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What exactly is ethanol?

Ethanol is a colourless, highly flammable liquid that is simply called alcohol (the name of its chemical substance class) in the common language. Older terms are spirit of wine and spirit. In the laboratory language ethanol is often abbreviated by EtOH (molecular formula C₂H₆O). Ethanol is an important organic solvent, a basic chemical in the industry and a disinfectant. In the fields of medicine, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, too, ethanol is essential. A technical main application of ethanol is the use as biofuel (bioethanol). Ethanol is limitlessly mixable with many organic solvents, as well as with water.

Which are the fields of application of ethanol?

The fields of application are manifold. There hardly is any key industry in which ethanol is not used in any form. The most important applications are:

• Spirits & Food Industry
• Chemical & Technical Industry
• Pharmaceutical & Cosmetics Industry
• Disinfectants
• Fuel Additives
• Fuels and Solvents
• Generation of Energy (Brenercol)
• Dentrification*

*A dentrification is the biological method for the elimination of nitrogen compounds (e.g. nitrate or nitrite) in the water or waste water..

See as well: Products & Applications

How is ethanol produced?

Ethanol can either originate from regrowing, organic material due to fermentation of sugar from biomass or it can be produced by a chemical synthesis of fossil raw materials (mineral oil, ethylene). The latter case is often called synthetic ethanol. In contrast, ethanol derived from vegetable substances is called agricultural alcohol.

Which alcohol concentrations are available?

• 94% vol. methylated spirit
• 96% - 96,4% vol. azeotropic ethanol: drinking alcohol, technical alcohol
• 99,8% - 100% vol. absolute ethanol: medical-pharmaceutical quality

What is a denaturing?

Denaturing is the change of the natural odour or taste of a substance by the addition of auxiliary materials. It is the aim of the denaturing to
a) a) make the alcohol undrinkable for the human consumption (for the exemption of the alcohol and liquor tax),
b) b) make substances with little taste or odour identifiable and thus less dangerous (e.g. toxins and explosive materials like natural gas).

Which denaturants does BrüggemannAlcohol Heilbronn GmbH offer?

• MEK (methyl ethyl ketone)
• DEP (phtal acid diethyl ester)
• Cyclohexane
• Toluol
• Petroleum Ether
• IPA (Isopropanol)
• Tertiary Butanol
• Denatonium Benzoates
• Special denaturings according to customer’s wishes

Which denaturings can be obtained without a Customs Import Licence?

For commercial dealers the denaturings MEK, Cyclohexane and Toluol only require an indication of the application at the main customs office. For all other mentioned denaturings a Customs Import Licence is necessary. Besides the above mentioned standard denaturings BrüggemannAlcohol Heilbronn GmbH offers further innovative denaturings which can be obtained without a Customs Import Licence.

Where do I receive a Customs Import Licence?

You will receive a Customs Import Licence at the responsible main customs office which can give a respective user licence after examination. Hint: Always name your Customs Import Licence number on your request for quotation and the respective date of issue. This will accelerate and facilitate the proceeding!

When do I have to pay liquor tax?

In Germany the spirit sold by the Federal Monopoly Administration for Spirits underlies a liquor tax of 1303 Euros/hl of pure alcohol. The liquor tax is paid by the purchaser as part of the purchase price to the Monopoly Administration for Spirits and goes immediately to the German Federation.

Regarding spirit for medical-pharmaceutical purposes and for the production of cosmetic products there is the possibility to apply for a Customs Import Licence in order to purchase the respective alcohol without having to pay taxes. You can receive a Customs Import Licence at the responsible main customs office (compare previous question).

Hint: Check possibilities of denaturings. Do you have any questions? Get in contact with us!

Which transport containers does BrüggemannAlcohol offer?

For the packing we resort to a wide range of containers – from approved PE containers to Stainless Steel Containers:

• tank cars
• railway tanks
• 1000 litre containers
• 200 litre drums
• smaller containers (via cooperation partners)

What is the use of the “Monopoly Administration Law for Spirits”?

In Germany, the production of spirits is regulated amongst others by the Monopoly Administration Law for Spirits in combination with the distillery regulation. The corresponding wording of the law is located on the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice

What does the “Liquor tax law” regulate?

The liquor tax is an excise duty regulated by the federal law, whose revenue belongs to the German Federation and is managed by the German Customs Administration. The corresponding wording of the law is located on the website of the Federal Ministry of Justice.