic polyols with hydroxyl numbers 60–120 mg KOH/g and acid numbers below 10 mg KOH/g, but the same polarity increases water uptake in open mixing tanks at relative humidity above 60%. Published data for this specific configuration is limited.
Methyl acetate is used in solvent-borne laminating adhesives, fast-drying lacquers, gravure and flexographic inks, polyurethane coatings, and as a lower-toxicity replacement for methyl ethyl ketone and dichloromethane in industrial degreasing. It is also a component of cosmetic nail-polish removers and is used as a chemical intermediate for acetic anhydride production via carbonylation. In flexible-packaging lamination, the lower boiling point and higher vapour pressure reduce retained solvent in laminate structures but increase explosive-limit control requirements in drying tunnels. Comparative solvent physics show that methyl acetate boils 20.2 °C lower than ethyl acetate and 22.7 °C lower than methyl ethyl ketone, while its closed-cup flash point is lower than ethyl acetate by 6 °C. This creates a faster evaporative release profile and a narrower solvent balance window in gravure or flexographic ink troughs. The following data compare the principal alternatives.
| Parameter | Methyl Acetate | Ethyl Acetate | Acetone | Methyl Ethyl Ketone | Dichloromethane |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CAS registry | 79-20-9 | 141-78-6 | 67-64-1 | 78-93-3 | 75-09-2 |
| Boiling point at 101.3 kPa (°C) | 56.9 | 77.1 | 56.2 | 79.6 | 39.6 |
| Closed-cup flash point (°C) | -10 | -4 | -20 | -9 | Non-flammable under standard closed-cup methods |
| Vapour pressure at 20 °C (kPa) | 21.7 | 10.1 | 24.6 | 10.5 | 47.3 |
| Molar mass (g/mol) | 74.08 | 88.11 | 58.08 | 72.11 | 84.93 |
| Density at 20 °C (g/cm³) | 0.934 | 0.901 | 0.790 | 0.805 | 1.326 |
| Water solubility at 20 °C (g/100 mL) | 24.5 | 8.0 | Miscible | 27.5 | 1.32 |
| US EPA federal VOC status | Exempt under 40 CFR 51.100(s) | Not exempt | Exempt | Not exempt | Exempt |
The table confirms that methyl acetate is not a simple drop-in for dichloromethane because the former is flammable and the latter is non-flammable; however, methyl acetate provides similar fast evaporation to acetone while retaining a lower degree of water miscibility.
Paint-stripper formulations replace dichloromethane with methyl acetate to avoid carcinogenicity classification under REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and to reduce chronic inhalation risk. The replacement is not drop-in: methyl acetate has a higher boiling point than dichloromethane, but is flammable with a lower explosive limit of 3.1 vol%, so application in unventilated interiors requires conductive containers, vapour extraction of at least 10–15 air changes per hour, and elimination of open flames. Gel strippers using methyl acetate rely on the ester’s ability to swell crosslinked and thermoplastic coatings, but evaporation from an open tray loses solvent faster than dichloromethane; thickening with cellulose derivatives or fumed silica at 2–4 wt% slows evaporation. Published data for this specific configuration is limited. Formulators often blend methyl acetate with dimethyl carbonate or propylene carbonate to increase dwell time and reduce flammability; however, above 30 wt% propylene carbonate the stripping rate for alkyd coatings may decrease because of lower solvent penetration.
Methyl acetate is susceptible to acid- or base-catalysed hydrolysis to methanol and acetic acid at rates that are negligible in neutral, water-free mixtures but become operationally significant at pH <4 or pH >9. In a waterborne batch reactor operated at 40 °C, the hydrolysis rate in alkaline solution increases with hydroxide concentration; published data for this specific configuration is limited. The hydrolysis products shift pH, increase free methanol, and can promote corrosion of unlined carbon steel. For this reason, storage and processing vessels are specified in stainless steel 316L or high-density polyethylene with closed-loop vapour return when methyl acetate is held in contact with an aqueous phase for more than 24 h. Avoid combination with strong oxidisers, strong bases, and amine additives that catalyse hydrolysis; tertiary amines in epoxy systems are a known incompatibility.
Commercial methyl acetate is classified under CLP Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 as Flam. Liq. 2, H225; Eye Irrit. 2, H319; STOT SE 3, H336. Transport is assigned UN 1231, Class 3, Packing Group II. Vapour density is 2.55 relative to air, so vapours accumulate in tank pits and secondary containment sumps. Tank farm equipment requires bonding and grounding resistance below 10 Ω, pressure-vacuum relief set not exceeding tank design pressure, and nitrogen blanketing where product water content must remain below 0.05 wt%. Storage temperature should be maintained below 30 °C and away from direct sunlight; autoignition temperature is 454 °C, but hot pipe surfaces above 200 °C can initiate decomposition. Centrifugal pumps with double mechanical seals or sealless magnetic-drive pumps are preferred; packed pumps can admit atmospheric moisture and contribute to hydrolysis. For small drum storage, open handling must be conducted with local exhaust velocity of at least 0.5 m/s across the vessel opening and static grounding of drum and receiver.
