Quick Search
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is an aromatic alcohol with the formula C7H8O, occurring naturally in many plants and essential oils, and also synthetically produced from toluene.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in the food industry as a flavoring solvent and carrier for flavourings used in liqueurs, flavored wines, alcoholic beverages, confectionery, and fine bakery products.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is also widely used as a bacteriostatic preservative, solvent, and fragrance ingredient in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications including paints, lacquers, epoxy resins, and dyes.
CAS Number: 100-51-6
EC Number: 202-859-9
Molecular Formula: C7H8O
Molecular Weight: 108.14 g/mol
Synonyms: Benzyl Alcohol, E1519, INS 1519, Benzenemethanol, Phenylmethanol, Phenylcarbinol, Phenylmethyl Alcohol, BnOH, PhCH2OH, α-Hydroxytoluene, α-Toluenol, Benzyl Hydroxide, Benzoyl Alcohol, Benzenemethanol, alpha-Hydroxyphenylmethane, FEMA 2137
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is a colorless, slightly oily and viscous liquid with a mild pleasant aromatic odor and a slightly bitter, numbing taste, and with a floral, rose, phenolic, balsamic, sweet, and fruity aroma character.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has moderate solubility in water of approximately 4.29 g/100 mL at 25 degrees C, and is miscible with ethanol, diethyl ether, benzene, methanol, chloroform, and acetone.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is produced industrially primarily from toluene via benzyl chloride, which is hydrolyzed in the presence of sodium or potassium carbonate, or alternatively by hydrogenation of benzaldehyde.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) occurs naturally in many plants and is commonly found in fruits such as apricot, apple, raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry, in teas, and in essential oils including jasmine, hyacinth, ylang-ylang, rose, tuberose, violet, and orris.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is authorized in the EU as food additive E1519 as a carrier and solvent for flavourings, and is permitted as a flavouring carrier in ready-to-eat food in quantities up to 100 mg/kg.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) was re-evaluated by the European Union's Scientific Panel on Food Additives and Flavourings in 2019, which established an ADI of 4 mg/kg body weight per day and confirmed that exposure at reported use levels does not raise safety concerns.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is one of the allergens regulated in Europe in cosmetic products and must be declared on labels when present above certain thresholds.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is authorized in organic farming and is classified as halal, as it does not originate from haram sources.
Uses of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used as a flavoring solvent and carrier in the production of flavourings for liqueurs, flavored wines, wine-based flavored beverages, flavored cocktails, chocolates, confectionery, and fine bakery products.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in alcoholic beverages, bakery products, candies, desserts, and dairy products as a flavoring ingredient.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used as a bacteriostatic preservative at low concentration in intravenous medications, cosmetics, and topical drugs, typically at a concentration of 0.9% in multidose protein formulations and 0.5% to 2% in cosmetic formulations.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used as a general solvent for inks, waxes, shellacs, paints, lacquers, and epoxy resin coatings, and in paint strippers when combined with viscosity enhancers.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in cosmetics and personal care products as a fragrance component, preservative, solvent, viscosity-decreasing agent, and perfume fixative in perfumes, facial cleansers, skin care products, sun cream, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, hairspray, hair dye, and toothpaste.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in pharmaceuticals as a solvent for injections, a preservative for ointments, a local anesthetic ingredient, and as an antimicrobial agent in parenteral preparations and water used to flush intravascular catheters.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used as a 5% solution (approved by the US FDA in 2009) for the treatment of head lice in people 6 months of age and older.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used as a dye solvent to enhance the dyeing of wool, nylon, polyamides, polyesters, and leather.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in the construction industry as a solvent for epoxy resins and epoxy coatings, as a plasticizer, stabilizer, and cleaning agent for preparing surfaces before coating.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in the cleaning industry as a solvent and disinfectant to dissolve dirt, grease, oils, and other contaminants, and to clean medical equipment and surfaces in hospitals and laboratories.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in agriculture as a solvent for pesticides and fertilizers, a preservative for agrochemicals, and as an antimicrobial agent and solvent in the production of animal feed supplements.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in the energy sector as a solvent in the photovoltaic industry, an anti-corrosion agent for systems, and in lubricant formulations as a solvent for lubricant additives and a viscosity modifier.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in the rubber and caoutchouc industry as a plasticizer, solvent for vulcanization accelerators, and processing aid.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used as a starting material for the preparation of numerous benzyl esters used as odorants, flavors, stabilizers for volatile perfumes, and plasticizers such as benzyl benzoate, benzyl salicylate, benzyl cinnamate, and benzyl butyl phthalate.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in color photography as a development accelerator, in microscopy as embedding material, in ballpoint pen oil production, and in the dielectrophoretic reconfiguration of nanowires.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is used in the extractive distillation of m- and p-xylenes and m- and p-cresols, and in Grignard and Cannizzaro reactions as a laboratory chemical.
Benefits or Advantages of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has antimicrobial and fungistatic properties that extend the shelf life of food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products by preventing the growth of bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has a low vapor pressure and polarity that make it an effective and versatile solvent across a wide range of industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical formulations.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has a mild, pleasant aromatic odor that contributes as a fragrance ingredient and flavor solvent without strongly altering the sensory profile of the final product.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is authorized in organic farming and is suitable for use in halal-certified products, expanding its range of application in regulated markets.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is a naturally occurring compound in many fruits and essential oils, providing a plant-based sourcing option alongside synthetic production routes.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has local anesthetic properties, reducing pain at injection sites when used in pharmaceutical intramuscular preparations.
Features of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is a colorless, clear, slightly oily, and viscous liquid with a mild pleasant aromatic floral odor and a slightly pungent, sweet, bitter taste.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has a specific gravity of 1.042 to 1.047 at 25 degrees C, a refractive index of 1.538 to 1.541 at 20 degrees C, and a viscosity of 5.474 cP.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has a boiling point of approximately 204 to 206 degrees C, a melting point of approximately -15 degrees C, and a flash point of approximately 93.9 to 101 degrees C.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is effective as a preservative in cosmetics at pH below 5.5, and is used at concentrations of 0.5% to 2% in personal care products.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) can be slowly oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to benzaldehyde and subsequently to benzoic acid, which is why it should not be stored for prolonged periods under air exposure.
Chemical Properties of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is an aromatic primary alcohol consisting of benzene bearing a single hydroxymethyl substituent, with the structural formula C6H5CH2OH.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) reacts with carboxylic acids to form esters, with acrylonitrile in a Ritter reaction to give N-benzylacrylamide, and can spontaneously polymerize under acid catalysts in an exothermic dehydration reaction.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is metabolized in the body by oxidation to benzaldehyde and then to benzoic acid, which after conjugation with glycine is rapidly eliminated as hippuric acid in the urine.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) can be esterified to produce important fragrance and flavor materials, and reacts with benzene in a Friedel-Crafts reaction to produce diphenylmethane.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) has a LogP of approximately 1.05 to 1.10, a pKa of approximately 14.36 to 15.40, a dielectric constant of 13.1, a surface tension of 39.2 mN/m at 293.15 K, and an explosive limit of 1.3 to 13% (V).
Production and Chemical Reactions of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is produced industrially primarily by the thermal or photochemical chlorination of toluene at 65 to 100 degrees C to form benzyl chloride, followed by hydrolysis with sodium or potassium carbonate.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) can also be produced by hydrogenation and reduction of benzaldehyde, which is itself a byproduct of toluene oxidation to benzoic acid.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) laboratory synthesis routes include the Grignard reaction of phenylmagnesium bromide with formaldehyde and the Cannizzaro reaction of benzaldehyde in the presence of sodium hydroxide.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) quality control checks parameters such as purity (not less than 98.0%), benzaldehyde content (not more than 0.2% v/v as benzaldehyde), acid value (not more than 0.5), chloride content (not more than 0.005%), specific gravity (1.042 to 1.047), refractive index (1.538 to 1.541), and lead content (not more than 2 mg/kg).
Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Handling of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) should be handled in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practices.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) handling requires avoiding contact with eyes, skin, and clothing, and avoiding breathing mist, vapors, or aerosols.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) should be kept away from heat, ignition sources, and incompatible materials, and containers must be kept tightly closed when not in use.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) handling requires washing hands thoroughly after handling and not eating, drinking, or smoking while using the product.
SDS of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Stability and Reactivity of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Chemical stability:
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is stable under recommended storage and handling conditions.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) may be slowly oxidized by atmospheric oxygen to benzaldehyde and benzoic acid on prolonged air exposure.
Reactivity:
No dangerous reaction is expected under normal conditions of use.
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) may react with strong oxidizing agents, strong acids, strong bases, and acid anhydrides.
Conditions to avoid:
Excessive heat.
Open flames and ignition sources.
Direct sunlight.
Prolonged air exposure.
Contamination with incompatible chemicals.
Incompatible materials:
Strong oxidizing agents.
Strong acids.
Strong bases.
Acid anhydrides.
Concentrated hydrogen peroxide.
Hazardous decomposition products:
Carbon monoxide (CO).
Carbon dioxide (CO2).
Benzaldehyde vapors.
Irritating organic fumes.
Handling and Storage of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Handling:
Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practices.
Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing.
Avoid breathing mist, vapors, or aerosols.
Storage:
Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area.
Store at +2 degrees C to +25 degrees C.
Keep container tightly closed when not in use.
Protect from heat, direct sunlight, air exposure, and incompatible materials.
First Aid Measures of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Inhalation:
Move person to fresh air.
If breathing difficulty or irritation occurs, seek medical attention.
Skin contact:
Wash affected area with soap and plenty of water.
Remove contaminated clothing if necessary.
Seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Eye contact:
Rinse cautiously with clean water for several minutes.
Remove contact lenses if present and easy to do.
Continue rinsing and seek medical attention if irritation persists.
Ingestion:
Rinse mouth with water.
Do not induce vomiting unless instructed by medical personnel.
Seek medical attention if discomfort occurs.
Notes for physician:
Treat symptomatically.
No specific antidote is required.
Firefighting Measures of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Suitable extinguishing media:
Water spray.
Foam.
Dry chemical powder.
Carbon dioxide (CO2).
Specific hazards:
Benzyl Alcohol (E1519) is a combustible liquid with a flash point of approximately 93 to 101 degrees C.
Combustion may produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, benzaldehyde vapors, and irritating organic fumes.
Protective equipment for firefighters:
Wear self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
Wear full protective clothing during firefighting operations.
Firefighting instructions:
Cool containers exposed to fire with water spray.
Prevent contaminated firefighting water from entering drains or waterways.
Accidental Release Measures of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Personal precautions:
Avoid contact with eyes and skin.
Avoid breathing vapors or mist.
Remove ignition sources.
Use appropriate personal protective equipment.
Environmental precautions:
Prevent material from entering drains, soil, surface water, or waterways.
Cleanup methods:
Absorb with inert material such as sand, earth, or vermiculite.
Collect into suitable labeled containers for disposal.
Clean the contaminated area with water and detergent.
Exposure Controls / Personal Protective Equipment of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Engineering controls:
Use adequate ventilation, especially where mist or vapor may be generated.
Respiratory protection:
Not normally required under standard handling conditions with adequate ventilation.
Use suitable respiratory protection if ventilation is insufficient.
Eye protection:
Wear safety glasses or chemical splash goggles.
Skin protection:
Wear chemical-resistant gloves and protective clothing.
Hygiene measures:
Wash hands after handling and before eating, drinking, or smoking.
Remove contaminated clothing and wash before reuse.
Identifiers of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
E Number: E1519
INS Number: 1519
CAS No.: 100-51-6
EC No.: 202-859-9
FEMA Number: 2137
UNII: LKG8494WBH
RTECS Number: DN3150000
JECFA Number: 25
ECHA InfoCard: 100.002.600
CompTox Dashboard (EPA): DTXSID5020152
MDL Number: MFCD00004599
InChIKey: WVDDGKGOMKODPV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES: C1=CC=C(C=C1)CO
Function: Flavouring carrier, solvent, preservative, fragrance ingredient, local anesthetic, antimicrobial agent
Properties of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Physical state: Liquid
Appearance: Clear, colorless, slightly oily liquid
Odor: Mild, pleasant, slightly aromatic; floral, rose, phenolic, balsamic, sweet, fruity
Taste: Slightly bitter, numbing, pungent
Color: APHA ≤20
Density: 1.044 to 1.045 g/cm3 at 25 degrees C
Specific gravity (25°C/25°C): 1.042 to 1.047
Melting point: Approximately -15 degrees C
Boiling point: Approximately 204 to 206 degrees C
Distillation range: Not less than 95% v/v distils between 202 and 208 degrees C
Flash point: Approximately 93.9 to 101 degrees C (closed cup)
Vapor pressure: 0.18 kPa at 60 degrees C; 2.7 Pa at 20 degrees C; 13.3 mmHg at 100 degrees C
Vapor density: 3.7 (vs air)
Refractive index: n20/D 1.538 to 1.541
Viscosity: 5.474 cP
Solubility in water: 3.50 to 4.29 g/100 mL at 20 to 25 degrees C
Solubility in organic solvents: Miscible with benzene, methanol, chloroform, ethanol, ether, acetone
LogP: 1.03 to 1.10
pKa: 14.36 to 15.40 (predicted)
Dielectric constant: 13.1 at 20 degrees C
Surface tension: 39.2 mN/m at 293.15 K
Explosive limits: 1.3 to 13% (V)
Self-ignition temperature: 435 degrees C
Specifications of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Chemical name: Benzyl Alcohol (Phenylmethanol)
Assay: Not less than 98.0%
Appearance: Clear, colorless, oily liquid
Benzaldehyde content: Not more than 0.2% v/v (as benzaldehyde), max 200 to 250 ppm
Acid value: Not more than 0.5
Chloride content: Not more than 0.005%
Specific gravity (20°C): 1.043 to 1.048
Refractive index (20°C): 1.538 to 1.541
Water content: Not more than 0.1%
Residue on evaporation: Not more than 0.1%
Lead (Pb): Not more than 2 mg/kg
Color (Hazen): Not more than 10
ADI: 4 mg/kg body weight per day (established by EFSA 2019)
Maximum permitted level in ready-to-eat food: 100 mg/kg
Storage conditions: Store at +2 to +25 degrees C in tightly closed containers protected from air and light
Names of Benzyl Alcohol (E1519):
Benzyl Alcohol
E1519
INS 1519
Benzenemethanol
Phenylmethanol
Phenylcarbinol
Phenylmethyl Alcohol
BnOH
PhCH2OH
α-Hydroxytoluene
α-Toluenol
Benzyl Hydroxide
Benzoyl Alcohol
alpha-Hydroxyphenylmethane
FEMA 2137
