Many consumers still do not fully understand industrial alcohol and food-grade alcohol, as well as the similarities and differences between these two types of alcohol. Therefore, in this article, we will share “everything” related to food-grade alcohol and industrial alcohol with our readers.
What You Need to Know About Industrial Alcohol and Food-Grade Alcohol
Definitions of Industrial Alcohol and Food-Grade Alcohol
Alcohol is a product that is no longer unfamiliar to everyone. It is divided into many different types. Among them, industrial alcohol and food-grade alcohol are the two most widely used types. So, what exactly are food-grade alcohol and industrial alcohol?
Alcohol is divided into many different types.
What is Food-Grade Alcohol?
Food-grade alcohol contains 70% ethanol by volume, with the remainder being pure water and some other substances. Food-grade alcohol has undergone distillation and refinement processes. Therefore, it not only has a high concentration of pure ethanol but also completely removes impurities such as acids, esters, fusel oils, and aldehydes.
What is Industrial Alcohol?
In addition to ethanol, industrial alcohol also contains another impurity known as Methanol. This type of alcohol comes in various concentrations, including 70%, 90%, 96%, and 99%. It is primarily used in manufacturing, industrial cleaning, and as a fuel for engines.
Differences Between Industrial Alcohol and Food-Grade Alcohol
Both industrial alcohol and food-grade alcohol have ethanol as their essential component, which is why they are also referred to as ethanol alcohol. Additionally, both types of alcohol are infinitely soluble in water and are flammable. When burned, the flame appears blue and produces no smoke.
However, in terms of nature and application, these two types of alcohol have many differences. Specifically:
Distinguishing Industrial Alcohol from Food-Grade Alcohol.
Thus, it can be seen that food-grade alcohol is safe for human health and can be used for hand sanitization and disinfecting household items to eliminate dangerous bacteria, viruses, and pathogens.
On the other hand, industrial alcohol contains a large amount of methanol and is only used in the manufacturing of products, cooling, and cleaning industrial machinery and equipment.
