Alcohol – Specially Denatured Spirits (2024)

Federal Tax regulation of certain laboratory alcohols

Specially Denatured Spirits

Specially Denatured Spirits (SDS) are alcohol or rum which has been treated with denaturants to make it unfit for beverage use. SDS includes Specially Denatured Alcohol (SDA) and Specially Denatured Rum (SDR). An Industrial Alcohol User Permit is needed to procure, use, recover and/or deal in SDS.

Users and Recoverers of Specially Denatured Spirits

A user of SDS is anyone who purchases SDS to use in a process or in the manufacture of a substance, preparation or product. SDS has many uses, such as:

  • Inlaboratories as a solvent, for cleansing purposes or in the preparationof indicator solutions and reagents.
  • In the manufacture of such articles as perfumes, proprietary solvents, tobacco flavors, lotions and sprays.
  • In conversion processes to produce other substances, such as vinegar or ethylacetate.

A recoverer is anyone who reclaims or salvages SDS or articles (substances or preparations containing SDS) during or after the manufacturing process. Therecovered SDS may be used again as is (if still sufficiently denatured) or it may be reconditioned.

All users and recoverers of SDS must obtain an Industrial Alcohol User Permit.

If you use only small amounts of a SDS formula for laboratory purposes, consider using reagent alcohol instead of SDS. Reagent alcohol is an ethyl alcohol denatured with approximately 5% methyl alcohol and further denatured with 5 parts per hundred of isopropyl alcohol. It can be obtained from most laboratory supply companies and may be obtained without a permit.

If you obtain reagent alcohol in containers exceeding 4 liters, a letterhead application must be filed with the federal Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the US Department of Treasury.

Additional Resources

Alcohol – Specially Denatured Spirits (2024)

FAQs

Alcohol – Specially Denatured Spirits? ›

Specially Denatured Spirits (SDS) are alcohol or rum which has been treated with denaturants to make it unfit for beverage use.

What is specially denatured alcohol? ›

Specially Denatured Alcohol (SDA) is alcohol to which denaturing materials have been added. Manufacturers may use SDA in the manufacture of any product that is not intended for consumption.

Why can't you drink denatured alcohol? ›

Denatured alcohol is ethanol that's been mixed with toxic additives. Ethanol — also known as grain alcohol — is alcohol at its most basic. However, denatured alcohol is not fit for human consumption because of these additives and is instead used as a lower-cost solvent or fuel.

Is rubbing alcohol and denatured alcohol the same thing? ›

Answer and Explanation:

Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and denatured alcohol are not the same. They share some similarities, but have different chemical structures and have different uses. They are similar in that they can NOT be consumed by humans. They are both toxic if ingested.

What states have banned denatured alcohol? ›

The State of California has joined a couple other states and Canada in banning Denatured Alcohol this year.

Which is stronger denatured alcohol or isopropyl alcohol? ›

Even drinking small amounts can cause dizziness, nausea, confusion, blindness, coma, and even death. While both of these alcohols are toxic, denatured alcohol is a more potent poison because it contains other dangerous additives.

What is a substitute for denatured alcohol? ›

Use isopropyl alcohol in most of the same applications as denatured alcohol.

Where is denatured alcohol banned? ›

California. We're not going to get into the why of it—or for that matter, if the why even makes sense—but the California Air Resource board banned the sale of denatured alcohol around two years ago. Since then, many woodworkers have had to get creative in sourcing their favorite shellac solvent.

Is acetone the same as denatured alcohol? ›

While acetone is not the same as denatured alcohol, they are used in some of the same processes. Both solvents can be used in the production of plastics, cleaning, degreasing, and as an additive for fuel. While there is overlap some, there are industries or uses exclusive to either acetone or denatured alcohol.

Is denatured alcohol hazardous? ›

CLASSIFICATION: Flammable Liquid: Category 2 Skin Irritant: Category 2 Eye Irritant: Category 2A HAZARD STATEMENT(S): Danger: Highly flammable liquid and vapor Causes skin and serious eye irritation.

Is 70% isopropyl alcohol denatured alcohol? ›

While some online stores may market their products as “100% pure denatured isopropyl alcohol”, this is a misnomer. Pure isopropyl alcohol does not contain any denaturants.

Can you use denatured alcohol for cleaning? ›

Denatured alcohol is widely known for its anti-bacterial properties. This makes it an ideal cleaning agent. It can be used on a variety of hard surfaces, such as wood, plastic, and glass. Its capacity as a solvent also enables it to dissolve grease and stains, as well as remove light scratches from some surfaces.

Will denatured alcohol damage plastic? ›

When denatured alcohol evaporates, it leaves behind a residue that can affect the sensitive parts of a computer. Similarly, some of the other chemicals in denatured alcohol can be corrosive to plastics. Denatured alcohol can also be found in cosmetics, but most often it finds use as an industrial chemical.

Why did California stop selling denatured alcohol? ›

Actually, a more relevant question would be, “Why is the fact that denatured alcohol been banned in California been given so little media coverage?” Apparently the California Air Resources Board has determined it to be a toxic air pollutant.

Is Everclear denatured alcohol? ›

Everclear® and Culinary Solvent are both high-proof, undenatured, ethyl alcohol products used in various applications, from culinary endeavors to crafting homemade tinctures and extracts.

Is denatured alcohol toxic to dogs? ›

Products containing alcohol can be poisonous for your dog. Veterinarians define this as alcohol or ethanol poisoning. Dogs develop symptoms of toxicity at much lower doses than humans and extreme cases can be fatal.

What are examples of denatured alcohol? ›

The term 'denatured alcohol' refers to alcohol products adulterated with toxic and/or bad tasting additives (e.g., methanol, benzene, pyridine, castor oil, gasoline, isopropyl alcohol, and acetone), making it unsuitable for human consumption.

Are there different types of denatured alcohol? ›

5242). There are two types of denatured spirits: Completely denatured alcohol (C.D.A.) and specially denatured spirits (referred to as “S.D.S.” for purposes of this preamble). C.D.A.

What is the purpose of SD alcohol? ›

A specially denatured alcohol is a combination of ethanol and another chemical substance, e.g., ethyl acetate in SDA 29, 35, and 35A, added to render the mixture unsuitable for drinking. SDAs are often used in cosmetic products, and can also be used in chemical manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and solvents.

What is specially denatured alcohol 40 B? ›

Sd Alcohol 40 B

Specially denatured (SD) alcohol is a mixture of ethanol with a denaturing agent. Ethanol is considered broadly toxic and linked to birth defects following excessive oral ingestion.

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