Ethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether Acetate didn’t arrive in laboratories out of thin air. The journey started in the early years of the modern chemical industry, when researchers pulled apart the properties of glycols and ethers, looking for compounds that could easily dissolve resins and paints. Industrial chemists spotted how blending ethylene glycol with ethyl ether acetate led to a new solvent that outperformed many older alternatives, particularly in close quarters like auto body shops or printing presses. Over the decades, demand for safer, higher-performing, and less irritating solvents pushed this compound into steady use. Drawing from my own background in industrial coatings, older workers often talk about the switch away from more toxic solvents toward options like this one as a real turning point—less coughing, less headache, but strong effectiveness.
Known in some circles as EGEEA, this solvent lands with a slightly fruity odor and a clear, colorless appearance. Chemists love its strong performance in dissolving nitrocellulose, alkyds, and a range of resins that go into paints, inks, and cleaning agents. Walking through a press room or a paint shop, you’d recognize the crisp scent and the almost oily way it leaves a mark on your gloves, even in small amounts. Industry often packages it in drums or stainless tanks, ready for bulk buyers rather than everyday consumers. Paint manufacturers and electronics makers look for its particular knack for leaving behind few residues as it evaporates, which keeps surfaces clean and results crisp.
With a boiling point close to 156°C and a flash point around 49°C, this compound doesn’t go up in flames as quickly as some super-volatile solvents but won’t stick around forever on a drying surface. The density sits close to 0.985 g/cm³, similar to water but with a touch more weight in your hand. Pouring it, the liquid slides off tools with an expected slipperiness common to glycol ethers. Chemists prize its miscibility with water and many organic solvents, making it useful for blends and cleaning up tough residues. In terms of vapor pressure, it hovers on the moderate end, which means inhaling too much in a closed room isn’t good news, explaining those strict ventilation requirements in shop environments.
Producers must print specifics on containers. Data sheets list its CAS number (111-15-9), molecular formula (C6H12O3), and safety pictograms. Don’t overlook the required hazard labeling—exclamation mark for irritation, sometimes the health hazard symbol, plus clear warnings in several languages. Regulations call for batch numbers, manufacturing dates, and storage instructions. Regulations on volatility and impurity content continue to tighten, especially in places like the EU, where safety standards for workplace chemicals outpace older rules from regions with lower scrutiny.
I’ve watched engineers blend batches following the typical esterification routine: mix ethylene glycol ethyl ether with acetic acid, add a catalyst, heat under reflux, and collect the product by distillation. The process depends on strict moisture control and careful temperature regulation. Any spike above the ideal can trigger side reactions, so automated monitoring has become standard, especially in facilities producing on a large scale. The yield, from my experience, never reaches 100%, so leftover reactants get recycled where possible to trim costs and waste.
EGEEA reacts with strong bases and acids, breaking down under harsh conditions. It takes part in typical ester reactions, leaving behind the parent alcohol and acid under hydrolysis. Some research outfits study new modifications, aiming for derivatives with reduced toxicity or tweaks that match custom industrial paint requirements. In my conversations with formulation chemists, they often dig into the solubility tweaks that come with minor modifications to the ether or ester groups, hoping to unlock new performance for demanding electronics applications.
Across the globe, you bump into various names for the same stuff: Ethylglycol acetate, 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate, and the short forms EGEE Acetate or EGEA crop up on drums and technical sheets. European suppliers sometimes use Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, while US manufacturers usually stick to the chemical acronym for brevity. Watch for regional spelling shifts or translations if you’re sourcing internationally—one slip and you have the wrong solvent or grade.
Worker health stands front and center. In shops, technicians must wear chemical-resistant gloves and goggles. I remember training sessions where supervisors stressed the dangers of skin absorption—this solvent can slip through gloves not designed for glycol ethers. The stuff isn’t a skin-eating acid, but repeated exposure leads to dry, cracked hands and sometimes system-wide symptoms if absorbed over time. OSHA and the EU’s REACH framework both require air monitoring, eye wash stations, and careful labeling. Spills demand an immediate wipe-up and proper ventilation; leaving puddles means risking headaches, nausea, or worse, even without visible fumes.
It’s a favorite in paints, inks, cleaning fluids, and electronics. Printers rely on it for ink that dries without streaking, while auto body workers like it for smooth coats and controlled evaporation. In electronics, it helps clean delicate assemblies without leaving behind residues that could trigger shorts or corrosion. I’ve seen it used in lacquers for wood finishing that stay glossy but resist fingerprints due to its unique chemistry. Laboratories use it in analytical chemistry, particularly where a solvent needs to dissolve both polar and non-polar compounds. Always, the drive is for a balance—fast drying, strong dissolving, and minimal lingering odor.
Universities and corporate labs spend years chasing tweaks in performance and safety. Recent patents focus on lowering toxicity or boosting biodegradability, as pressure from tighter regulations grows. Environmental chemists investigate breakdown paths—how the compound behaves in rivers or soil, what byproducts form, and how clean-up works if a spill reaches water. Green chemistry teams work to swap out petrochemical components for renewable feedstocks but haven’t quite matched the old standard for reliability. Research sometimes feels slow, but process improvements, even incremental, ripple through entire industries as soon as they’re adopted. The sharing of findings at international conferences gives smaller players the tools to up their standards without having to reinvent the wheel.
Toxicologists have raised red flags about overexposure—breathing too much vapor, accidental swallowing, or skin absorption hits the central nervous system, causes nausea, and can damage organs in large or repeated doses. Studies show developmental risks among lab animals at higher doses, prompting callouts for pregnant workers to avoid contact altogether. Many solvents from the same chemical family drew regulatory scrutiny after workplace incidents and long-term exposure studies flagged increased cancer risks, though EGEEA lands lower on the danger scale than some. Safety data sheets and workplace posters hammer home “no eating or drinking near work areas,” and doctors monitor workers for early signs of overexposure—tracing headaches, dizziness, or skin irritation back to time spent around open containers. Many companies are adjusting ventilation and protective gear requirements based on updated toxicity reports.
Looking forward, change is coming from every direction. Regulator push for greener, safer, and less persistent chemicals is picking up speed, propelling innovation. Chemical companies invest in alternatives with similar performance but less hazard, exploring plant-based starting materials and biodegradable structures. Some paint firms develop blends where lower doses of EGEEA combine with safer solvents to limit risk and still deliver results. Automated systems take over handling in factories to cut worker exposure, and smaller-batch production caters to specialty demands in electronics and aerospace. The betterment of solvents like EGEEA never stops: every year, thousands of hours and millions in research dollars aim to get more out of a drum with less harm to people and planet. My bet: EGEEA will either become cleaner through tweaks or lose ground to something radically new, but factories everywhere still count on its results until those changes fully take hold.
Ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, often known by its shorthand EGEEA, doesn’t grab headlines or spark curiosity among most people. It’s one of those chemicals working quietly behind the scenes. This compound shows up mostly as a colorless liquid with a mild, sweet odor, easy to overlook unless your job involves solvents or specialty chemicals. Its profile seems unremarkable on the surface, but it sits right inside products and processes that shape the things we touch and see every day.
I got familiar with EGEEA during a stint in manufacturing, watching it perform its magic where good old water or cheaper organic solvents would just mess everything up. Paints and coatings flow smoothly and dry right because of EGEEA. It keeps pigments and resins dissolved long enough for even application but then evaporates at the right pace. Unlike some rough solvents, it won't gnaw through plastics or corrode equipment, making it the go-to operator in places where gentle care for expensive machinery matters.
Printing inks, too, lean on EGEEA’s solvent abilities. Quick-drying ink sounds ideal until it gums up on a printhead or dries before hitting paper. EGEEA sits within the Goldilocks zone: slow enough evaporation to prevent clogging, fast enough to stop smearing. For anyone who’s fussed over smeared brochures, or wasted rolls of stuck-together stickers, a stable solvent like this starts to feel more like a necessity than a choice.
My first real encounter with products shaped by this chemical landed at a hardware store. High-gloss wood finish that went on evenly, stuck well, and didn’t yellow with time—chances are, EGEEA played a role. Furniture manufacturers, automotive painters, and electronics producers all chase after solvents that let materials coat, clean, or bond without side effects such as brittleness or surface flaws. EGEEA checks these boxes in a way that few others do.
It’s no secret that solvents come with risks. Prolonged exposure to EGEEA has been linked to headaches and drowsiness; over the years, I’ve heard enough shop-floor stories and seen enough safety posters to take it seriously. Ventilation matters. Protective gear matters more than some want to admit during a hot shift. Long-term health can’t be traded for short-term efficiency. On the environmental side, responsible disposal is non-negotiable. This chemical breaks down over time, but it’s not the kind you want rolling into groundwater unchecked. Factories using EGEEA could do more with closed-loop systems and solvent recovery setups. These steps cost money but pay out in fewer accidents and a lighter ecological footprint.
There’s a growing push to swap these solvents for greener alternatives—ones that come from plants or break down into nothing after use. Still, EGEEA hangs around because of its reliability and performance. Balancing performance with safety and sustainability will push companies to rethink how they use this chemical or how they plan for alternatives down the road.
Products carrying smooth finishes or long-lasting graphics often owe something to EGEEA. Paying attention to how these chemicals fit into production helps not just industry workers but also consumers looking for safer options. Cleaner processes and smarter choices benefit everyone—on and off the factory floor.
Ethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether Acetate, or EGEEA, pops up in plenty of workplaces—paint shops, print rooms, electronics factories. Most folks just call it by its chemical shorthand. It helps thin inks and coatings, strip away residues, dissolve adhesives—a versatile little compound, but not one to treat lightly. Anyone who’s spent enough time around strong solvents picks up an unspoken rule: don’t cut corners on safety.
This chemical gives off a vapour, and you can smell it long before a headache creeps in. Just a short time without proper ventilation leads to coughing, dizziness, and irritation of eyes or throat. I’ve seen co-workers try to “air things out” with a desk fan instead of a proper fume hood, only to end up with watery eyes and complaints about chest tightness. It doesn’t take long for symptoms to show up.
Gloves—nitrile, not the cheap food-service kind—block splashes from soaking into your skin. I learned that the hard way after a small spill left me with red, itchy patches that lingered for days. Even brief contact can burn, so skipping gloves for “just a quick job” isn’t worth it. Eye protection keeps splashes and vapors away from sensitive tissues. After a close call with a half-opened jug, goggles became my standard, no matter how careful I thought I was being.
Long sleeves and a lab coat keep the liquid off your skin and clothes. Reusable coats should get washed regularly; chemicals cling to fabric fibers and transfer. If you get any of this stuff on you, don’t rely on hand wipes or alcohol—wash with soap and lots of water.
A room with poor ventilation turns into a hazard zone pretty quickly. Windows and fans won’t cut it—local exhaust systems or chemical fume hoods trap vapors before they make their way to the rest of the shop. Regular checks of exhaust filters and ductwork matter, since blockages leave everyone breathing in fumes.
Spill kits belong close by. If you don’t have the right absorbents and neutralizers within arm’s reach, minor spills can spread and cause bigger problems. I always make sure there’s a clearly marked kit near storage shelves and mixing stations.
EGEEA gets stored in tightly closed containers, kept out of direct sunlight and away from heat. I’ve seen some poorly labeled bottles tossed onto backroom shelves, but that’s asking for trouble. Clear labels and a log of storage dates keep things organized. This chemical reacts with strong acids and oxidizers, so separation counts.
Also, only store what you plan to use. Keeping extra gallons around “just in case” only creates more risk. Whenever possible, get smaller quantities, use up what’s needed, and dispose of the rest following hazardous waste rules.
Every new worker deserves real training. Slideshows don’t replace hands-on experience—watching someone handle a tricky transfer or clean up a spill stays with you. Nobody wants to flip through the emergency binder mid-crisis. An updated, easy-to-read safety sheet belongs in sight, plus clear directions to eyewash stations and showers.
For all its uses, this solvent has real risks. Putting safety steps into action, not just on paper, keeps headaches, skin burns, and ER visits off the schedule. Good habits in handling EGEEA turn a risky job into just another day at work.
Ask most folks about ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, and you’ll probably get a blank stare. This compound, usually labelled by chemists as C6H12O3 and tracked with the CAS Number 111-15-9, doesn’t show up on the news but shapes daily life more than many realize. It’s a clear liquid, with a mild sweet smell, often popping up in paints, coatings, and cleaners. Without substances like this, countless industrial processes would slow down to a crawl.
In practical terms, ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate helps thin out products, making them spread, dry, or react at just the right speed. In my time working jobs involving surface prep and refinishing, I learned quickly how vital the right solvent is. Go too fast, and surfaces bubble or peel. Move too slow, and productivity tanks. This compound’s balance between dissolving power and evaporation rate hits the sweet spot for both flexibility and reliability.
Across factories, professionals count on this substance to help mix and apply products smoothly. It’s more than just a way to cut thicker materials—its properties help drive costs down by reducing waste. Lab techs trust it to carry dyes or inks in printers. Workers handling high-gloss lacquered furniture or electronics coatings need its consistency and predictable performance.
Every substance with a purpose brings a flip side. For ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, that means paying extra attention to health and environmental safety. Regular exposure brings some known risks—dizziness, headaches, and skin or eye irritation are on the list if you skip the right gloves or a well-ventilated shop floor. Stay careless, and these problems ramp up. The chemical isn’t as notorious as some older, now-banned solvents, but that’s no excuse to get lazy with safety.
On the environmental front, accidental spills can hurt local water supplies. The stuff breaks down eventually, but not as quickly as some greener options. Responsible companies invest in good storage, better ventilation systems, and ongoing training. It’s not about jumping through regulatory hoops. Keeping people and nature healthy pays real dividends long past installation day.
Innovation comes from the ground up—workers notice what stings, factories keep tabs on near-misses, researchers look for molecules that clean up or swap out solvent jobs entirely. Greener chemistry marches forward, driven by new regulations, sure, but also by workers and buyers who want safer options. I’ve seen shops switch to lower-toxicity blends or tweaked formulas after enough feedback from the folks doing the spraying and wiping.
There’s room to push for closed-loop recovery, better recycling, and genuine research into each chemical’s breakdown products. Awareness counts for a lot: take the time to know the label details, invest in exhaust fans that actually work, and don’t treat training as a one-and-done hassle.
At its core, ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate fills a practical niche—backed by its chemical formula C6H12O3 and CAS 111-15-9—that few other compounds can match at scale. Long-term progress means keeping both performance and responsibility in the same conversation, from the workbench to the policy office.
Anyone who’s worked around chemicals knows how easy it is to get into a bad spot when storage gets sloppy. Ethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether Acetate (EGEEA) falls squarely into the category of liquid chemicals you don’t just stash anywhere. It’s got a reputation for volatility and health risks. So, there’s good reason people pay close attention to where and how they put it away.
Most people in a lab or plant setting have run into the headaches caused by temperature swings. EGEEA doesn’t like the heat. When it gets too warm, the stuff evaporates fast, loading the air with fumes that don’t smell good and hurt your head if you breathe them too long. Cold helps, but not so cold that the container gets brittle and cracks. I’ve seen storage rooms kept around 15 to 25 degrees Celsius work well—not too chilly, not too hot. This matches what manufacturers recommend, keeping the chemical calm and the risk of fumes down.
Plastic rarely holds up to strong solvents, so going with metal drums lined with special coatings or thick glass bottles makes sense. Lids need to seal tight. I’ve come across rusty, bent metal cans more than once, and all you get is a slow leak that goes unnoticed until someone picks it up and ends up with a handful of chemical. Always check the seals. If it starts eating through the drum, you’ve waited too long to swap out your storage.
EGEEA can catch fire if there’s a stray spark. A lot of folks store all their solvents in one area, well away from where people work with machinery or open flames. Grounding metal drums keeps static from creating a nasty surprise. Sparks from static have set off more than one disaster in poorly managed storage rooms. I saw a fire break out years back because the drums weren’t grounded and someone shuffled across the floor in rubber soles. One spark, and the air was thick with panic and soot.
Nobody loves paperwork, but a sloppy label can end up costing much more. Clear labeling means someone won’t grab EGEEA thinking it’s something less dangerous. Stick a big hazard symbol, write the full name, and date the label. My old boss insisted on color coding in the warehouse—red for high-hazard stuff like EGEEA. No confusion, even late at night.
I’ve worked in places where someone figured a closet with a lock was good enough. Next thing you know, the whole place stinks, and everyone’s got a headache. Proper ventilation isn’t a luxury. Use hoods or at least powerful exhaust fans in storage spaces. Vapors collect fast and can get overwhelming. A well-ventilated area means air stays safe, and any small leaks don’t become big problems.
Things go wrong. People spill things. Fire breaks out. Have a spill kit right at hand, not locked away three rooms over. Know where the eye wash and safety shower stand. I’ve seen folks learn the hard way—nobody wants to run across a building with burning skin or fumes in their eyes. Fire extinguishers suitable for chemical fires, not just water jets, should sit close by.
EGEEA has real uses, and it doesn’t bite unless you let your guard down. Smart storage means the difference between a smooth shift and a hospital visit. Practice good habits—solid containers, clear labels, ventilation, and distance from ignition—and there’s no reason you have to worry about trouble. The best chemical storage I’ve seen comes from people who don’t cut corners, leaning on their experience and common sense over shortcuts.
Ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate sounds like something out of a chemistry textbook, but anybody who’s worked with paints, coatings, or industrial cleaning solutions has probably handled it. Most folks don’t think twice about splashes or fumes, but this chemical can cause real harm if you brush it off as just “part of the job.”
Let’s call it what it is: a solvent with a knack for slipping into the body through skin and lungs. I’ve seen workers tough it out after headaches or dizziness on the floor, but those early signs point to much more underneath. This stuff doesn’t just irritate your nose and eyes. Long shifts in an enclosed area, spraying finishes or cleaning with strong solutions, can lead to confusion, nausea, and vomiting — not exactly minor inconveniences. With enough exposure, people end up with kidney or liver problems, sometimes months down the road. Drawing from my own time in an auto shop, I’ve watched the strongest guys go home early with pounding heads, blaming the weather. Still, the chemical in the air can be the invisible culprit.
Touching ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate without gloves, your skin starts to sting, gets red or starts peeling after a while. Swallowing even a small amount can lead to not just an upset stomach, but drowsiness and sometimes unconsciousness. Breathing in fumes can give you a nosebleed or trigger coughing fits you can’t shake off. The scariest risk is how quietly it can affect the nervous system — brain fog, forgetfulness, and mood swings might seem mild at first, but they can build up over weeks of exposure.
Regulatory groups like OSHA set a maximum allowed exposure, but safety pushes often get ignored during busy seasons. Studies link chronic exposure to birth defects. The CDC flagged this solvent as a reproductive risk for folks hoping to start families. Out in the field, I’ve seen more than one coworker overlook the data, figuring a little exposure can’t hurt. The problem is, you don’t need to inhale a warehouse full — just a slow buildup matters.
So what do you do if someone gets exposed? For me, having clear steps spelled out in the break room beats a folder of complicated safety sheets. For eye or skin contact, run for clean water and start rinsing. Keep at it for at least fifteen minutes. Anyone who gets it in their eyes needs to pull eyelids apart and keep water flowing. Inhalation means moving out to fresh air, preferably outside. I learned to watch for blue lips and shallow breaths — that’s a red alert for getting emergency help.
Swallowing this solvent can turn dangerous quickly. Don’t wait for a supervisor; call poison control even if the person says they feel fine. Lay them on their side with their head lower than their chest. This reduces the risk of choking if they throw up. Skip the urge to make them vomit, despite what old first aid posters say — medical staff need to take over as soon as possible.
It’s easy to go back to old routines after a close call. At shops and factories, I saw the difference small changes can make. Gloves, long sleeves, and eye shields keep the chemical off your skin. Decent exhaust fans cut down fumes, even in stuffy weather. Drinking enough water at work helps your body flush out small exposures before they pile up. Posting the emergency steps front and center, and making sure everyone knows who to call, means one less thing to worry about.
Most of all, swapping macho pride for honest reporting stops small mistakes from becoming big health scares. Nobody needs to tough out symptoms that point to bigger trouble down the line.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | 2-Ethoxyethyl acetate |
| Other names |
2-Ethoxyethyl acetate Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate EEA Acetic acid 2-ethoxyethyl ester Acetoxyethoxyethane |
| Pronunciation | /ˌɛθɪliːn ˈɡlaɪkɒl ˈɛθɪl ˈiːθər əˈsiːteɪt/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 111-15-9 |
| 3D model (JSmol) | `CCOC(COC)=O` |
| Beilstein Reference | 05 600 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:31573 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1687783 |
| ChemSpider | 13716 |
| DrugBank | DB14005 |
| ECHA InfoCard | 100.018.498 |
| EC Number | 205-500-4 |
| Gmelin Reference | 1632 |
| KEGG | C19603 |
| MeSH | D013738 |
| PubChem CID | 8098 |
| RTECS number | KK8475000 |
| UNII | 55V8A8R9QK |
| UN number | UN1171 |
| CompTox Dashboard (EPA) | DTXSID5020268 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C6H12O3 |
| Molar mass | **160.20 g/mol** |
| Appearance | Colorless transparent liquid |
| Odor | Mild |
| Density | 0.987 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Soluble |
| log P | 0.32 |
| Vapor pressure | 0.46 mmHg (20°C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | pKa ≈ 15.1 |
| Basicity (pKb) | 13.18 |
| Magnetic susceptibility (χ) | -49.5×10⁻⁶ cm³/mol |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.406 |
| Viscosity | 0.9 mPa·s (25 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 3.45 D |
| Thermochemistry | |
| Std molar entropy (S⦵298) | 322.8 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹ |
| Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) | -620.8 kJ/mol |
| Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) | -3075.7 kJ/mol |
| Pharmacology | |
| ATC code | D07AX |
| Hazards | |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS02,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H226, H319, H332 |
| Precautionary statements | P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P271, P280, P301+P310, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P312, P337+P313, P370+P378, P403+P233, P405, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 1-2-0 |
| Flash point | 50°C |
| Autoignition temperature | 185°C |
| Explosive limits | 1.2–10% |
| Lethal dose or concentration | LD50 oral rat 2,690 mg/kg |
| LD50 (median dose) | 2,000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | KI9275000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) for Ethylene Glycol Ethyl Ether Acetate: 100 ppm (540 mg/m³) |
| REL (Recommended) | 5 ppm |
| IDLH (Immediate danger) | 500 ppm |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Ethylene glycol Ethanol Acetic acid Ethylene glycol ethyl ether Ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate |
