Undenatured ethanol is ethyl alcohol with no additive blended in to discourage consumption — the same molecule sold as denatured or SDA grades, just without the denaturant. Its small, polar-and-nonpolar structure is what makes it useful across so many jobs: a polar –OH group behaves like water, while the short carbon chain adds nonpolar character, so it stays miscible with water while also dissolving a wide range of polar and nonpolar compounds. Water is the primary impurity at play — ethanol and water form an azeotrope that caps standard distillation at 95.6% (190 proof), which is why reaching 200 proof (100%) requires additional dehydration steps. Undenatured ethanol also readily absorbs atmospheric moisture, so containers should stay tightly sealed between uses.
COMMON APPLICATIONS
Food and beverage flavor extraction and formulation, pharmaceutical solvent and processing aid, cosmetic and personal-care formulation, analytical chemistry (chromatography, sample prep), and surface disinfection at 60–80% dilution — note that 100% (200 proof) ethanol is too dry to denature viral proteins effectively and is a poor disinfectant on its own.
GRADES EXPLAINED
USP/FCC food grade (190–200 proof) is the standard for food, beverage, and pharmaceutical use. HPLC and reagent/anhydrous grades (≤ 50ppm water) meet the low-particulate, low-moisture standards analytical instruments require. Molecular biology grade is processed and tested for nucleic acid work. Histological grade suits tissue processing and staining. All are undenatured — the grade differences are about purity and testing, not about denaturant content.
TYPES & GRADES AT A GLANCE
WHY BUY FROM LAB ALLEY
256,000+ customers already order their ethanol from Lab Alley.
99.5% of orders ship within 1–2 business days, so a stockout doesn’t stall your bench or your line.
98.9% inventory accuracy means the proof and grade you see in stock is the proof and grade that ships.
SDS and COA are available online for every undenatured ethanol product, and select grades carry Kosher or Halal certification — check each product page for which apply.