Ingredient Dictionary

METHYL ACETATE

Methyl acetate is an acetate ester resulting from the formal condensation of acetic acid with methanol.

How much products actually contain

No product states its amount yet.

Of the products containing it, 2 list it before the 1% line and 10 after it (usually 1% or less).

Products using this ingredient

12 of 12 confirmed · likeliest to carry enough first

Definition

Methyl acetate is an acetate ester resulting from the formal condensation of acetic acid with methanol. A low-boiling (57 C) colourless, flammable liquid, it is used as a solvent for many resins and oils. It has a role as a fragrance, a polar aprotic solvent and an EC 3.4.19.3 (pyroglutamyl-peptidase I) inhibitor. It is a volatile organic compound, a methyl ester and an acetate ester.

Source: PubChem

US FDA substance register · UNII W684QT396F · registered name Methyl acetate · single chemical substance

Source: US FDA Unique Ingredient Identifier (UNII)

Cosmetic roles

Gives the product a scentPERFUMINGBase that dissolves other ingredientsSOLVENT

Safety & regulatory references

Banned: Argentina · ASEAN · Brazil · China · European Union · South Korea · Taiwan · United Kingdom

Source: ASEAN Cosmetic Directive · EU Cosmetics Regulation · MFDS (Korea) cosmetic regulatory information · Taiwan FDA cosmetic ingredients · UK cosmetics regulations (OPSS)

Not classified under Korea’s toxic-substance GHS list · existing chemical substance

Source: Korea toxic substances GHS register (NIER)

SCCS opinion: Opinion concerning Methyl acetate

Source: EU CosIng ingredient list

Reviewed by CIR: Final Report of the Cosmetic Ingredient Reveiw Expert Panel on the Safety Assessment of Methyl Acetate

Source: US Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR)

More data — names, identifiers, properties, test records, literature

Official labels & definitions

JCIA labelling name 酢酸メチル: 本品は、酢酸とメタノールのエステルであり、次の化学式で表される。

Source: JCIA labelling names (Japan)

Names & identifiers

METHYL ACETATEINCI메틸아세테이트Korean label name (MFDS standard)Acetic acid, methyl esterSynonym酢酸メチルJapanese labelling name

CAS No.chemical registry number: 79-20-9
EC No.EU chemical inventory number: 201-185-2
DTXSIDUS EPA chemical ID: DTXSID4021767
DTXCIDUS EPA compound ID: DTXCID101767

IUPAC: Methyl acetate
Molecular formula: C3H6O2
Molecular weight: 74.079 g/mol

Measured properties

Appearance: Methyl acetate appears as a clear colorless liquid with a fragrant odor. Moderately toxic. Flash point 14 °F. Vapors heavier than air. · CBI, Wet Solid, Liquid
Odour: Pleasant odor · Fragrant, fruity odor
Boiling point: 134.4 °F at 760 mmHg (NTP, 1992) · 56.7 °C
Melting point: -144 °F (NTP, 1992) · -98.2 °C
Solubility: greater than or equal to 100 mg/mL at 70 °F (NTP, 1992) · In water, 2.43X10+5 mg/L at 20 °C
Density: 0.927 at 68 °F (USCG, 1999) - Less dense than water, will float · 0.9342 g/cu cm at 20 °C
Colour: colourless
Odour threshold: 4.6 (uL/L)
Melting/freezing point: -98 ℃
Initial boiling point and range: 57 ℃
Flash point: -13 ℃
Upper/lower flammability or explosive limits: 16 / 3.1 %
Vapour pressure: 23.1 ㎪ (20℃)
Water solubility: 24.4 g/100㎖ (20 ℃)
Vapour density: 2.6
Relative density: 0.93
n-Octanol/water partition coefficient (Kow): 0.18
Auto-ignition temperature: 505 ℃
Viscosity: 0.381 (20℃)
Molecular weight: 74.1

Values measured on the substance itself. The KOSHA data are a reference for writing and reviewing safety data sheets, not a specification for a commercial raw material.

Source: PubChem · KOSHA safety data sheets (Korea)

What products actually use it for

What the 46 products reported to the US EPA with this ingredient use it for. Products outside cosmetics are included, so the top few rows are its main uses.

Solvent26
Fragrance5
Solubility enhancer2
Intermediate2
Flavouring and nutrient2
Processing aids not otherwise specified2
Plasticizer2
Pigment2

3 other uses

Plating agent1
Diluent1
Cleaning agent1

Source: US EPA CompTox dashboard

Irritation and sensitisation studies

4 skin studies and 6 eye studies are on record.

Classed as low3

The study conclusions largely agree (100%). These tests are on the raw material itself; irritation at the amount in a finished product is a different question.

See all 10 studies

Not classified
Skin Sensitization · Screening
Studies Indicate No Significant Irritation
skin irritation: in vivo · Screening · EU Method B.4 (Acute Toxicity: Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to OECD Guideline 404 (Acute Dermal Irritation / Corrosion) according to
Category 6.3A (Category 2)
Skin Irritation · Read Across
Not classified
Skin Irritation · Screening
Serious eye damage/eye irritation - Category 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Authoritative
Category 6.4A (Category 2A)
Eye Irritation · Read Across
Eye Irrit. 2
Eye Irritation · Screening
Category 2B
Eye Irritation · Screening
Severe Irritation
eye irritation: in vivo · Screening · EU Method B.5 (Acute Toxicity: Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to OECD Guideline 405 (Acute Eye Irritation / Corrosion) according to