Ethyl Propionate
Ethyl Propionate is a colourless, low-viscosity liquid with a sweet, fruity, pineapple- and rum-like aroma.
The molecule has the formula C₅H₁₀O₂ and is the ethyl ester of propionic acid. It occurs naturally at trace levels in pineapple, kiwi, banana, and several fermented beverages.
We source bulk Ethyl Propionate 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 |
| Odour | Sweet fruity, pineapple and rum-like |
| Assay (Ethyl Propionate, by GC) | ≥ 99.0% |
| Colour (APHA) | ≤ 10 |
| Specific Gravity (25/25 °C) | 0.883 – 0.888 |
| Refractive Index (20 °C) | 1.383 – 1.386 |
| Boiling Range | 97 – 101 °C |
| Acid Value | ≤ 1.0 mg KOH/g |
| Free Propionic Acid | ≤ 0.15% |
| Water (Karl Fischer) | ≤ 0.1% |
| Residual Ethanol | ≤ 0.5% |
| Solubility (25 °C) | One volume dissolves in three volumes of 60% ethanol, clear |
| Heavy Metals (as Pb) | ≤ 10 mg/kg |
| Lead | ≤ 2 mg/kg |
| Arsenic | ≤ 1 mg/kg |
Common Markets Grades
Ethyl Propionate is a clear mobile liquid.
The standard flavour and fragrance grade is 99 percent assay (FCC, FEMA 2456) with low residual ethanol, propionic acid, and water disclosed on the certificate of analysis.
A high-purity grade at 99.5 percent or higher is produced for beverage and confectionery flavour work, where any free propionic acid would shift the profile toward sour or cheesy notes.
A natural grade obtained by lipase-catalysed esterification of natural propionic acid with natural ethanol is produced for clean-label flavour applications.
Technical-grade material at 98 percent sells as a fast-evaporating solvent and as a synthetic intermediate.
Applications
- Pineapple, kiwi, apple, and tropical-fruit flavour systems for soft drinks, juices, and sports beverages
- Rum, brandy, and cocktail flavour compounding
- Confectionery, gummies, and hard candy for fresh fruity top notes
- Chewing gum flavours with quick, juicy lift
- Bakery and pastry flavours for tropical-fruit and rum-soaked fillings
- Yogurt and dairy-dessert flavours for kiwi and pineapple profiles
- Fragrance compounding for fruity-floral and gourmand accords
- Reconstitution of pineapple and apple notes in natural perfumery
- Fast-evaporating solvent in automotive coatings and refinish lacquers as a replacement for methyl ethyl ketone
- Solvent for cellulose nitrate and certain inks
- Synthetic intermediate for specialty esters and pharmaceutical building blocks
China Manufacturers of Ethyl Propionate
Top Ethyl Propionate 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 Propionate
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 Propionate 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 Propionate 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 Propionate is approved as a flavouring substance and as a coating solvent in the major regulated markets.
In the United States it is FEMA 2456 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. The EPA exempted it from VOC regulation in 2004, which made it a preferred solvent for low-VOC automotive coatings.
In the European Union it carries FL number 09.024 on the Union list of flavouring substances. JECFA has cleared it within the saturated aliphatic ester group.
It 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. SDS coverage addresses its high flammability and mild eye-irritation potential in concentrated form.
Manufacturing Process
The principal industrial route is the Fischer esterification of propionic acid with ethanol under sulphuric acid catalysis. Water is removed continuously to push conversion, and the crude ester is washed with dilute base, dried, and rectified to specification.
A continuous fixed-bed alternative uses a strong-acid ion-exchange resin as a heterogeneous catalyst, which gives a cleaner sensory profile and easier downstream cleanup.
Reactive distillation is increasingly used for large-scale solvent-grade production, since it combines reaction and separation in a single column and lowers both capital and energy demand.
Natural-source supply is produced by lipase-catalysed esterification of natural propionic acid with natural ethanol. Engineered fermentation routes that build the ester directly from sugar feedstock are also moving into commercial production.
