Ethyl formate

Insecticides

Active substance -> EU Pesticides database: Not approved

0.23

0.23

0.23

0.27

0.922 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water; will float

0.9168 @ 20 °C

CONVERSION FACTORS: 1 MG/L EQUIV TO 330 PPM; 1 PPM EQUIV TO 3.03 MG/CU M; DENSITY OF SATURATED AIR: 1.25 (AIR= 1)

Relative density (water = 1): 0.92

0.917-0.922

0.92

MOBILE LIQUID

WATER-WHITE LIQ

Colorless liquid.

Danger

H225: Highly Flammable liquid and vapor [Danger Flammable liquids]

P210, P233, P240, P241, P242, P243, P261, P264, P264+P265, P270, P271, P280, P301+P317, P303+P361+P353, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P317, P319, P330, P337+P317, P370+P378, P403+P233, P403+P235, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

This chemical does not meet GHS hazard criteria for 0.6% (11 of 1923) of reports.

Danger

H225 (99.4%): Highly Flammable liquid and vapor [Danger Flammable liquids]

Chemical: Formic acid, ethyl ester

Status: Active Update: 30-11-2022 https://echa.europa.eu/registration-dossier/-/registered-dossier/17274

Formic acid, ethyl ester: HSNO Approval: HSR001148 Approved with controls

The New Jersey Worker and Community Right to Know Act requires public and private employers to provide information about hazardous substances at their workplaces. (N.J.S.A. 34:5A-1 et. seq.)

Behavior in Fire: Vapor is heavier than air and may travel long distance to a source of ignition and flash back. (USCG, 1999)

· HIGHLY FLAMMABLE: Will be easily ignited by heat, sparks or flames.

Highly flammable. Vapour/air mixtures are explosive. Heating will cause rise in pressure with risk of bursting. Risk of fire and explosion on contact with strong oxidants.

Burning Rate: 3.6 mm/min.

DANGEROUS, WHEN EXPOSED TO HEAT, FLAME, OR OXIDIZERS.

Inhalation of vapor causes slight irritation of the eyes and rapidly increasing irritation of the nose. High concentrations cause deep narcosis within a few minutes followed by death within a few hours. Contact with liquid causes moderate irritation of eyes and mild irritation of skin. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach; may cause deep narcosis and death if not treated. (USCG, 1999)

· May cause toxic effects if inhaled or absorbed through skin.

Liquid causes second degree burns after contact for a few minutes. [CHRIS] The anesthetic potency of ethyl formate is greater than ethanol, acetone, and alkanes such as pentane, but less than chlorinated hydrocarbons and ethyl ether. TLV Basis = upper respiratory tract irritant; Reported to be irritating at 321 ppm; [ACGIH] Esters may induce narcosis in animals, but workers' exposures are limited by irritating effects. See appendix in: [Dick RB, et al. Chemicals in the workplace: incorporating human neurobehavioral testing into the regulatory process. Am J Ind Med. 1998 May;33(5):439-53.] Inhalation of high concentrations causes drowsiness and unconsciousness; A skin, eye, and respiratory tract irritant; [ICSC]

1190 129

1190 129

Excerpt from ERG Guide 129 [Flammable Liquids (Water-Miscible / Noxious)]:

Use powder, alcohol-resistant foam, water spray, carbon dioxide. In case of fire: keep drums, etc., cool by spraying with water.

Fresh air, rest. Refer for medical attention.

Remove contaminated clothes. Rinse skin with plenty of water or shower.

First rinse with plenty of water for several minutes (remove contact lenses if easily possible), then refer for medical attention.

Rinse mouth. Do NOT induce vomiting. Refer for medical attention .

· CALL 911. Then call emergency response telephone number on shipping paper. If shipping paper not available or no answer, refer to appropriate telephone number listed on the inside back cover.

· ELIMINATE all ignition sources (no smoking, flares, sparks or flames) from immediate area.

Excerpt from NIOSH Pocket Guide for Ethyl formate:

General First Aid:

(General first aid procedures)

· Wear positive pressure self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).

100.0 [ppm]

1. REMOVE ALL IGNITION SOURCES. 2. VENTILATE AREA OF SPILL OR LEAK. 3. FOR SMALL QUANTITIES, ABSORB ON PAPER TOWELS. EVAPORATE IN A SAFE PLACE (SUCH AS A FUME HOOD). ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR EVAPORATING VAPORS TO COMPLETELY CLEAR THE HOOD DUCTWORK. BURN THE PAPER IN A SUITABLE LOCATION AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS. LARGE QUANTITIES CAN BE COLLECTED AND ATOMIZED IN A SUITABLE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. ETHYL FORMATE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENTER A CONFINED SPACE, SUCH AS A SEWER, BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXPLOSION.

SRP: At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices.

1. BY ABSORBING IT IN VERMICULITE, DRY SAND, EARTH OR A SIMILAR MATERIAL AND DISPOSING IN A SECURED SANITARY LANDFILL. 2. BY ATOMIZING IN A SUITABLE COMBUSTION CHAMBER.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: If released to soil, ethyl formate would readily volatilize from the surface layers of soil as well as leach. While no data were located concerning the degradation in soil, it would be expected to readily degrade by chemical hydrolysis, especially in alkaline soil, and biodegrade. (SRC)

AQUATIC FATE: Ethyl formate has a relatively high Henry's Law constant of 3.85X10-4 atm-cu m/mol(1) and if released to water, it will be lost due to evaporation. A volatilization half-life of 4.5 hrs was predicted for ethyl formate from a model river 1 m deep, flowing at 1 m/sec with a wind velocity of 3 m/sec(2,SRC). It would not be expected to sorb to sediment or bioconcentrate in aquatic organisms. Chemical hydrolysis will be an important fate process, especially in alkaline waters. The hydrolytic half-life is 3.1 days and 7.5 hr at pH 7 and 8, respectively(3,SRC). Based on limited data from screening tests supplemented by predictions of mathematical models and data on similar chemicals, ethyl formate should rapidly biodegrade(SRC).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: The half-life of ethyl formate in the atmosphere is estimated to be 11 days as a result of reaction with photochemically-produced hydroxyl radicals(1). Being fairly soluble in water, it should be readily washed out of the air by rain(SRC).

The substance can be absorbed into the body by inhalation of its vapour and by ingestion.

inhalation, ingestion, skin and/or eye contact

Cough. Shortness of breath. Headache. Drowsiness.

Redness.

Redness. Pain.

Sore throat. Further see Inhalation.

irritation eyes, upper respiratory system; In Animals: narcosis

Employees should be screened for history of certain medical conditions which might place the employee at increased risk from ethyl formate exposure. /These include/ chronic respiratory disease ... skin disease ... liver disease ... kidney disease. ... Any employee developing the above-listed conditions should be referred for further medical examination.

Using a reported water solubility of 88.25 g/L(1) for ethyl formate, an estimated Koc of 8 was calculated using a regression equation(2,SRC). A Koc of 4 was estimated from molecular structure(3). According to a suggested classification scheme(3), this estimated Koc suggests that ethyl formate will be highly mobil in soil (SRC).

/IT IS/ REPORTED IN OIL OF BORONIA DENTIGEROIDES. IT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED IN FLORIDA ORANGE JUICE, SEVERAL VARIETIES OF HONEY, APPLES AND PEARS, & DISTILLED LIQUORS, SUCH AS RUM.

Ethyl formate occurs widely in fruit(1).

/IT IS/ IRRITATING TO SKIN, MUCOUS MEMBRANES, & IN HIGH CONCENTRATIONS.../A CNS DEPRESSANT/.

No irritation was noted after a 48 hr closed-patch test of 4% ethyl formate on human subjects.

Slight eye irritation in human subjects and strong persistent nasal irritation were noted on exposure to 330 ppm in the air. ... The irritating effects on the eyes and respiratory tract are probably due to rapid hydrolysis of the ester on contact with water, with the formation of alcohol and formic acid.

THERE ARE NO REPORTS OF TOXIC EFFECTS ON HUMANS EXCEPT SLIGHT IRRITATION OF THE EYES AND NOSE...10,500 PPM CAUSES MODERATE BUT PROGRESSIVE IRRITATION OF EYES AND NOSE, REMAINING 4 HR AFTER EXPOSURE.

THE ANESTHETIC POTENCY /IS/ ... LESS THAN THAT OF CHLORINATED HYDROCARBONS & ETHYL ETHER, BUT IT /IS/ ... MORE ACTIVE ... THAN ETHANOL, ACETONE AND ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS ... .

Ethyl formate maybe released to the environment as a result of its production, transport, disposal and use as a synthetic flavoring agent in lemonades, chewing gum, ice cream, essences (apple, pineapple, banana, and peach flavors), artificial rum and arrac; as a fungicide and larvicide for tobacco, cereals, dried fruit, and other crops(1,3) and as a solvent for cellulose nitrate and acetate, as an acetone substitute and fumigant in packaged food, and in organic synthesis(2-4).

The food additive ethyl formate may be safely used in or on specified dried fruits in accordance with the following conditions: it is used or intended for use in or on raisins and dried Zante currants as a bulk and package fumigant.

The food additive ethyl formate may be safely used in or on specified dried fruits in accordance with the following conditions: it is used in accordance with directions registered with the U.S. EPA, and so used that the total formic acid present free and combined, in the finished product shall not exceed 250 ppm.

The food additive ethyl formate may be safely used in or on specified dried fruits in accordance with the following conditions: to assure safe use of the additive, its label and labeling shall conform to that registered with the USEPA.

A MUCH STRONGER IRRITANT THAN ETHYL ACETATE, PROBABLY BECAUSE OF HYDROLYSIS TO FORMIC ACID.

Ethyl formate is metabolized by esterases in Streptomyces nitrificans.

BECAUSE OF RELATIVELY GOOD SOLUBILITY IN PLASMA, ETHYL FORMATE PASSES READILY THROUGH THE PULMONARY ALVEOLI AND, DUE TO HIGH WATER SOLUBILITY, HAS A HIGH BLOOD-AIR DISTRIBUTION COEFFICIENT.

ETHYL FORMATE IS ABSORBED BY THE LUNGS AND THE GI TRACT; SLIGHT PENETRATION OF THE SKIN IS SAID TO OCCUR...

Used as flavoring agent, solvent for nitrocellulose, and reagent in organic synthesis; Also used as a fungicide/larvicide for tobacco, cereals, and dried fruit; [ACGIH]

Farming (Pesticides) [Category: Industry]

IN LACQUER INDUSTRY, IN ARTIFICIAL SILK MFR AS SOLVENT FOR CELLULOSE ACETATE; IN MFR OF SAFETY GLASS; IN SHOE INDUSTRY AS SOLVENT FOR CELLULOID

SOLVENT FOR OILS AND GREASES

FLAVOR FOR LEMONADE & ESSENCES; MFR OF ARTIFICIAL RUM & ARRAC; SOLVENT FOR NITROCELLULOSE; FUNGICIDE AND LARVICIDE; IN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS

ACETONE SUBSTITUTE; IN SYNTHETIC RESINS

(1978) PROBABLY GREATER THAN 4.54X10+5 G

(1982) PROBABLY GREATER THAN 9.08X10+5 G

ESTERIFICATION OF FORMIC ACID WITH ETHYL ALCOHOL IN THE PRESENCE OF SULFURIC ACID

/IT IS/...PREPARED BY ESTERIFICATION OF ETHYL ALCOHOL AND FORMIC ACID OR BY DISTILLATION OF ETHYL ACETATE & FORMIC ACID IN PRESENCE OF CONCN SULFURIC ACID.

Produced by carbonylation of ethanol with carbon monoxide...

AREGINAL.../IS/ MIXTURE OF METHYL FORMATE AND ETHYL FORMATE.

ASSAY: 95% MINIMUM.

GRADES: TECHNICAL; FCC.

Fragrance Ingredients

Flavouring Agent -> FLAVOURING_AGENT -> JECFA Functional Classes

Flavoring Agents -> JECFA Flavorings Index

Flavouring Agent -> FLAVOURING_AGENT -> JECFA Functional Classes

Formic acid, ethyl ester: ACTIVE

USE IN FOODS RESTRICTED TO 0.0015%.

NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 9.4 PPM, ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES 10 PPM, ICE CREAM, ICES, ETC 21 PPM, CANDY 50 PPM, BAKED GOODS 98 PPM, GELATINS AND PUDDINGS 0.35-11 PPM, CHEWING GUM 430 PPM.

OF DIRECT FOOD ADDITIVES: LIMITATIONS- SYNTHETIC FLAVOR.