Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
3,900,203,172 visitors served.
forum Join the Word of the Day Mailing List For webmasters
?
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

Fusel Oil
(redirected from Fusel alcohol)

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Wikipedia 0.01 sec.
fusel oil (fy`zəl), oily, colorless liquid with a disagreeable odor and taste. It is a mixture of alcohols (largely amyl alcohols) and fatty acids, formed during the alcoholic fermentation of organic materials. After imperfect distillation of these fermentation products it becomes an impurity in the distilled liquor. Fusel oil is used as a solvent in the manufacture of certain lacquers and enamels (it dissolves nitrocellulose). It has a detrimental effect on the human system.
fusel oil [′fyü·zəl ‚ȯil]
(materials)
A volatile, poisonous mixture of isoamyl, butyl, propyl, and heptyl alcohols produced as by-products in alcoholic fermentation of starches, grains, or fruits to produce ethyl alcohol.

Fusel Oil 

a by-product of ethyl alcohol fermentation. Ethyl alcohol may yield 0.4–0.6 percent fusel oil, with a density of 0.83–0.84 g/cm3 at 20°C. The fusel oil is in the form of a light yellow to dark reddish brown oily liquid with an unpleasant odor that irritates the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. In chemical composition fusel oil is a mixture of monohydric aliphatic alcohols, including isopentyl and isobutyl alcohols, with impurities of acids, aldehydes, and other compounds. Fusel oil is poisonous.

The mixture of amyl alcohols obtained from fusel oil is used in the production of amyl acetate, and the mixture of hexyl, heptyl, octyl, and nonyl alcohols is used in the preparation of fragrances.



Want to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit the webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Feedback
Mentioned in?  References in periodicals archive?   Encyclopedia browser?   Full browser?
No references found
 
Notable fusel alcohols, and unpleasant bitterness," Von Bair said.
 
 
 
Encyclopedia
?

Terms of Use | Privacy policy | Feedback | Advertise with Us | Copyright © 2012 Farlex, Inc.
Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.