Triethyl Acetyl Citrate stands as a clear or yellowish liquid with a faint fruity scent. It belongs to a family of citrate esters, crafted by reacting citric acid with ethanol and acetic anhydride. Recognized under the HS Code 29181500, this compound finds its way into a wide range of industries, valued for its compatibility and performance as a plasticizer. You will often see it in products that require flexibility, from film coatings for pharmaceuticals to materials used in personal care. The IUPAC name for this compound is Triethyl 2-(acetyloxy)propane-1,2,3-tricarboxylate, with a molecular formula of C14H20O8 and a molar mass of 316.30 g/mol.
Triethyl Acetyl Citrate features a core made up of citric acid's three carboxylate groups, each esterified with ethyl and acetyl groups. This structure brings a dynamic combination of stability and reactivity. Most suppliers provide it in a liquid state at room temperature, with occasional variants like flakes or crystals noted in colder storage. Its density holds steady around 1.13 g/cm³ at 20°C, and it retains solubility in alcohols and organic solvents, remaining almost insoluble in water. Boiling kicks in at roughly 402°C, while the flash point sits about 185°C. Viscosity keeps a low profile, which matters when manufacturers need smooth process flow or rapid blending. Melting point rarely gets listed due to its liquid nature at ambient conditions, but you may see it forming a soft solid or pearls if exposed to low temperatures for long periods.
Use in consumer goods runs broad. Triethyl Acetyl Citrate appears as a plasticizer in plastics, adhesives, inks, and coatings. Pharmaceutical firms favor it for tablet film-coating, helping pills avoid moisture and boosting shelf life. Food-packaging suppliers turn to it for migrating into contents less than alternatives, since its toxicological profile sits lower than phthalates. It acts as a solvent and fixative in fragrances, and personal care items rely on it for lotion texture and nail polish film formation. As more producers hunt for non-phthalate plasticizers, this material gains attention.
This chemical usually ships as a transparent pale-yellow liquid, maintaining purity above 98% by gas chromatography. Impurity limits keep heavy metals under 10 ppm and water content under 0.2%. Its refractive index usually measures about 1.433 at 20°C, which gives formulators an idea of product clarity and performance in final blends. Some grades arrive as powder, pearls, or flakes for specialty use, with material safety data covering all these forms. Containers must resist corrosion and moisture uptake; stainless steel drums or polyethylene tanks do the job. It carries no pronounced taste or odor, except for a weak, ester-like aroma up close.
Triethyl Acetyl Citrate generally avoids major health flags and is not classified as a hazardous substance according to most global chemical regulatory agencies. As a raw material, contact with eyes and prolonged skin exposure can cause mild irritation, so gloves and goggles matter during handling. Inhalation of vapors causes little concern in most settings due to low volatility, but spills can make surfaces slippery. Its aquatic toxicity ranks low, allowing for safer downstream release compared to many industrial plasticizers. Fire risk remains much lower than solvents or fast-evaporating plasticizers. Always consult the full safety data sheet before use, especially for production batches, since even low-risk chemicals require respect.
Increasing focus on eco-friendliness drives the shift toward esters like Triethyl Acetyl Citrate. It breaks down more readily than high-molecular-weight phthalates, and its metabolites belong to classes the body and environment commonly process. European Union REACH and US FDA regulations approve its use in relevant applications, provided purity and use-case guidelines get followed. Still, every factory or lab using it should keep up with local waste disposal and emission regulations. As with any chemical, storage must involve labeling and accident-prevention planning.
Triethyl Acetyl Citrate offers a good compromise between safety, flexible product performance, and regulatory acceptance. In my own work selecting raw materials for formulation trials, having a plasticizer with reliable specs—a clear, stable liquid, high purity, low hazard, and broad regulatory approval—cuts time spent troubleshooting and paperwork. It works best where safety drives product value, such as medical coatings or products worn against the skin. More sustainable production methods keep drawing attention, so producers may move from petroleum-derived feedstocks to greener alternatives for these esters. Select this compound based on material compatibility, safety data, and regulatory outlook, and it should serve as a dependable industrial raw material.
