Is ethyl acetate an optimum organic solvent for concentrating bacterial metabolites with low molecular weight?
Hi Arizaldo,
In the field of entomology, ethyl acetate is an effective asphyxiant for use in insect collecting and study. In a killing jar charged with ethyl acetate, the vapors will kill the collected insect quickly without destroying it. Because it is not hygroscopic, ethyl acetate also keeps the insect soft enough to allow proper mounting suitable for a collection.
The LD50 for rats is 5620 mg/kg, indicating low toxicity[citation needed]. Given that the chemical is naturally present in many organisms, there is little risk of toxicity.
Overexposure to ethyl acetate may cause irritation of the eyes, nose, & throat. Severe overexposure may cause weakness, drowsiness, & unconsciousness. Humans exposed to a concentration of 400 ppm in 1.4 mg/l ethyl acetate for a short time were affected by nose and throat irritation. Ethyl acetate is an irritant of the conjunctiva and mucous membrane of the respiratory tract. Animal experiments have shown that, at very high concentrations, the ester has /CNS depressant/ and lethal effects; at concentrations of 20000 to 43000 ppm, there may be pulmonary edema with hemorrhages, symptoms of central nervous system depression, secondary anemia and damage of the liver. In humans, concentrations of 400 ppm cause irritation of the nose and pharynx; cases have also been known of irritation of the conjunctiva with temporary opacity of the cornea. In rare cases exposure may cause sensitization of the mucous membrane and eruptions of the skin. The irritant effect of ethyl acetate is less strong than that of propyl acetate or butyl acetate. International Labour Office. Encyclopedia of Occupational Health and Safety. Vols. I&II. Geneva, Switzerland: International Labour Office, 1983., p. 782
Find in attachment, a paper on: Analytical characterization and structure elucidation of metabolites from Aspergillus ochraceus MP2 fungi
Ethyl acetate is using in the Extraction process
Dear Castro,
I think it's depend on your molecular properties. For something polar, you can use methanol or ethanol. for semi-polar : acetone, EA, or chloroform, for non-polar substance, you can use benzene.
Best regards
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