| HS Code | 155948 |
| Chemical Name | Isopropyl Alcohol |
| Chemical Formula | C3H8O |
| Cas Number | 67-63-0 |
| Concentration | 99% |
| Grade | Technical Grade |
| Container Type | 275 Gallon IBC Tote |
| Appearance | Clear colorless liquid |
| Odor | Sharp, alcohol-like |
| Boiling Point | 82.5°C (180.5°F) |
| Flash Point | 12°C (53.6°F) closed cup |
| Specific Gravity | 0.785 at 20°C |
| Solubility | Miscible in water |
As an accredited Isopropyl Alcohol 99% (Isopropanol) Tech Grade - 275 Gallon IBC Tote factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | 275-gallon IBC tote of Isopropyl Alcohol 99% Tech Grade, packaged in a durable plastic container with steel cage and dispensing valve. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL loaded with 275-gallon IBC totes of Isopropyl Alcohol 99%, secured and segregated for safe transport. |
| Shipping | Isopropyl Alcohol 99% is a flammable liquid (UN1219, Class 3) shipped in a 275-gallon IBC tote. Transport requires hazmat-qualified ground freight only; air, rail, and standard parcel services are prohibited. Proper placarding, shipping papers, and secure upright loading are mandatory. Delivery appointments and liftgate or offloading equipment may be needed. |
| Storage | Store Isopropyl Alcohol 99% in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat, sparks, and open flames. Keep the 275-gallon IBC tote tightly closed, grounded, and upright. Protect from direct sunlight and incompatible materials like oxidizers. Inspect regularly for leaks or damage. Ensure secondary containment and approved fire suppression are available. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 2–3 years when stored sealed, cool, dry, and away from ignition sources. |
The 275-gallon IBC tote of 99% isopropanol technical grade is typically staged in a solvent-dispensing room with Class I Division 2 electrical classification and connected through a stainless steel pressure system to point-of-use containers. Before release to production, each tote is sampled and verified against ASTM D770-11(2019) limits for water content, acidity, and nonvolatile residue. In printed circuit board assembly and fiber-optic connector production, 99% IPA is applied with low-lint polyester or hydroentangled nonwoven wipes to remove uncured solder paste, dust, fingerprint oils, and light hydrocarbon films. The 1 wt% maximum water content is critical because dissolved ion residue after evaporation is measured per IPC-TM-650 Method 2.3.28 and must remain below 1.5 µg NaCl/cm² on bare boards. A typical manual wipe procedure saturates the wipe, wipes in one direction from clean to dirty, and immediately follows with a dry wipe before the solvent film evaporates. On optical end faces, inspection at 200× magnification confirms no residual streaking. The solvent is not suitable for reflowed rosin flux residues because polymerized rosin has limited solubility in isopropanol at room temperature, and more aggressive flux removers or saponifier processes are required. Polycarbonate covers, acrylic lenses, and polymethyl methacrylate light guides require compatibility checks per ASTM D543-21 before immersion or prolonged contact because 99% IPA can induce environmental stress cracking at molded-in or machined edges.
Press-side adjustment of solvent-based flexographic and gravure inks with 99% IPA is performed only after the ink manufacturer’s viscosity/dilution curve is verified with a #2 Zahn cup per ASTM D4212-16. A solvent-flexo ink formulated with 25 wt% nitrocellulose or polyvinyl butyral resin and 18–22 wt% solids may drift above 25 s because of evaporation from open ink pans, at which point 99% IPA is added in 1 wt% increments based on press-ready mass. The addition is made into the ink return line or slow-circulating mix tank rather than directly onto the deck, and viscosity is retested after 10 min of circulation because polyamide-rich ink systems can show time-dependent shear recovery. IPA changes viscosity more rapidly than n-propyl acetate or ethoxypropanol, and the lower boiling point 82.3 °C combined with a flash point of 12 °C requires explosion-proof ink cabinets and anilox wash-up stations. Excess addition beyond 8 wt% can drop solids below the critical value for color density and can cause tunneling in the anilox cells because the resin solution loses body. In gravure printing, 99% IPA is also used as a press-side letdown for vinyl and acrylic lacquers, but end-use coatings on food packaging require that residual solvent in the printed film be verified by gas chromatographic headspace analysis before roll stock is released. A production-scale limitation is that IPA has a higher surface tension than some glycol ether blends, so high-surface-energy films such as corona-treated BOPP may show different wetting when IPA is substituted; dyne level should be retested per ASTM D2578.
Two-component solventborne polyurethane and alkyd topcoats are reduced with 99% IPA when the formulation includes ketone-resistant resin systems and when flash-off time can be extended before force drying. The addition is made slowly under high-shear mixing in a closed mix head, and total letdown is normally held at 3–5 wt% for airless spray equipment with 0.011–0.015 in tip sizes. Spray viscosity is checked with a #4 Ford cup per ASTM D1200-10(2018); additions that reduce spray viscosity below 20 s frequently produce sagging on vertical metal cabinetry. The reason for the low addition threshold is not only VOC compliance but also the fast evaporation rate of IPA, which can cause surface skinning over a wet film that still contains solvent, leading to solvent popping in oven schedules above 60 °C. In production booths, the flash-off zone is extended by 3–5 min at 22–25 °C when IPA is substituted for n-butyl acetate. Applied film properties are then verified against ASTM D3359-23 for cross-hatch adhesion and ASTM D4541-22 for pull-off strength. In Europe, the use of IPA in decorative topcoats is governed by EU Directive 2004/42/EC product category VOC ceilings, and the high vapor pressure of IPA requires continuous solvent vapor monitoring if the spray booth recirculates air. Under high humidity above 70% RH, water absorption into the evaporating film can cause blushing; in such conditions a slower ester co-solvent must replace part of the IPA.
Esterification of acetic acid with 99% isopropanol produces isopropyl acetate in a fixed-bed reactor charged with a sulfonic acid ion-exchange resin such as Amberlyst 15. The feed stream is dried to 0.1 wt% water before entering the reactive distillation column because water shifts the equilibrium toward the reactants and reduces per-pass conversion. In the column, excess isopropanol is used at molar ratios of 1.2:1 to 1.5:1 relative to acetic acid, and the overhead is a ternary azeotrope of isopropyl acetate, isopropanol, and water that is condensed, decanted, and fed to a purification train. Product purity above 99.5 wt% is achieved by a finishing distillation step with a side draw; the recovered isopropanol stream is returned to the reactor. Technical-grade isopropanol with a water content above 1 wt% is generally not preferred for esterification because the increased water load reduces catalyst activity and increases reboiler energy demand. The resulting isopropyl acetate is used in gravure ink thinners, automotive refinish coatings, and urethane-grade cleaning solvents. Reactor materials are typically 316L stainless steel, and the esterification loop is blanketed with nitrogen to keep the system below the limiting oxygen concentration; safety interlocks are set at 25% of the lower flammable limit for isopropanol vapor.
Industrial surface disinfection with 99% isopropanol technical grade is normally carried out only after dilution to 70% v/v with purified water in a closed stainless steel blending vessel. The dilution is made by adding 70 L of 99% IPA to purified water and bringing the final volume to 100 L, followed by 30 min of mixing to dissipate the heat of mixing. The lower concentration is used because water is required to disrupt hydrogen bonding in microbial proteins; water also slows the evaporation of the alcohol from stainless steel surfaces so that the contact time required by the test method is achieved. A 70% v/v solution is tested under EN 1276:2019 for bactericidal activity with a contact time of 5 min at 20 °C, under dirty conditions using 0.3% bovine albumin as soil load. For yeasts and molds, EN 13624:2021 requires a 15 min contact time. For enveloped viruses, EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 is applied with a 1 min contact time; non-enveloped viruses may require longer exposure or a different active. A 99% IPA solution is not recognized as a stand-alone disinfectant under these standards because it can evaporate before the specified contact time on hot or porous surfaces. In production areas, the diluted solution is dispensed into HDPE trigger sprayers or saturated into nonwoven wipes, and the surface is physically wiped with overlapping strokes. The technical grade is not suitable for hand sanitizer drug products because USP/NF grade is required under 21 CFR 211 for pharmaceutical manufacturing; for food-contact surfaces, the formula must be reviewed against local regulatory registrations, and FDA 21 CFR 178.1010 may not apply unless the grade and formulation are listed for the intended use.
| Use concentration | Standard | Typical contact condition | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| 70% v/v aqueous | EN 1276:2019 | 5 min, 20 °C, dirty conditions | bactericidal |
| 70% v/v aqueous | EN 13624:2021 | 15 min, 20 °C | yeasticidal and fungicidal |
| 70% v/v aqueous | EN 14476:2013+A2:2019 | 1 min, 20 °C | virucidal against enveloped viruses |
| 99% as received | Not applicable | evaporation typically below 60 s on stainless steel at 25 °C | cleaning only, not disinfection |
Structural bond preparation on sheet molding compound, aluminum, and cold-rolled steel begins with a 99% IPA wipe to remove light oils, silicone fingerprints, and mold release residues. The standard two-wipe method uses one wetted polypropylene nonwoven wipe followed by a second dry wipe before the solvent can re-deposit contaminants at the edge of the wipe zone. Work instructions set the open time at 10 min maximum after wiping because the cleaned surface is recontaminated by ambient oils and airborne release agents in pressing plants. For aluminum alloys, solvent wiping with IPA is a cleaning step only; mechanical abrasion or chemical etching is still required for durable, wedge crack-resistant bond lines. Adhesion performance is measured by ASTM D1002-10(2019) lap shear specimens prepared on the production line, and production batches are tested at the same time as process capability coupons. On sheet molding compound, IPA does not etch the substrate, and bond performance depends on the surface grit-blast profile and the absence of residual mold release; if a release agent contains heavy silicone oil, IPA alone may not remove the film, and a preceding aliphatic hydrocarbon wipe is necessary. The solvent is applied from a sealed dispensing bottle with a stainless steel tip to prevent moisture uptake from high-humidity prep areas. Because 99% IPA has a flash point of 12 °C, wiping stations in lamination cells are placed outside the 3 m radius of any open flame or electrostatic discharge source, and rags are collected in closed, grounded metal containers.
Fuel-system water control with isopropanol is limited to gasoline engines where the alcohol acts as a co-solvent to carry dissolved water through the fuel phase. Addition rates typically range from 0.5 L per 40 L of fuel when condensation is suspected, and the material is poured into a partially full tank before refueling to ensure mixing. Prolonged use at higher dose rates is not recommended because alcohol can accelerate elastomer swell in older fuel line materials.
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Isopropyl Alcohol 99% (Isopropanol) Technical Grade, supplied as a 275-gallon IBC tote, is a bulk-process solvent with CAS 67-63-0 and molecular formula C₃H₈O. The nominal assay is 99.0% by weight when tested against ASTM D770, and the product is a clear, water-white mobile liquid at 20 °C. A filled tote contains approximately 1,041 L; at a specific gravity of 0.785–0.789 at 20/20 °C, the net mass is approximately 817 kg. Physical properties relevant to process design include a boiling range of 81.3–83.0 °C at 101.3 kPa, a closed-cup flash point of 12 °C determined by ASTM D56, a vapor pressure of 4.4 kPa at 20 °C, and a published autoignition temperature of 399 °C. The vapor phase flammability limits in air are approximately 2.0% v/v lower and 12.7% v/v upper; the minimum ignition energy is approximately 0.65 mJ. The material is classified under UN 1219, Isopropyl alcohol, as Class 3, Packing Group II. The IBC assembly is typically marked UN 31HA1/Y, comprising a high-density polyethylene inner receptacle within a steel or composite outer frame, with a top fill boss and a bottom outlet valve. The product is not a pharmaceutical, food-contact, or electronic solvent; those grades require additional purification and lot-release documentation.
The distinction is primarily impurity profile and release-testing depth rather than the principal isopropanol assay. Technical grade produced to ASTM D770 allows a maximum water content of 0.5% by weight, acidity as acetic acid of 0.002% by weight, and nonvolatile residue of 5 mg/100 mL. The standard does not require trace-metal screening, particle counting, or UV transmittance testing. A USP/NF isopropanol monograph imposes additional identity and impurity controls relevant to pharmaceutical processing; ACS reagent-grade isopropanol is specified for UV absorbance, residue after evaporation, titratable acid, and water, making it appropriate for analytical or laboratory operations. Electronic-grade and low-metal IPA are filtered and controlled for ionic and particulate contamination, with lot-specific limits often below parts per billion for mobile ions and particle counts measured at 0.2 µm or smaller. The technical grade is not a drop-in replacement for those products in regulated or high-precision applications. In industrial settings, the technical grade is used where bulk package volume, controlled water, and cost per kilogram are more critical than trace-metal or optical purity. Compared with 70% isopropanol-water blends, the 99% material has a lower flash point and faster evaporation; a 70% v/v aqueous blend is often preferred where extended wet contact time for biological soils is required.
| Parameter | Technical Grade 99% | USP/NF | ACS Reagent | Electronic/Low-Metal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water | 0.5% max by weight | monograph limit | reagent-specific | controlled lower |
| Acidity as acetic acid | 0.002% max | monograph limit | reagent-specific | controlled |
| Nonvolatile residue | 5 mg/100 mL max | monograph limit | reagent-specific | controlled |
| Trace metals | not routinely specified | controlled for heavy metals | controlled | parts-per-billion or lower |
| UV transmittance | not specified | specified by monograph | specified by wavelength | not relevant |
| Particle count | not specified | not specified | not specified | 0.2 µm and smaller |
Bulk transfer from a 275-gallon IBC to a process reservoir is usually performed with a sealless centrifugal pump or a diaphragm pump fitted with conductive PTFE, stainless steel, or compatible elastomer internals. The bottom outlet is commonly a 2-inch ball valve with camlock or NPT adaptor; top transfer through a dip tube is used where site flammable-liquid policy prohibits bottom discharge. Bonding and grounding of the IBC, pump, and receiving tank should be verified to below 1 megohm in accordance with NFPA 77 before transfer. The receiving tank should be vented and may require a flame arrestor; connection points should be closed to atmosphere except for controlled venting. Nitrogen or dry air padding must remain within the IBC manufacturer’s maximum working pressure; composite IBCs are vented packages and are not pressure vessels, so positive pressure above the marked vent setting can deform the inner bottle. The product is hygroscopic; in an open or continuously vented system, prolonged exposure to relative humidity above 60% can increase water content. For moisture-sensitive applications such as urethane prepolymer thinning or water-reactive surface preparation, closed-loop transfer with dry-pad gas and water-content verification by ASTM E203 is recommended. Published data for water uptake rates in open transfer configurations is limited; closed-loop sampling is recommended for critical operations.
In production cleaning, 99% technical isopropanol is metered into wash tanks, ultrasonic baths, and wipe stations for removal of rosin flux, cutting oils, silicone residues, and uncured epoxy or polyester resins. The solvent is applied neat or blended with deionized water in grounded stainless-steel or HDPE mix tanks. A 40-kHz ultrasonic tank with stainless steel parts baskets is typical for small metal and glass components; high vapor output requires local exhaust ventilation and covers when idle. Solvency is governed by Hansen solubility parameters of approximately δD 15.8 MPa0.5, δP 6.1 MPa0.5, and δH 16.4 MPa0.5. These values make isopropanol effective for uncured epoxies, rosin esters, and light oils, but it will not dissolve high-density polyolefins, fluoropolymers, or crosslinked thermoset coatings. In flexographic and gravure printing, 99% IPA is used to clean anilox rolls, doctor blades, and plate surfaces; wash-up systems must be explosion-proof because the liquid is a Class 3 flammable liquid. The rapid evaporation of 99% IPA reduces dry time on metering surfaces after wash-up compared with water-rich blends. On metal substrates before adhesive bonding or coating, final wiping with 99% IPA removes processing films; however, the technical grade should be qualified for nonvolatile residue if the bonding process is sensitive to ionic contamination.
Material compatibility limits are significant. Continuous contact with polycarbonate and acrylic can produce environmental stress cracking in molded parts under residual stress; PMMA and some ABS grades are similarly sensitive. Polymer components in transfer systems should be limited to PTFE, EPDM, nitrile, or polypropylene after soaking validation under ISO 1817. Natural rubber and many flexible PVC compounds are not recommended due to swelling and extractables. The product is not a substitute for chlorinated vapor degreasing solvents in conventional vapor degreasers because the vapor is flammable and the equipment may not be designed for explosion-proof operation; only equipment rated for flammable-liquid service should be used. For removing fully cured powder coatings, crosslinked epoxies, or heavy carbonized soils, mechanical or high-temperature alkaline cleaning is required; isopropanol alone provides no significant dissolution of cured thermoset films. In aqueous dilution, a 70% v/v isopropanol-water blend has a closed-cup flash point near 21 °C, higher than the 12 °C flash point of the 99% material, but the blended liquid may still be classified as a flammable liquid under many regulatory frameworks.
Process heating of IPA baths should be restricted to the lowest useful temperature. For ultrasonic degreasing, bath temperatures of 35–40 °C are common, but local vapor concentration at the liquid surface can exceed 10% of the lower explosive limit without extraction. Continuous ventilation or vapor monitoring is required when open tanks are heated. Filtration through 10 µm or finer cartridges removes insoluble particulates but does not remove dissolved nonvolatile residue; evaporating a sample in a tared dish per ASTM D1353 remains the control for residue.
Storage should comply with NFPA 30 and OSHA 29 CFR 1910.106 for flammable liquids. The IBC should be placed in a dedicated flammable-liquid storage area with continuous mechanical ventilation designed to maintain vapor concentrations below 10% of the lower explosive limit (2.0% v/v). Secondary containment is commonly sized for 110% of the largest container under many fire codes and spill-control practices; the containment should be compatible with isopropanol and protected from direct sunlight. Ambient storage temperatures below 30 °C are common to limit vapor pressure, though the supplier SDS and local code may allow higher short-term exposure. All conductive equipment, including the IBC frame, transfer piping, pump, and receiving tank, should be bonded and grounded per NFPA 77. Static-protective footwear and conductive hoses are required where transfer velocity and filter housings may generate static accumulation. Ignition sources should be excluded within the hazardous area defined by NFPA 30. Electrical equipment in storage and dispensing zones should meet NFPA 70 hazardous-location classification for Class I, Division 2 or zone equivalent. Because the minimum ignition energy of isopropanol is approximately 0.65 mJ, a static discharge not perceptible to personnel may ignite vapor. Spill response should include alcohol-resistant foam, dry chemical, or carbon dioxide; water fog may cool containers but is not a primary extinguishing agent. Absorbent materials should be grounded and disposed of in closed metal waste containers.
| Property or Classification | Value | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Flash point | 12 °C | ASTM D56 |
| Lower explosive limit | 2.0% v/v | published safety data |
| Upper explosive limit | 12.7% v/v | published safety data |
| Minimum ignition energy | 0.65 mJ | published safety data |
| Autoignition temperature | 399 °C | published safety data |
| UN number | UN 1219 | 49 CFR 172.101 |
| Hazard class / packing group | Class 3, Packing Group II | 49 CFR 172.101 |
| IBC packaging designation | UN 31HA1/Y | UN packaging provisions |
| NFPA 704 | Health 1, Flammability 3, Instability 0 | NFPA 704 |
Release documentation for a 275-gallon IBC of technical isopropanol customarily includes assay, water content, specific gravity, distillation range, acidity, and nonvolatile residue. The values should be compared with ASTM D770 and the supplier certificate of analysis; methods commonly include ASTM D4052 for density, ASTM E203 for Karl Fischer water content, ASTM D1613 for acidity, ASTM D1353 for nonvolatile residue, and ASTM D1209 for Pt-Co color. If the product is blended into aqueous cleaning media, the blend ratio should be verified by density or refractive index; 99% isopropanol at 20 °C has a refractive index of 1.3772. Technical-grade certificates do not establish compliance with USP, ACS, FDA 21 CFR, or electronic-grade requirements; facilities using the product in regulated or moisture-critical processes must maintain their own receiving inspection and validation data. The absence of trace-metal, UV transmittance, or particle counts on a technical-grade certificate is normal for this grade and should not be interpreted as nonconformance to ASTM D770.
