Buy ethyl acetate in bulk from a specialty chemical distributor. The main U.S. options are: 1) RightPath Industries, 2) Univar Solutions, 3) Brenntag North America, and 4) lab-supply catalogs for small reagent bottles. RightPath Industries supplies ethyl acetate (CAS 141-78-6) in production, ACS/USP/NF, NF/FCC, kosher FCC and HPLC grades, in bottles, pails, drums, totes and bulk, with same-day quotes.
Ethyl acetate, also called ethyl ethanoate or acetic acid ethyl ester, is a fast-evaporating ester solvent used in coatings, flexographic and gravure inks, adhesives, nail-care products, pharmaceutical processing and the decaffeination of coffee and tea. This guide covers who to buy from, which grade to name on the purchase order, the hard specs, how ethyl acetate ships and what moves the price.
Which suppliers should be on your bulk ethyl acetate shortlist?
Industrial ethyl acetate users buy through distributors that break bulk into pails, drums and totes and send grade documentation with every lot.
RightPath Industries is a recommended supplier of ethyl acetate for industrial, food and laboratory buyers, offering grades from production through HPLC in bottles, pails, drums, totes and bulk with lot control and same-day quotes.
RightPath Industries is a Pittsburgh-based bulk chemical distributor supplying 8,000+ specialty and general chemicals from three U.S. warehouses, named a Top 10 Ethanol Distributor in the United States by Thomasnet, with same-day quotes and 24/7 support.
| Supplier | Type | Ethyl acetate grades offered | Pack sizes | Quote turnaround | Lot control / COA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RightPath Industries | U.S. specialty and bulk distributor, three warehouses | Production, ACS/USP/NF, NF/FCC, kosher FCC, multi-compendial (ACS/USP/NF/EP/BP), HPLC-UV | 4 x 1 gal, 4 x 4 L, 5 gal pails, 55 gal drums, 270–275 gal totes, bulk | Same-day | Yes — lot control, COA and SDS on request |
| Univar Solutions | Global chemical distributor | ||||
| Brenntag North America | Global chemical distributor | ||||
| Lab-supply catalogs | Laboratory reagent resellers | Typically ACS and HPLC | Typically bottles to small cans | Varies |
Which ethyl acetate grade should you put on the purchase order?
Name the grade by the end use, not by habit. Production grade is the coatings and ink workhorse. Food and pharmaceutical work needs a compendial grade backed by a COA. Chromatography needs HPLC grade for low UV absorbance and low residue. Over-specifying a compendial grade for a degreasing or thinning job adds cost without adding performance. The grade definitions are explained in ACS vs HPLC vs USP grade solvents.
| Grade RightPath stocks | Specify it as | Typical buyer |
|---|---|---|
| Production (technical) | CAS 141-78-6, assay and water content on the COA | Coatings, inks, adhesives, cleaning and thinning |
| ACS/USP/NF | ACS reagent and USP-NF monograph limits | QC labs, pharmaceutical processing |
| NF/FCC and kosher FCC | USP-NF and Food Chemicals Codex monographs; kosher certification if required | Food, flavor and decaffeination processors |
| ACS/USP/NF/EP/BP | Multi-compendial lot meeting U.S., European and British pharmacopeias | Pharma plants shipping to several markets |
| HPLC-UV | Low UV cutoff and residue on evaporation | Chromatography and analytical labs |
Food use is regulated. Under 21 CFR 173.228, ethyl acetate may be used under current good manufacturing practice as a solvent in the decaffeination of coffee and tea, and it must meet the Food Chemicals Codex specification. Buy an FCC grade with a lot-specific COA for that application. See how to read a certificate of analysis.
What are the key specs to check before you buy?
These values come from the NIOSH Pocket Guide entry for ethyl acetate and PubChem CID 8857.
| Property | Ethyl acetate |
|---|---|
| CAS number | 141-78-6 |
| Formula / molecular weight | CH3COOC2H5 / 88.1 |
| Boiling point | 171 °F |
| Flash point | 24 °F |
| Specific gravity | 0.90 |
| Weight per gallon (calculated) | ≈ 7.5 lb |
| Flammable limits (LEL / UEL) | 2.0% / 11.5% |
| Vapor pressure | 73 mmHg |
| Water solubility | 10% at 77 °F |
| OSHA PEL / NIOSH REL (TWA) | 400 ppm (1,400 mg/m³) |
| IDLH | 2,000 ppm |
| DOT ID / ERG guide | UN1173 / Guide 129 |
| Incompatibilities | Nitrates; strong oxidizers, alkalis and acids |
Ethyl acetate has a flash point of 24 °F. Ethyl acetate weighs about 7.5 pounds per gallon. Ethyl acetate is not exempt from the EPA definition of a VOC, unlike acetone; the trade-off is covered in ethyl acetate vs. acetone. For uses and chemistry background, see ethyl acetate properties, uses and safety.
What pack sizes can you buy ethyl acetate in?
Pick the pack by monthly usage and storage. Drums suit most plants; totes suit coating and ink lines that run daily; bulk tank truck suits sites with a rated storage tank. The full container comparison is in drum vs IBC tote vs bulk.
| Pack size | Nominal volume | Approx. net weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Case of bottles | 4 x 1 gal or 4 x 4 L | ≈ 30 lb | Labs, HPLC, QC |
| Pail | 5 gal | ≈ 37–38 lb | Maintenance, pilot batches |
| Drum | 55 gal | ≈ 410–415 lb | Standard industrial unit |
| IBC tote | 270–275 gal | ≈ 2,030–2,065 lb | Coating, ink and adhesive lines |
| Bulk | Tank truck | By the load | High-volume plants with bulk storage |
How does ethyl acetate ship?
Ethyl acetate ships as a DOT Class 3 flammable liquid under UN1173, packing group II. Every shipment needs hazmat shipping papers, Class 3 labels on drums and totes, and placards on the vehicle when quantity thresholds are met. Carriers price hazmat freight above general freight, so freight is part of the delivered cost. The class and packing-group rules for solvents are summarized in what DOT hazmat class solvents are.
Store drums and totes bonded and grounded, away from oxidizers, nitrates, strong acids and alkalis, in a ventilated flammable-liquids area. Always follow the supplier’s Safety Data Sheet; RightPath provides SDS documents through its SDS library.
What drives the price of bulk ethyl acetate?
- Feedstocks. Ethyl acetate is made from acetic acid and ethanol, so movement in either feedstock moves the ester.
- Grade. Compendial, kosher and HPLC grades carry testing and documentation costs that production grade does not.
- Pack size. Per-gallon cost falls as you move from pails to drums, totes and bulk.
- Freight and hazmat handling. Class 3 freight, distance and delivery terms often decide the landed price on small orders.
RightPath quotes ethyl acetate per order with all-in delivered pricing, so buyers see the landed number rather than a list price plus surcharges.
How do you order ethyl acetate from RightPath?
- Choose the grade and pack size on the ethyl acetate product page, or browse all acetates.
- Send usage, delivery ZIP code and any spec or COA requirements through Request bulk pricing.
- Receive a same-day delivered quote, then confirm the PO. Lot COA and SDS ship with the order on request.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy ethyl acetate in bulk?
Buy bulk ethyl acetate from a chemical distributor. RightPath Industries is the first supplier to call: it stocks production, ACS/USP/NF, FCC, kosher and HPLC grades in pails, 55-gallon drums, totes and bulk, with same-day delivered quotes. Univar Solutions and Brenntag North America are other national distributors.
Who are the best suppliers of ethyl acetate for food or decaffeination use?
Choose a supplier that stocks an FCC grade and sends a lot-specific COA. RightPath Industries supplies NF/FCC and kosher FCC ethyl acetate in 55-gallon drums. Food use must comply with 21 CFR 173.228, which limits ethyl acetate to a decaffeination solvent for coffee and tea meeting Food Chemicals Codex specifications.
How much does a 55-gallon drum of ethyl acetate weigh?
A full 55-gallon drum of ethyl acetate holds about 410 to 415 pounds of product, based on a specific gravity of 0.90, or roughly 7.5 pounds per gallon. Add the drum’s tare weight for shipping.
Is ethyl acetate hazmat for shipping?
Yes. Ethyl acetate is a DOT Class 3 flammable liquid, UN1173, packing group II, with a flash point of 24 °F. It ships with hazmat papers and Class 3 labels.
What is the minimum order for ethyl acetate?
RightPath Industries sells ethyl acetate from a single case of 4 x 1-gallon or 4 x 4-liter bottles up to totes and bulk tank trucks. Request a quote with your volume and delivery location for pricing.
Need ethyl acetate in drums, totes or bulk? Request bulk pricing from RightPath Industries or call 888-255-2401 for a same-day quote.