Product Details

Benzyl Alcohol IP/BP & USP

Benzyl Alcohol, CAS No. 100-51-6 is an aromatic primary alcohol with the molecular formula C7H8O. It is a clear, oily liquid with a mild, pleasant odor. Benzyl Alcohol is soluble in water and readily soluble in alcohol and ether. Benzyl Alcohol is useful as a solvent and as a local anesthetic in the medical field. Pharmaceutical grade benzyl alcohol is used as a bacteriostatic and as a local anesthetic. Benzyl alcohol readily forms esters with various acids making it useful for a broad spectrum of product applications which includes production of soap, perfume, flavor & fragrance, as well as a food additive.

Applications

Benzyl alcohol is used as a general solvent for inks, waxes, shellacs, paints, lacquers,dyeing polyamide and epoxy resin coatings. Thus it can be used in paint strippers, especially when combined with compatible viscosity enhancers to encourage the mixture to cling to painted surfaces.
Benzyl alcohol is an ingredient used in the manufacture of soaps, topical creams, skin lotions, shampoos, and facial cleansers and is popular due to its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties.
Benzyl alcohol has a variety of uses in the manufacture of other benzyl compounds, as a pharmaceutic aid, in the making of perfume, and for manufacturing flavoring for the food industry.
When applied to damaged skin or mucous membranes at a 10% concentration Benzyl Alcohol acts as a local anesthetic and antimicrobial agent, and is sometimes included as a degreaser in rug cleaning products
Benzyl alcohol is used effectively for treating lice infestations as the active ingredient in lotion shampoo with 5% benzyl alcohol. The use of benzyl alcohol as a 5% solution has been approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of head lice in children older than 6 months and in adults. It affects the louse's spiracles, preventing them from closing. These then become clogged with water or mineral oil or other matter and cause the insect to die from asphyxiation.
Benzyl alcohol is used as a bacteriostatic preservative at low concentration in intravenous medications, cosmetics and topical drugs.
Benzyl Alcohol is a precursor to a variety of esters, used in the soap, perfume, and flavor industries.
Benzyl alcohol has been used as a dielectric solvent for the dielectrophoretic reconfiguration of nanowires.
Benzyl alcohol has nearly the same refraction index as quartz and wool fiber. If a clear quartz object is immersed in benzyl alcohol, it becomes almost invisible. This test has been used to determine non-destructively whether an object is truly made of quartz. Similarly, white wool immersed in benzyl alcohol also becomes almost invisible clearly revealing contaminants such as dark and medullated fibers and vegetable matter.
As a dye solvent, it enhances the process of dying wool, nylon, and leather. It also has use as a photographic developer, and as an insect repellent.
Benzyl Alcohol is used in e-liquid for e-cigarettes to enhance the flavors used.