Where can I buy Ethyl Alcohol????

Question

Note: I am NOT looking for isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol).

I need Ethyl Alcohol. Do I need to special order it? Can I find it at my pharmacy? Wal-Mart?

Thanks!

I need it for perserving inscects for my Biology 102 class.

Answer 1

You can order denatured Ethanol from just about any chemical supply company, this is your cheapest bet and if you are affiliated with a school or industry it is a simple order. It should suit your purposes just fine for preservation of most lower life forms, anything above reptile/amphibian complexity though I would use a formalin solution. If you are not affiliated with a larger institution you will have some problems ordering from a supply company such as Fisher or Flinn. Most of these companies will not sell natural ethanol as it requires special permits; they will also not sell to individuals.

As for natural ethanol... it can be bought in your local liquor store under "pure grain alcohol". Its strength (percentage of EtOH) will depend on where you are purchasing. For example, in the US in FL the highest legal content is 153proof (76.5%) while in GA you can purchase 190proof (95%). Be wary as this stuff is consumable, and in my opinion very enjoyable in moderation especially in coffee (cooled to room temp). Warning do not consume "Wood Grain Alcohol" it is methanol and will cause you to go blind. If you need the ethanol at 200proof(100%) I can further direct you in a method of preparation privately.

Answer 2

Can Buy Ethyl Alcohol At

http://amzn.to/1m9apco

.

Answer 3

Albertsons grocery stores sell it, or at least the Albertsons near my house used to sell it up to very recently.

I could buy a 16 fluid ounce bottle of 70% ethyl alcohol by volume for a pretty reasonable price.
The bottle looks just like the isopropyl alcohol bottle and is sold in the same area. The brand name of the alcohol is "equal line".

Like I said, up to just very recently, Albertsons stocked it. I was there a few days ago and did not see it....whether they no longer carry it or it was jut a fluke that they were out of stock I cannot say, but the employees didn’t know anything.

The advantage of buying (denatured) ethyl alcohol as a rubbing alcohol form as opposed to in a drinkable alcohol form is that there is no age restriction and it is probably cheaper.

Answer 4

Well, I was going to say you could just buy some 100 proof vodka . . . that would be half ethyl alcohol and half water . . .

But all kidding aside, here are some sources:

Cole Parmer:
http://www.coleparmer.com/catalog/Product_Index.asp?search=ethyl+alcohol

Gallade Chemical:
https://secure13.nexternal.com/shared/StoreFront/default.asp?CS=gallade&BusType=BtoC&Count1=266002833&Count2=183143258&ProductID=13186&Target=products.asp

All World Scientific:
http://www.wine-testing-supplies.com/ccp51/cgi-bin/cp-app.cgi?pg=prod&ref=ethylalcohol

The Science Company:
http://secure.sciencecompany.com/Ethyl-Alcohol-Anhydrous-AKA-Ethanol-16oz-P6658C670.aspx

Probably also ESP Chemicals (http://www.espchemicals.com), but their server was down when I tried.

Answer 5

For small quantities, you can buy neutral grain spirits at you local booze shop. It will be 95 percent ethanol. If they don't have it maybe they can special order.

You can get the pure stuff at an industrial supply if you pay the excise tax---getting the exemption from excise tax is a big deal.

Answer 6

If you are looking to buy this for mixing drinks and cocktails, let me warn you--it will be more harmful to you than beer or wine! Pure ethyl achohol is a dangerous solvent. Most of the time it is sold diluted.

Answer 7

Preservation of animals is done with formaldehyde and not with ethyl alcohol.

Ethyl Alcohol is the same thing as drinking alcohol, diluted with water. Vodka is almost pure ethyl alcohol.

Answer 8

Heh. Ethanol is the kind of alcohol that people drink. If it doesn't have to be absolutely pure, go to the nearest liqour store and pick up a bottle of everclear. One variety is 95% ethanol.

Of course, even if you buy ethanol from a chemical supply store, they usually have methanol mixed in so you can't drink it. So unless you need something really pure, I'd go with the above.

Answer 9

You do not need formaldehyde for insects. You can buy it in a liquor store if you are of age. Everclear is about 94% EtOH. I used it all the time to preserve herps.

Answer 10

everclear at any liquor store. Go to any pharmacy or drug store and you can buy 95% EtOH as well. It is denatured which means it has some stuff added so you can not drink it but will work for your purposes. (Gasoline is added)