Distillation and dehydration
Ethanol is first purified through distillation, using heat to separate components of the mixture and achieve a high alcohol concentration. Further dehydration is then used to remove residual water and reach the purity required for anhydrous ethanol as standard distillation can only concentrate ethanol up to about 95.6%.
Molecular sieves
One of the common methods for producing absolute alcohol uses molecular sieves. Their porous structure selectively adsorbs water molecules from concentrated ethanol, helping remove water without introducing another separation agent into the final alcohol.
Azeotropic processes
Azeotropic distillation can also be employed to separate residual water from ethanol using an additional substance that changes the behaviour of the mixture during distillation. The appropriate production process depends on the required purity, end use, and technical specifications.
Chemical reactions and industrial applications
- Chemical synthesis and reactions
- Coatings, paints, inks, and lacquers
- Adhesives and resins
- Industrial cleaning and degreasing
- Carrier for liquid chromatography applications
- Extraction and processing
- Laboratory preparations
Pharmaceutical and personal care applications
- Formulation and production of medicines
- Cosmetics and personal care products
- Fragrances and perfumes
- Extraction of active ingredients
- Cleaning and processing applications
Fuel and technical applications
- Fuel blending and biofuel production
- Electronics and precision cleaning
- Sensitive machinery and components
- Technical solvents
- Manufacturing processes requiring dry ethanol
High purity
Absolute alcohol has a very high ethanol concentration, typically above 99%, making it suitable for applications where consistent purity is essential.
High flammability and volatility
Absolute alcohol is highly flammable and volatile, requiring careful handling, storage, and transport. Its vapours can form flammable mixtures with air, particularly near heat or ignition sources.
Strong solvent properties
Absolute alcohol can dissolve a wide range of compounds, making it a versatile solvent for chemical, laboratory, pharmaceutical, and industrial processes.
Broad applicability
Its combination of high purity and low water content makes absolute alcohol suitable for chemical reactions, industrial formulations, laboratory preparation, cleaning, fuel blending, and other technical applications.
Reach
REACH provides a framework for gathering and evaluating information on the properties, uses, and potential risks of various chemicals.
EcoVadis
Nedstar’s EcoVadis Silver Medal reflects its strong sustainability performance across environmental, ethical, labour, and responsible procurement practices.
USDA-NOP
Nedstar supplies USDA-certified organic products that comply with National Organic Program standards while promoting responsible agriculture, biodiversity, and ecological balance.
ISO 14001
We follow ISO 14001 standards to reduce environmental impact, improve resource efficiency and support enhanced operational performance.
IBC tote
Mid-sized shipments: our stackable IBC totes provide an efficient and reliable solution for transporting fusel alcohols.
ISO container
Bulk international shipments: ISO containers offer a secure and efficient option for transporting fusel oils across global supply chains.
Tanktruck
Large-volume deliveries: tank trucks provide an efficient solution for regional transport of fusel alcohols.
2G bioethanol
Produced from non-food biomass instead of conventional crops and sugars, second-generation bioethanol offers a renewable alternative for fuel, chemical, and industrial applications.
Extra neutral alcohol (ENA)
Extra neutral alcohol is a high-purity ethanol with a neutral sensory profile, suitable for beverages, cosmetics, fragrances, and pharmaceutical applications.
Denaturants
Denaturants are substances added to ethanol to make it harmful if consumed, while supporting its compliant use across industrial and non-food applications.