| HS Code | 199613 |
| Name | Diethyl Ether |
| Iupacname | Ethoxyethane |
| Synonyms | Ethyl ether, sulfuric ether, ethyl oxide, ethoxyethane |
| Molecularformula | C4H10O |
| Molarmass | 74.122 g/mol |
| Casregistrynumber | 60-29-7 |
| Unnumber | UN 1155 |
| Appearance | Colorless liquid |
| Odor | Sweet, pungent, ether-like |
| Boilingpoint | 34.6 °C (94.3 °F) |
| Meltingpoint | -116.3 °C (-177.3 °F) |
| Density | 0.7134 g/cm³ at 20 °C |
| Solubility | Slightly soluble in water; miscible with ethanol, chloroform, benzene |
| Vaporpressure | 440 mmHg at 20 °C |
| Vapordensity | 2.55 (air = 1) |
| Flashpoint | -45 °C (closed cup) |
| Autoignitiontemperature | 160 °C (320 °F) |
| Explosivelimits | 1.9–36% (v/v) in air |
| Refractiveindex | 1.3526 at 20 °C |
| Viscosity | 0.224 cP at 25 °C |
| Dipolemoment | 1.15 D |
| Logp | 0.89 |
| Surfacetension | 17.0 mN/m at 20 °C |
As an accredited Diethyl Ether factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Diethyl ether packaged in 1 L amber glass bottles with PTFE-lined caps, shipped in metal safety cans for flammable storage. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL Diethyl Ether loading: UN 1155, Class 3, PG I; ventilated, cool, no ignition sources, secure drums. |
| Shipping | Diethyl ether is shipped as a hazardous flammable liquid, UN 1155, Class 3, Packing Group I. It requires approved, leakproof containers, flammable-liquid labels, and placards. Transport must avoid ignition sources, heat, oxidizers, and acids. Many carriers restrict or forbid passenger aircraft; cargo aircraft and ground transport follow applicable regulations. |
| Storage | Store diethyl ether in a cool, dry, well-ventilated flammable-storage cabinet, away from heat, sparks, flames, oxidizers, and strong acids. Keep containers tightly closed, labeled, grounded, and bonded during transfer. Use explosion-proof equipment and electricals. Protect from light and moisture; store under inert gas if possible. Date containers, test regularly for peroxides, and never evaporate to dryness. Follow local regulations. |
| Shelf Life | Diethyl ether has a limited shelf life (~6–12 months), forming explosive peroxides; store cool, dark, and test before use. |
Moisture control in ether-based Grignard synthesis is governed by the stoichiometric decomposition of the organomagnesium halide. One mole of water consumes one mole of RMgX to yield alkane R-H and a magnesium hydroxide halide precipitate; at pilot scale this produces turbidity, loss of active reagent, and clogging of downstream filtration equipment. Specifications for plant-grade anhydrous diethyl ether therefore set Karl Fischer water content at or below 50 µg/g before charging to the reactor. Magnesium turnings are activated with iodine or 1,2-dibromoethane; the induction period is observed by a sustained turbidity change and exotherm. Batch reactors typically charge magnesium at 1.03–1.08 mol per mole of organic halide to compensate for metal oxide scale. Diethyl ether is added to maintain a reflux temperature of 34–35°C; the solvent-to-halide ratio is adjusted to keep the Grignard concentration between 1.0 M and 3.0 M in most batch fine chemical operations. A higher dilution is required for aryl bromides because the initiation stage can be delayed and the subsequent exotherm is sharp. The resulting aryl- or vinylmagnesium bromide is used immediately in downstream quench chemistry with aldehydes, ketones, carbon dioxide, or amides to produce pharmaceutical and agrochemical intermediates. Residual diethyl ether in isolated intermediates follows ICH Q3C Class 3 limits of 5000 ppm. Vessel material for ether Grignard reactors is carbon steel or glass-lined steel. Carbon steel is compatible with dried ether but not with aqueous acid washes used in workup; glass-lined reactors are required when the process includes direct hydrochloric acid quench. The reflux condenser is typically a vertical shell-and-tube exchanger with a cooling water supply at 15–20°C; vent lines are routed to a thermal oxidizer because diethyl ether vapour has a lower flammable limit of 1.9% v/v and a flash point of -45°C.
Casting nitrocellulose membranes and flexible collodion from pyroxylin solutions requires a solvent blend with rapid initial evaporation but sufficient alcohol co-solvency to prevent phase separation of nitrated cellulose. The USP-NF Collodion monograph specifies 40 g of pyroxylin per 750 mL of diethyl ether and 250 mL of ethanol; this 3:1 ether-to-ethanol volume ratio dissolves the pyroxylin and controls nitrocellulose ester solvation without gelatinization. The prepared solution is filtered through muslin or sintered glass, then cast on glass plates using a doctor blade set to a wet-film gap of 0.5–1.5 mm. Solvent evaporation is conducted in a fume chamber or solvent recovery tunnel with air flow across the plate at 15–20°C to avoid condensation and surface skinning. For flexible collodion, 950 g of collodion is compounded with 20 g of camphor and 30 g of castor oil according to monograph directions; the camphor acts as a plasticizer and the castor oil imparts flexibility and water resistance. The dried film is lifted from the plate and may be cut into strips or discs. In membrane casting, the same ether-ethanol vehicle is used to suspend nitrocellulose and pore-forming additives before immersion precipitation in water; residual ether in the final membrane must be purged below the ICH Q3C limit when the membrane is used in pharmaceutical processing. Terminal products include rigid collodion for histological section mounting, flexible collodion for medical protective dressing, and nitrocellulose filter membranes rated at pore sizes from 0.22 µm to 8.0 µm. Glass transition and gas permeability of the cast film depend on residual solvent content; membranes discharged with more than 0.5% residual ether show haziness and reduced burst strength.In aerosol starting aids for compression-ignition engines, diethyl ether is blended with a C7-C8 aliphatic hydrocarbon diluent to reduce vapour pressure and with a compressed propellant to achieve a self-atomizing spray. The high volatility of diethyl ether, boiling at 34.6°C and exhibiting a flash point of -45°C, ensures rapid vapour formation in intake air at temperatures below -20°C. A typical pressure-fill aerosol canister for diesel starting fluid uses a total hydrocarbon fill between 55 wt% and 80 wt%, with diethyl ether as the major combustible component. Filling equipment must be classified for Class I Division 1 electrical service due to the flammable vapour space. Diethyl ether peroxide content is a critical release parameter; peroxides accelerate resin formation in the dip tube and can create pressure-retaining deposits in the valve body. Consequently, incoming solvent is tested by a ferrous thiocyanate colorimetric method or iodometric titration, and peroxide content is held below 50 ppm as H₂O₂ equivalent before blending. The terminal product delivers a cetane-aided ignition kernel that reduces cold cranking time and unburned hydrocarbon emissions in mining, forestry, and stationary generators. The autoignition temperature of 160°C means that direct spraying onto a hot manifold or glow plug surface must be avoided during engine service.
| Component | Function | Typical range (wt%) |
|---|---|---|
| Diethyl ether | Primary ignition aid | 55–65 |
| C7-C8 aliphatic hydrocarbon | Vapour pressure diluent | 20–30 |
| Aerosol propellant | Self-atomization | 5–10 |
| Lubricity additive | Upper cylinder wear reduction | 0.5–2 |
| Corrosion inhibitor | Canister and engine component protection | 0.1–0.5 |
Anhydrous diethyl ether absorbs gaseous boron trifluoride to form the Lewis acid complex BF₃·O(C₂H₅)₂. Industrial production is carried out in a packed absorption column with cooled recycle of the complex to maintain liquid-phase temperature below 10°C; the absorption reaction is strongly exothermic. Boron trifluoride gas is distributed through a sparger at a stoichiometric excess of ether; the resulting complex is commonly standardized to 46–51 wt% BF₃ by iodometric or fluoride-ion selective electrode titration. The product is a pale yellow to amber liquid with a density of approximately 1.12–1.15 g/mL at 25°C. It is transferred under nitrogen to glass-lined or 316L stainless steel storage because the complex reacts with moisture to yield hydrogen fluoride and boric acid, increasing acidity and reducing catalytic activity. Downstream, the complex is metered into polymerisation reactors for cationically initiated isobutylene polymerisation, Friedel-Crafts acylation of aromatics, and epoxy ring-opening polymerization. Catalyst loading is typically 0.1–0.5 wt% of monomer, and residual fluoride in the final polymer is controlled by a neutralization step with calcium hydroxide or an ion-exchange polishing filter. Diethyl ether is not recovered from the catalyst complex; it remains coordinated and is released only upon aqueous quench of the reaction mass. Vent streams from the absorption column contain residual BF₃ and diethyl ether and are connected to a wet scrubber with sodium hydroxide solution, maintaining pH above 9.0 before discharge.
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Diethyl ether, CAS 60-29-7, molecular formula C4H10O, molar mass 74.12 g/mol, is supplied in four principal product classes: anhydrous reagent, ACS reagent, HPLC/UV grade, and technical grade. At atmospheric pressure the boiling point is 34.6 °C, the freezing point is −116.3 °C, and the density is 0.7134 g/cm³ at 20 °C. The vapour pressure at 20 °C is 58.6 kPa; the closed-cup flash point by ASTM D56 is −45 °C, placing the liquid in NFPA 30 Class IA. Flammable vapour–air mixtures extend from 1.9% to 36.0% by volume. Transport designation is UN 1155, Class 3, Packing Group I. The product identity is further defined by water content, residue on evaporation, stabiliser, and packaging headspace oxygen, not by a single harmonised grade name.
| Product class | Typical assay (wt%) | Water specification | Residue on evaporation | Stabiliser | Primary application |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anhydrous reagent | ≥99.5 | ≤50 mg/kg | ≤10 mg/kg | Trace BHT or none under nitrogen | Grignard, water-sensitive synthesis |
| ACS reagent | ≥99.0 | ≤0.03 wt% | ≤10 mg/kg | Trace BHT or none | General wet extraction and reagent |
| HPLC/UV | ≥99.7 | ≤100 mg/kg | ≤5 mg/kg | None | Low-residue analytical extraction |
| Technical | ≥98.0 | ≤0.2 wt% | Not specified | None | Process extraction, fuel starting aid |
Because model names vary among suppliers, procurement specifications should state water content by ASTM E203, peroxide content by iodometric titration, and residue after evaporation according to the current ACS reagent monograph. The ACS monograph for diethyl ether requires assay not less than 99.0%, water not more than 0.03%, and evaporation residue not more than 0.001%. Such values are more reproducible than commercial grade descriptions alone.
At 20 °C, the dynamic viscosity is approximately 0.23 mPa·s, the surface tension is approximately 17.3 mN/m, and the dielectric constant is 4.33. These values produce rapid capillary wetting in Soxhlet extraction and also increase static charge accumulation during high-flow transfer. The low viscosity reduces pressure drop in packed extraction columns but increases the probability of leakage through pump seals and compression fittings.
Anhydrous reagent can be further dried over 3A molecular sieves in a packed column of 1.6 mm pellets. A 20 L batch processed at 5 L/h can reduce water from 300 mg/kg to below 50 mg/kg; regeneration is performed at 250 °C under nitrogen flow of 2 L/min for 12 h. Sodium wire drying is used at laboratory scale but is avoided in production because sodium handling and reactive waste disposal increase hazard. Filtration through a 0.2 µm PTFE membrane before use removes sieve particulate and protects pump check valves in metering systems.
Recovered diethyl ether is distilled under reduced pressure to keep reboiler temperature low and to retain peroxide species in the heel. A falling-film or wiped-film still with a brine-cooled condenser at −15 °C is operated at 120–150 mbar so that vapour temperature stays below 25 °C. The bottom fraction, usually 10–20% of the initial batch volume, retains non-volatile oxidation products and is not distilled to dryness. Reflux ratio is maintained above 2:1 when a light-ends forerun is removed. A documented upset mode is oxygen ingress through the inspection manway: even with nitrogen padding at 0.3 bar, peroxide concentration in the reflux stream can rise within 4 h if the seal is damaged. Because continuous stabiliser injection into recovered ether is not covered by widely published design data, batch recovery is commonly operated with re-dosing of BHT and peroxide testing after each cut.
In side-by-side partition tests with sodium chloride-saturated aqueous phases, diethyl ether forms an upper organic layer and separates faster than dichloromethane, which is denser than water and frequently traps emulsions at the phase boundary. The water solubility of diethyl ether at 20 °C is 6.9 g/100 mL; this is lower than THF, which is miscible, but higher than diisopropyl ether. Comparative values are shown in Table 2.
| Solvent | Boiling point (°C) | Flash point (°C) | Water solubility at 20 °C | Dielectric constant | Peroxide hazard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diethyl ether | 34.6 | −45 | 6.9 g/100 mL | 4.33 | Yes, stabiliser required |
| MTBE | 55.2 | −33 | 4.8 g/100 mL | 2.6 | Yes |
| THF | 66.0 | −14 | Miscible | 7.6 | Yes |
| Dichloromethane | 39.6 | None under ASTM D56 | 1.7 g/100 mL | 8.93 | No |
| Diisopropyl ether | 68.5 | −29 | 0.9 g/100 mL | 3.4 | Yes, severe on standing |
The tabulated data show that diethyl ether occupies a low-boiling and low-dielectric position: it is more volatile and less water-miscible than THF, less dense than dichloromethane, and more water-soluble than diisopropyl ether. In extraction, this gives fast concentration of neutrals into the upper organic layer, but the peroxide hazard remains a selection constraint. Compared with cyclopentyl methyl ether, diethyl ether has a significantly lower boiling point, 34.6 °C versus 106 °C, and lower resistance to peroxide formation, so it is retained for low-temperature reactions and replaced in high-temperature processing where the low boiling point becomes a rate limitation.
Diethyl ether is chemically distinct from petroleum ether, which is a hydrocarbon fraction. Petroleum ether contains no oxygen atom and therefore does not coordinate to magnesium or lithium cations; it also has lower water solubility and a different peroxide formation profile. Substitution of one for the other in any extraction method requires revalidation of partition selectivity.
Stabiliser depletion is governed by headspace oxygen, light, temperature, and trace metal contamination. In unopened sealed steel drums at 20–25 °C with headspace oxygen ≤1%, BHT stabiliser can remain detectable above 1 mg/kg for 12 months. After opening, the headspace reaches 20.9% oxygen and oxidation accelerates; in a warm storage bay at 30 °C, peroxide concentration may approach the common action threshold of 50 mg/kg within 4–8 weeks. Autoxidation proceeds by radical hydrogen abstraction at the α-carbon, generating hydroperoxide species that remain dissolved until distillation concentrates them. Recapped drums should be nitrogen-blanketed and tested with peroxide strips or iodometric titration before evaporation. The presence of BHT does not mean the solvent is indefinitely safe: stabiliser is consumed during radical scavenging, and its depletion is a function of oxygen exposure rather than calendar age alone.
Commercial test strips respond from 0.5 mg/L to 25 mg/L hydrogen peroxide equivalents. A lower action threshold of 10 mg/kg is used for pharmaceutical intermediates. Above 50 mg/kg, solvent is treated with aqueous ferrous sulfate or sodium metabisulfite and retested before evaporation or disposal.
For Grignard reagent formation, anhydrous diethyl ether with water ≤50 mg/kg by ASTM E203 is selected. The ether oxygen solvates Mg²⁺, while the dielectric constant of 4.33 allows precipitation of inorganic salt by-products. Reaction temperature remains near 34.6 °C, which suppresses Wurtz coupling for many primary alkyl bromides. In a 100 L glass-lined reactor, initiator is added below 0.1 L/min; higher addition rates can raise jacket outlet temperature above 40 °C and exceed condenser capacity. When THF is substituted for diethyl ether, reaction rates increase and dissolving power for polar organometallics improves, but the boiling point rises to 66 °C and water miscibility eliminates a simple phase-split workup. Diethyl ether is therefore chosen when low-temperature precipitation and easy product isolation are more important than maximum solvation.
Replacing dichloromethane with diethyl ether in total lipid extraction alters selectivity because the dielectric constant falls from 8.93 to 4.33. This reduces co-extraction of phospholipids and bile salts but may also reduce recovery of polar lipids. In Soxhlet systems, siphon cycles are faster because the boiling point is 34.6 °C; however, the condenser coolant must be maintained below 10 °C to limit vapour loss. Under AOAC 920.39, diethyl ether is used after acid hydrolysis; fitness for a specific food matrix is verified against a certified reference material such as NIST SRM 1544. Published recovery data for a single universal percentage is not applicable across matrices, so method validation is required before substituting solvents in a registered analytical procedure.
Diethyl ether conductivity is below 10 pS/m, and its minimum ignition energy is approximately 0.19 mJ. Flow through plastic hoses or ungrounded glass pipes accumulates static charge that can discharge from ungrounded metal fittings. Bulk transfer should use stainless steel piping with linear velocity below 1 m/s and resistance to earth below 6 Ω per NFPA 77. Tanks are blanketed with nitrogen at 0.2–0.3 bar overpressure to exclude oxygen. Pressure relief is set to the vessel design pressure and routed to a safe outdoor location. Blocked liquid-full pipe can generate overpressure from thermal expansion; expansion loops and relief valves are installed at pump discharge locations.
Technical-grade diethyl ether is used in low-temperature engine starting aids. The product is blended with light aliphatics and carbon dioxide propellant; the low autoignition temperature of diethyl ether relative to diesel enables ignition at cranking temperatures below −20 °C. Product formulation is supplier-specific, and no single ASTM performance specification covers all aerosol starting-fluid products.
For extraction of phenolic and acidic analytes from aqueous samples, diethyl ether is salted with NaCl at 10–20 wt% to reduce mutual solubility. Phase separation is rapid, but the organic layer is the upper phase; this is an inversion from dichloromethane workup and requires procedural adjustment in automated liquid handlers. Because peroxide impurities can oxidise sulfur- and thiol-containing analytes, BHT-stabilised grades are not used for trace methods involving oxidation-sensitive compounds. Unstabilised ether is tested for peroxide immediately before use; any lot above the method-defined limit is treated with ferrous sulfate or sodium metabisulfite and retested or disposed as reactive waste.
