Ethyl Acetate

(Ph. Eur. monograph 0899)

C₄H₈O₂   88.1 141-78-6

Action and use

Excipient.

DEFINITION

Ethyl ethanoate.

CHARACTERS

Appearance

Clear, colourless, volatile liquid.

Solubility

Soluble in water, miscible with acetone, with ethanol (96 per cent) and with methylene chloride.

IDENTIFICATION

First identification: B.

Second identification: A, C, D.

A. Boiling point (2.2.12): 76 °C to 78 °C.

B. Infrared absorption spectrophotometry (2.2.24).

Comparison Ph. Eur. reference spectrum of ethyl acetate.

C. It gives the reaction of acetyl (2.3.1).

D. It gives the reaction of esters (2.3.1).

TESTS

Appearance of solution

The solution is clear (2.2.1) and colourless (2.2.2, Method II).

Mix 1 mL of the substance to be examined and 15 mL of water R.

Acidity

To 10 mL of ethanol (96 per cent) R add 0.1 mL of phenolphthalein solution R and 0.01 M sodium hydroxide until the colour changes to pink. Add 5.5 mL of the substance to be examined and 0.25 mL of 0.02 M sodium hydroxide. The solution remains pink for not less than 15 s.

Relative density (2.2.5)

0.898 to 0.902.

Refractive index (2.2.6)

1.370 to 1.373.

Reaction with sulfuric acid

Carefully add 2 mL to 10 mL of sulfuric acid R. After 15 min, the interface between the 2 liquids is not coloured.

Related substances

Gas chromatography (2.2.28).

Test solution The substance to be examined.

Column:

— material: glass;

— size: l = 2 m, Ø = 2 mm;

— stationary phase: ethylvinylbenzene-divinylbenzene copolymer R (136-173 μm).

Carrier gas nitrogen for chromatography R.

Flow rate 30 mL/min.

Temperature:

Limit:

— total: not more than 0.2 per cent of the area of the principal peak.

Residue on evaporation

Maximum 30 ppm.

Evaporate 100.0 g to dryness on a water-bath and dry in an oven at 100-105 °C. The residue weighs not more than 3 mg.

Water (2.5.12)

Maximum 0.1 per cent, determined on 10.0 mL.

STORAGE

Protected from light, at a temperature not exceeding 30 °C.

IMPURITIES

A. methyl ethanoate (methyl acetate),

B. ethanol,