This section provides an overview for ethyl lactate as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 ethyl lactate manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked ethyl lactate companies as of November, 2024: 1.Hydrite Chemical Co., 2.Graham Chemical, 3.Parchem.
Table of Contents
Ethyl lactate is the ester of lactic acid and ethanol, and is a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic odor.
Also known as ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, it occurs in trace amounts in poultry, fruits, miso, and other foods. Ethyl lactate contains a chiral carbon atom in its lactic acid component, resulting in two optical isomers: the L- and D-forms. It features hydroxyl and ester functional groups, making it freely miscible with water and most organic solvents. It is also highly soluble in natural and synthetic resins, synthetic fibers, and various other materials.
It is classified as a Hazardous Substance, Class 4 under the Fire Service Law and as a Hazardous and Flammable Substance under the Industrial Safety and Health Law, requiring careful handling.
Ethyl lactate is widely used as an organic solvent because it is biodegradable, with a very low environmental impact in work environments and in the event of leaks. It serves as an ink and polymer solvent, benefiting from its high boiling point and low volatility.
Ethyl D-lactate is employed across a broad spectrum of fields, including as a resist solvent in semiconductor manufacturing, a cleaning agent in LCD panel production, a fragrance additive, a component in perfumes, pesticides, agricultural chemicals, and as a soil conditioner. It is also used as a starting material for compounds requiring an optically active D-lactic acid backbone.
Ethyl lactate is soluble in water and organic solvents. Its ester bond provides polarity, acting as a hydrophilic group, while its hydroxyl group enhances water compatibility. The ethyl groups afford oil compatibility, making it dissolve well in organic solvents.
The boiling point of a substance generally increases with molecular weight due to greater intermolecular forces. Ethyl lactate has a higher boiling point than lactic acid due to its larger molecular weight and the strong hydrogen bonds it forms, unlike other esters.
Name | Chemical Formula | Molecular Weight | Boiling Point |
Lactic Acid | CH3CH(OH)COOH | 90 | 122℃ |
Methyl Lactate | CH3CH(OH)COOCH3 | 104 | 144℃ |
Ethyl Lactate | CH3CH(OH)COOC2H5 | 118 | 154℃ |
Acetic Acid | CH3COOH | 60 | 118℃ |
Methyl Acetate | CH3COOCH3 | 74 | 56℃ |
Ethyl Acetate | CH3COOC2H5 | 88 | 77℃ |
Ethyl lactate has a distinctive aroma reminiscent of fruits, dairy, or nuts. Its molecules diffuse through the air upon vaporization, reaching the olfactory cells and interacting with olfactory receptors, thus producing specific aromas.
Found in sake, shochu, and other alcoholic beverages, ethyl lactate is an indicator of aroma, produced during alcoholic fermentation by the reaction of lactic acid with ethanol.
Compared to petroleum-based solvents, ethyl lactate is less toxic and biodegrades into harmless substances, positioning it as a "green solvent" with minimal environmental impact.
Produced through esterification of lactic acid and ethanol in the presence of a strong acid catalyst such as sulfuric acid, ethyl lactate formation is favored by the removal of water, shifting the reaction equilibrium to the right.
While ethyl lactate is among the less toxic organic solvents, its liquid and vapor forms are flammable, and it may irritate the eyes and respiratory tract. It is designated as a Hazardous Substance, Class 4 under the Fire Service Law and as a Hazardous and Flammable Substance under the Industrial Safety and Health Law, necessitating careful handling.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Hydrite Chemical Co. was founded in 1929 in Brookfield, Wisconsin, as a manufacturer and supplier of chemicals. The company's product line comprises acetone, acetic acid, citric acid, formic acid, caustic soda, chlorine, and ammonium sulphate, among others. It offers expertise in food and dairy sanitation, food ingredients, organic processing, liquid sulfites, chemical manufacturing and distribution, water treatment, and foam control chemistry. The products increase the flavour of the food; the cleansers improve the standard of the food supply; and the chemistry increases the quality of the water. The company intends to serve the energy, agriculture, biofuels, graphic, and food industries.
Parchem was founded in 1999 and headquartered in Rochelle, New York. Parchem is a distributor of industrial chemicals. Parchem serves nutritional, personal care, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical industries. Parchem offerings include coatings, adhesives, elastomers, industrial products, petrochemicals, oleochemicals, plastics, rubber, nutritional supplements, cosmetics, consumer products, catalysts, metallic salts, rare earths, flavors & fragrances, industrial & institutional, textiles, other food-related chemicals, dyes, finishes, chemicals for aerospace, oil gas drilling chemicals, electronics, and pharmaceuticals.
Graham Chemicals, established in 1988 is a global chemical distribution firm. Situated in Illinois, USA, they offer superior specialty chemical intermediates, surfactants, and performance additives. Some of their focuses include food, flavor, and fragrance industries and industrial and institutional markets. They also provide manufacturing services such as food grade and technical blending, reactions, and milling through their extensive supplier network. With their reliable services and competitive prices, they are known as one of the preferred chemical distributors in the United States.
Kanto Chemical Co. Inc., founded in 1944 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a reagent manufacturer with overseas affiliates in other countries, including China, France, USA, Taiwan, and Malaysia. Its product portfolio includes analytical reagents, ionic liquids, Iodine compounds, ultra-pure chemicals, and water analysis kits. The company is also developing regenerative medicine and genetics reagents and has over 50,000 products. It has several certifications, including ISO 9001, acquired in 1994, making it the first Japanese company in the reagent industry. Other certifications are ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO/IEC 17025.
Junsei Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1948 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of chemical reagents and chemical products, including commissioned synthesis of chemical products. Some of the products it makes include Sodium chloride solution, concentrated glycerin, calcium chloride, ascorbic acid, and nitric acid. The chemical products have a wide range of applications and can be used in pathological examination, as food additives, for analysis, and in the pharmaceutical industry. All its plants, including its research institute, are ISO4001 and ISO9001 certified, while its Saitama and Ibaraki plants are equipped with buildings that comply with GMP.
Kishida Chemical Co. Ltd., established in 1924 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of reagents and high-purity chemicals and also does drug discovery support activities. Its product portfolio includes fine chemicals, research chemicals, ionic liquid, organic micro-analytical reagents, and chemical reagents for analysis. The products support several industries, including reagent business, battery material, drug discovery, and life science. The company is ISO 14001 certified and supplies several companies worldwide, including Meterion Advanced Chemicals Inc., Acros Organics, ChemBridge Corporation, Decon Laboratories, and InerBioScreen Ltd.
Biosynth is a Swiss manufacturer of life science reagents established in 1966 and headquartered in Staad. The company sources and manufactures biochemical products such as carbohydrates, nucleosides, and enzyme substrates, as well as various peptides and biologics. They also operate as a contract manufacturer offering custom synthesis and manufacturing services for their clients in the pharmaceutical, diagnostic, food, and agrochemical sectors. Biosynth has regional sales offices and specialized facilities in Europe and North America, including in the Netherlands, United Kingdom, and United States.
Sankyo Chemical Co. LTD., established in 1957 and headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, is a manufacturer of several intermediate materials, including paints, industrial cleaning agents, thinners, organic industrial chemicals, and adhesives. The products can be used in several areas, including silk screen printing, wiping off resin, washing agents for flux, metal processing, and mold forming. The company accepts contract manufacturing and provides several environmentally friendly products that comply with ISO 14001, the Industrial Safety and Health Law, and the PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) Law.
FujiFilm Wako Pure Chemical Corporation, founded in 1922 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of laboratory chemicals, specialty chemicals, and clinical diagnostic reagents. The company has three business domains, namely laboratory chemicals, specialty chemicals, and clinical diagnostic reagents, and some of its products include biochemistry reagents, blood transfusion test drugs, battery materials, polymer-related materials, and general reagents. The products are useful in various fields, including electronic, cosmetic, polymeric, pharmaceutical, and medical care. It acquired Sibayagi Co. Ltd. in 2015 and provides custom manufacturing to meet customer requirements.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Musashino Chemical Laboratory, Ltd, established in 1949 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and distributor of lactic acid, alanine, and pyruvic acid. The company's product range includes lactic acid, lactate derivatives, alanine, pyruvic acid, and pyruvate derivatives. These products serve applications in brewing chemicals, food additives, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics materials. The primary sectors the company engages with are the food and beverage, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and brewing industries. In terms of services, Musashino offers research and development, custom manufacturing, quality testing, and global distribution.
National Analytical Corporation (NAC) is located in Mumbai, India. NAC was founded in 2009 as a distributor of laboratory grade chemicals used in numerous industries. NAC’s chemical offerings include biochemical & reagents such s Prunetin and 1,2-dipalmitoly-rac-glycerol, analytical grade chemicals such as chicoric acid and Vitamin E solutions, laboratory chemicals such as formic acid and nitric acid, gas chromatography chemicals such as Aalborg mass flowmeter battery kits and DEX 225, reference standard chemicals such as Palladium in HNO3, oral solid dosage forms, such as cellulosic and protect film coating systems, parenteral dosage forms, beverage & nutrition, and coating chemicals.
Founded in Mumbai, India in 2006, Otto Chemie Pvt. Ltd. is an ISO 9001:2015 & GMP certified chemical manufacturing company and distributor. Otto Chemie serves customers in many industries including agriculture and food processing, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, cement, as well as educational and R&D industries. Product offerings include antibiotics, amino acids, vitamins, detergents, ionic liquids, materials science compounds, labware, oil, metal & ceramic science compounds and tools, oils, reagents, solvents.
Ernesto Ventós S.A. is a company that was established in 1916 in Sant Just Desvern, Spain, specializing in distributing aroma compounds and essential oils to the fragrance and flavoring industries. Ventós is a company that has established solid commercial partnerships with significant raw material producers. As a result, they have become a distinguished agent or distributor of goods for these producers. The company has a wide range of over three thousand products, allowing them to offer efficient just-in-time service to their clients.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | Hydrite Chemical Co. |
22.2%
|
2 | Merck |
11.1%
|
3 | Graham Chemical |
9.5%
|
4 | Parchem |
8.7%
|
5 | KANTO CHEMICAL CO.,INC. |
7.9%
|
6 | SANKYO CHEMICAL CO.,LTD. |
6.3%
|
7 | Ernesto Ventós S.A. |
5.6%
|
8 | Junsei Chemical Co.,Ltd. |
5.6%
|
9 | NATIONAL ANALYTICAL CORPORATION |
4.0%
|
10 | Biosynth |
4.0%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the ethyl lactate page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 7 | 50.0% |
United States of America | 3 | 21.4% |
India | 2 | 14.3% |
Switzerland | 1 | 7.1% |
Spain | 1 | 7.1% |
1 product is listed.
Musashino Chemical Laboratory, Ltd
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■ Overview -Ethyl lactic acid is a highly safe organic solvent that is also used as a fragrance for food additives. ・ It is used in various fields...