Ethylparaben Chemical Properties

Melting point:

114-117 °C (lit.)

Boiling point:

297-298 °C (lit.)

Density 

1.1708 (rough estimate)

vapor pressure 

0.00012 hPa (25 °C)

refractive index 

1.5286 (estimate)

Flash point:

297-298°C

storage temp. 

2-8°C

solubility 

Very slightly soluble in water, freely soluble in ethanol (96 per cent) and in methanol.

form 

Crystalline Powder

pka

8.31±0.13(Predicted)

color 

White

PH

4.5-5.5 (H2O, 20°C) (saturated solution)

Odor

at 100.00?%. mild phenolic

Water Solubility 

Slightly soluble in water.

Merck 

14,3837

BRN 

1101972

Stability:

Stable. Combustible. Incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, strong bases.

LogP

2.470

CAS DataBase Reference

120-47-8(CAS DataBase Reference)

NIST Chemistry Reference

Ethylparaben(120-47-8)

EPA Substance Registry System

Ethylparaben (120-47-8)

Safety Information

Hazard Codes 

Xi

Risk Statements 

36/37/38

Safety Statements 

26-36-24/25

WGK Germany 

1

RTECS 

DH2190000

Autoignition Temperature

495 °C

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

29182930

Hazardous Substances Data

120-47-8(Hazardous Substances Data)

Toxicity

LD50 orally in Rabbit: > 2000 mg/kg

MSDS

• Language:English Provider:p-Hydroxybenzoate ethyl ester
• Language:English Provider:ACROS
• Language:English Provider:SigmaAldrich
• Language:English Provider:ALFA

Ethylparaben Usage And Synthesis

Chemical Properties

Ethylparaben occurs as a white, odorless or almost odorless, crystalline powder.

Uses

Ethylparaben is mainly used as antiseptics in cosmetics, food and medicine. It is also can be used as feed preservatives and antiseptic for bacteria.
Ethylparaben is a preservative that is used in the formulation of cosmetics and personal care products in order to extend the shelf-life by preventing microbial contamination. In most formulations, parabens are used at very low levels ranging from 0.01 to 0.3%.
Ethylparaben, a novel sorbent for solid-phase extraction, was used to study its retention property. It has high extraction efficiency towards the compounds tested owing to the electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction and hydrogen bonding.

Definition

ChEBI: Ethylparaben is an ethyl ester resulting from the formal condensation of the carboxy group of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid with ethanol, It has a role as an antimicrobial food preservative, an antifungal agent, a plant metabolite and a phytoestrogen. It is a paraben and an ethyl ester.

Production Methods

Ethylparaben is prepared by the esterification of p-hydroxybenzoic acid with ethanol (95%).

Synthesis Reference(s)

The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 39, p. 3343, 1974 DOI: 10.1021/jo00937a007

Pharmaceutical Applications

Ethylparaben is widely used as an antimicrobial preservative in cosmetics,food products, and pharmaceutical formulations.
It may be used either alone or in combination with other paraben esters or with other antimicrobial agents. In cosmetics it is one of the most frequently used preservatives.
The parabens are effective over a wide pH range and have a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, although they are most effective against yeasts and molds.
Owing to the poor solubility of the parabens, paraben salts, particularly the sodium salt, are frequently used. However, this may cause the pH of poorly buffered formulations to become more alkaline.

Safety

Ethylparaben and other parabens are widely used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics, food products, and oral and topical pharmaceutical formulations.
Systemically, no adverse reactions to parabens have been reported, although they have been associated with hypersensitivity reactions. Parabens, in vivo, have also been reported to exhibit estrogenic responses in fish.(10) The WHO has set an estimated total acceptable daily intake for methyl-, ethyl-, and propylparabens at up to 10 mg/kg body-weight.
LD50 (mouse, IP): 0.52 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, oral): 3.0 g/kg

storage

Aqueous ethylparaben solutions at pH 3–6 can be sterilized by autoclaving, without decomposition. At pH 3–6, aqueous solutions are stable (less than 10% decomposition) for up to about 4 years at room temperature, while solutions at pH 8 or above are subject to rapid hydrolysis (10% or more after about 60 days at room temperature).
Ethylparaben should be stored in a well-closed container in a cool, dry place.

Incompatibilities

The antimicrobial properties of ethylparaben are considerably reduced in the presence of nonionic surfactants as a result of micellization. Absorption of ethylparaben by plastics has not been reported, although it appears probable given the behavior of other parabens. Ethylparaben is coabsorbed on silica in the presence of ethoxylated phenols. Yellow iron oxide, ultramarine blue, and aluminum silicate extensively absorb ethylparaben in simple aqueous systems, thus reducing preservative efficacy.
Ethylparaben is discolored in the presence of iron and is subject to hydrolysis by weak alkalis and strong acids.

Regulatory Status

Accepted as a food additive in Europe. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database (oral, otic, and topical preparations). Included in nonparenteral medicines licensed in the UK. Included in the Canadian List of Acceptable Non-medicinal Ingredients.

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