Ethyl Caproate
Ethyl Caproate, also called ethyl hexanoate, is a colourless mobile liquid with a sweet, fruity, brandy-like aroma that carries strong notes of pineapple, green apple, and unripe banana.
The molecule has the formula C₈H₁₆O₂ and occurs naturally in pineapple, apple, banana, wine, brandy, and sake, where it is one of the principal esters of the fruity-fermented profile.
We source bulk Ethyl Caproate from top China manufacturers for our partners. The manufacturer is in Henan. A smaller requirement can ship in a combined container with other ingredients.
Please send the grade you need, the volume and your destination port, and we will come back with a solution and a price.
or call +86-21-6858 0751
- Packaging
- 250 kg plastic drum or 1,000 kg IBC tote
- ISO 9001
- HACCP
- Halal
- Kosher
Specifications
| Item | Specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear colourless mobile liquid, free from suspended matter |
| Odour | Sweet fruity brandy-like, with pineapple and green apple character |
| Assay (Ethyl Hexanoate, by GC) | ≥ 99.0% |
| Colour (APHA) | ≤ 15 |
| Specific Gravity (25/25 °C) | 0.867 – 0.871 |
| Refractive Index (20 °C) | 1.406 – 1.409 |
| Acid Value | ≤ 1.0 mg KOH/g |
| Free Hexanoic Acid | ≤ 0.2% |
| Water (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.1% |
| Residual Ethanol | ≤ 0.5% |
| Solubility (25 °C) | One volume dissolves in four volumes of 70% ethanol, clear |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Lead | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 1 mg/kg |
Common Markets Grades
Ethyl Caproate trades as a clear mobile liquid.
The standard flavour and fragrance grade is 99 percent assay (FCC, FEMA 2439) with low residual ethanol, hexanoic acid, and water disclosed on the certificate of analysis.
A high-purity grade at 99.5 percent or higher is produced for beverage and beer-flavouring work where any free hexanoic acid would tip the profile toward goaty notes.
A natural grade obtained by lipase-catalysed esterification of natural hexanoic acid with natural ethanol, or directly by yeast fermentation, is produced for clean-label beverage and confectionery applications.
Technical-grade material at 98 percent serves as a solvent and as a synthetic intermediate.
Applications
- Pineapple, apple, pear, and tropical-fruit flavour systems for soft drinks, juices, and sports beverages
- Wine, sake, beer, and brandy flavour reconstruction and lift
- Confectionery, gummies, and hard candy for fruity-fermented top notes
- Liquor and liqueur compounding for cognac, rum, and fruit-brandy profiles
- Bakery and pastry flavours for apple and pear fillings
- Yogurt and dairy-dessert flavours for orchard-fruit profiles
- Chewing gum flavours with a long-lasting fruity character
- Fragrance compounding for fruity-floral and gourmand accords
- Reconstitution of pineapple, apple, and brandy notes in natural perfumery
- Solvent in cellulose-based lacquers and certain specialty cleaners
- Synthetic intermediate for specialty esters used in cosmetic emollients
China Manufacturers of Ethyl Caproate
Top Ethyl Caproate manufacturers in China.
Company names and logos are the property of the manufacturers themselves. They are listed here because our own directory records them as producing this ingredient. A listing is not an endorsement by them, and we do not represent them or speak on their behalf.
How We Help Source Ethyl Caproate
Direct Factory Sourcing
We run the whole process: selecting the manufacturer from the top Chinese food ingredient producers, negotiating the price, verifying quality, and coordinating the logistics. You deal with us instead of with several factories at once.
Original Packaging and Documents from the Manufacturer
The manufacturer sends your Ethyl Caproate out of its own factory in the original packing, through to your destination port. The COA, COO, MSDS, TDS and any certifications reach you from the manufacturer as well.
Free Samples and Lead Time
We send 100 to 500 g free for your own laboratory to test and you cover only the courier, usually within 2 to 3 working days. ETD is usually within 7 to 15 days once the order is confirmed, and we check that date against the factory's own manufacturing schedule before we give it to you.
Combined Shipment
We can load Ethyl Caproate together with other ingredients such as Capsicum Oleoresin, Ethyl Maltol and White Pepper into one 20' FCL. If your quantity is small, we can also ship LCL.
Regulatory Status
Ethyl Caproate is approved as a flavouring substance and fragrance ingredient in the major regulated markets.
In the United States it is FEMA 2439 and GRAS by FEMA. The FDA permits it under 21 CFR 172.515 for direct addition to food as a synthetic flavouring substance and lists it on the 21 CFR 182.60 GRAS list.
In the European Union it carries FL number 09.063 on the Union list of flavouring substances. JECFA has cleared it within the group of saturated aliphatic ester flavouring substances.
The compound is registered under REACH, listed on TSCA, and sold with Halal and Kosher certifications from most producers.
It is not classified as a fragrance allergen under the EU Cosmetics Regulation, but suppliers carry full SDS coverage for its flammability and skin-irritation potential in concentrated form.
Manufacturing Process
The principal synthetic route is the Fischer esterification of n-hexanoic acid (caproic acid) with ethanol under sulphuric acid or solid-acid catalysis. Water is removed by azeotropic distillation to push the equilibrium toward the ester.
The crude product is washed with dilute sodium carbonate, dried, and then rectified under reduced pressure to remove residual acid, water, and ethanol.
A continuous fixed-bed route using a strong-acid ion-exchange resin is increasingly used to give a cleaner sensory profile and easier downstream cleanup.
Natural-source supply is produced by lipase-catalysed esterification of natural hexanoic acid with natural ethanol, or by direct yeast fermentation, where engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains express alcohol acyltransferase enzymes that build the ester from sugar feedstock. Both routes qualify for natural-flavour labelling in the United States and the European Union.
