Alcohols are extremely important basic chemical raw materials with wide applications in various fields such as industrial production, medical and pharmaceutical industries, and daily life. Their core important uses are categorized as follows:
1. Industrial and Daily Chemical Industries
Solvents: Lower alcohols are the most commonly used organic solvents in industrial production. They can dissolve organic substances such as coatings, resins, and dyes. They can also synergize with surfactants in daily chemical products to improve the emulsification, penetration, and degreasing abilities of detergents and skincare products. For example, methanol is used in the paint and rubber industries; ethanol is used in fragrances and aromatherapy products; propylene glycol is a commonly used solvent in cosmetics, shower gels, and skincare products; isopropanol often replaces ethanol in industrial cleaning due to its lower cost and better safety.
Antifreeze/Freeze Agents: Ethylene glycol has an extremely low freezing point and is the core antifreeze component in automotive antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. Lower alcohols can also be used directly as industrial antifreeze agents.
Chemical Raw Materials: They can be used in the synthesis of various chemical products such as rubber, detergents, plastics, and coatings; higher alcohols can be used as defoamers and reservoir evaporation inhibitors; methanol is also an important organic synthesis intermediate in the dye and resin industries.
2. Medical and Pharmaceutical Fields
Disinfection and Sterilization: 70%-75% ethanol and isopropanol are commonly used medium-efficiency disinfectants, capable of killing vegetative bacteria and most lipophilic viruses. They are widely used for skin disinfection, wiping medical devices, and hand hygiene. 95% high-concentration ethanol is often used for dehydration and fixation of pathological tissues.
Pharmaceutical Excipients: Ethanol is a commonly used drug solvent, improving drug solubility and extending shelf life. It is often used in the preparation of tinctures, liniments, and other external medications, and can also be used as an excipient in some oral medications to improve drug absorption.
Special Treatments: Nitroglycerin (glyceryl trinitrate) can dilate blood vessels and is a commonly used drug for treating angina pectoris and biliary colic. Ethanol can also be used as an antidote for methanol poisoning, inhibiting methanol metabolism and reducing toxicity.
3. Daily Life and Energy Fields
Food and Beverages: Ethanol is a core component of alcoholic beverages. Ethanol produced by grain fermentation can be directly used in the production of alcoholic beverages.
Fuels: Both methanol and ethanol can be used as fuels. Ethanol gasoline is an environmentally friendly fuel made by adding ethanol to gasoline. Ethanol can also be used directly as an industrial fuel.
Mineral Processing: In mineral processing, alcohols are not only used as frothers but also as important raw materials for synthesizing other mineral processing reagents.