© 2026 Sinochem Nanjing Corporation,
All Right Reserved
Chemical Name: Diethyl Carbonate
Chemical Formula: C5H10O3
Common Uses: Acts as a solvent in pharmaceuticals, specialty coatings, and lithium-ion battery electrolytes. People working in research labs or industrial settings often encounter it. From my work in industrial labs, clarity about what's in a bottle can save both time and risk, especially when substitutes appear tempting. Knowing name and typical appearance (clear, colorless liquid, sweet odor) sharply reduces confusion on a crowded shelf and keeps errors low.
GHS Classification: Flammable liquid (Category 3); Eye irritation (Category 2A); May cause drowsiness or dizziness
Main Hazards: Inhalation of vapor can affect focus or motor skills. Liquid can irritate eyes. Ignition near open flames or hot surfaces leads to fires. People in shared workspaces can't count on everyone reading warning labels, so upfront training helps.
Main Ingredient: Diethyl Carbonate (~99-100%)
Impurities: Trace ethanol, residual esters may be present but rarely at levels affecting health or fire risk. Any unknown component carries more risk than any well-characterized one, which keeps routine verification in play during lab audits.
Inhalation: Move outside or to fresh air straight away. Symptoms like dizziness or coughing show up fast. Quick action restores comfort and prevents more serious harm.
Eye Contact: Rinse with water for several minutes, then seek advice if irritation lingers. Carrying small bottles of saline in the workroom saves time.
Skin Contact: Remove contaminated clothing. Wash thoroughly with water and mild soap.
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting. Rinse mouth, then get medical help promptly. I still recall a colleague who ignored ingestion advice and delayed, which made things worse, so prompt reporting matters.
Suitable Extinguishing Media: Dry chemical powder, carbon dioxide, alcohol-resistant foam
Hazards: Combustion releases toxic gases—carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Ventilation systems installed after several near-misses in our lab often made the difference. No one trusts an “it will probably be fine” approach.
Precautions: Use self-contained breathing equipment during large fires. Keep area cool with water spray to prevent nearby containers from catching fire unintentionally.
Personal Precautions: Wear chemical goggles, lab coat, gloves, and use fume hoods. No one wants to work somewhere puddles of unknown liquid stay unclaimed.
Spill Cleanup: Soak up with inert materials like sand or vermiculite. Shovel into closed containers for disposal. Using cheap absorbent pads saves both cleanup time and reduces juggling of hazardous waste.
Environmental Precautions: Don’t let it run off into drains. Notify environmental teams if a sizable spill escapes the work area.
Handling: Always use in well-ventilated places. Sanitation reminders—like signs over every chemical bench—help reduce accidental mixing.
Storage: Store in cool, tightly closed containers. Keep away from heat, sparks, or any open flame. Storage protocols shaped by facility audits have cut losses and kept reactivity surprises rare.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust fans, proper airflow, and regular air quality checks maintain safer working environments.
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof goggles, lab coats. Some work environments rely on the “one-strike rule”—fail to wear gear, you leave the lab. That directness keeps skin and eyes from undue risk.
Workplace Safety: Regular fit-testing for respirators and medical evaluation of exposed staff add layers of real security.
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid
Odor: Mild, pleasant, slightly fruity
Boiling Point: About 126°C
Melting Point: -43°C
Flash Point: Around 25°C (closed cup)
Solubility: Miscible with most organic solvents; low solubility in water
Vapor Pressure: Moderate at room temperature, making closed systems and regular checks essential. Practical experience says that ignoring subtle leaks can invite both air quality issues and flammability concerns.
Stability: Stable under recommended handling conditions.
Reactivity: Can react with strong acids, bases, or oxidizers. Unlabeled waste jugs have caused more headaches from unexplained reactions than anything else.
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Burns to produce irritating or toxic fumes, mostly carbon oxides.
Acute Effects: Inhalation may cause dizziness, headache, or drowsiness. Direct eye exposure leads to discomfort or pain.
Chronic Effects: Limited data, though standard practice says to keep exposure as low as possible.
Common Symptoms: Respiratory irritation, skin or eye redness, possible nausea if ingestion happens.
Aquatic Toxicity: Limited specific data, though organic esters such as this one tend to display low to moderate toxicity to aquatic life if spills become substantial.
Persistence and Degradability: Breaks down by hydrolysis or biodegradation, but not instantly. Spilled solvent on concrete floors in industrial sites can persist when not cleared by the end of the shift.
Bioaccumulation: Unlikely over long-term due to rapid breakdown, but oversight on smaller sites keeps cumulative impact in check.
Waste Handling: Gather into proper solvent disposal drums labeled for flammable waste. Mixing unrelated wastes always risks unexpected reaction.
Regulatory Compliance: Follow local and national hazardous waste regulations for disposal. Regular training for staff on codes and accessible posters in workrooms cuts down on mistaken disposal.
Spill Remediation: Clean-up kits with absorbent pads make handling one-off spills less daunting, and easy access lessens the chance of overexposure.
Shipping Classification: Regulated as a flammable liquid
UN Number: UN2367
Packaging: Tightly sealed, cushioned containers marked with hazardous material labels. Freight teams reminded about red-tag labels or bright tape steer clear of cargo mix-ups that used to result in delayed shipments.
Accident Protocols: Emergency spill kits, instructional placards, and contact lists build solid preparedness well beyond simple compliance.
Labeling Requirements: GHS-compliant pictograms and warnings on every container
Workplace Safety: Centralized training programs and annual refreshers shift compliance from chore to habit. In my time on safety committees, new-hire orientation stood out as the moment most long-term safety habits were set.
Chemical Inventories: Routine reconciliation with inventory lists counters lost bottles and the temptation to “stash and forget,” bringing accountability to all corners of a facility.
