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Exploring Diisopropyl Adipate (DIPA): Past, Present, and Prospects

Historical Development

Diisopropyl adipate traces its history back to the mid-twentieth century as a specialty ester made from adipic acid and isopropyl alcohol. People in the world of chemistry started looking for light, non-greasy emollients for skin care long before organic chemistry had gotten as sophisticated as it is today. DIPA answered the call for a stable, colorless liquid that could coat the skin lightly without clogging pores or leaving residue, useful at a time when consumers demanded both safety and pleasant skin feel. I remember reading about early cosmetic innovations and noticing how DIPA’s adoption followed advances in plastics, where adipate esters already found their place as safe alternatives to phthalates. Companies recognized DIPA’s low toxicity and performance in personal care products before synthetic alternatives with higher environmental impact moved in decades later. Early chemical engineering journals show how DIPA’s production methods, initially batch-based and energy-heavy, shifted toward safer, greener approaches that meet modern responsibility to workers and the wider environment.

Product Overview and Application

People want soft, fast-absorbing creams, so DIPA lands in commercial lotions, sunscreens, and deodorants pretty often. The substance shows up as a clear, nearly odorless liquid, and leaves skin with a silky finish. It dissolves both in oils and certain alcohols, making it appealing to formulators who want versatility. I’ve come across DIPA in some technical manuals on plasticizer alternatives—chemists use it to soften plastics without the downsides of older materials. You’ll see it mentioned in technical papers about biodegradable lubricants, where its high stability and low volatility reduce environmental stress from runoff. In cleaning products, DIPA provides mild solvency in glass or surface sprays, avoiding harshness. Over time, engineers started using it in more than skincare, for example in agrochemical delivery systems or photographic chemicals. Its broad set of uses speaks to how companies keep reaching for materials that work well and cause few headaches in manufacturing, storage, or end-use.

Physical & Chemical Properties

In daily work with chemical products, you pick up on the details that matter most. DIPA’s molecular formula reads as C12H22O4 and it comes with a molecular weight around 230 g/mol. The liquid runs clear, mostly colorless, with a faint smell people usually can't detect in finished products. Its boiling point lands well above 300°C, so it handles heat during industrial operations. The freezing point sinks down near -50°C, important for products meant for cold storage. DIPA dissolves in ethanol and most hydrocarbon-based solvents but resists mixing with water, typical for esters of its size. DIPA’s low viscosity at room temperature favors blending and pouring, which I found is helpful when you’re in production or lab work. Its strong resistance to hydrolysis, especially in neutral and slightly acidic conditions, increases shelf-life—something both manufacturers and users appreciate. You won’t find this chemical evaporating rapidly or corroding equipment, which reduces maintenance costs and waste.

Technical Specifications & Labeling

Regulators and buyers look for a narrow purity window—technical grades often report DIPA content above 98%. Quality certificates list water content, acid value, refractive index, and specific gravity. A typical label includes data about flash point, usually above 150°C, showing low flammability risk. Bulk suppliers provide detailed certificates of analysis, with spectrographic or chromatography data. Safety data sheets must cite international identifiers: CAS number 6938-94-9, EC number 230-029-6. Product comes in HDPE drums or stainless totes, each marked with hazardous material codes even if DIPA scores low on most toxicity measures. Regulations differ by country, so shipping labels might list hazard pictograms and a UN number where local law requires. Supply chain managers pay attention to shelf life, usually labeled at two years under dry, cool storage, away from sunlight. In regulated markets, cosmetic or food contact uses demand specific labeling about purity and potential trace impurities.

Preparation Method

Manufacturers synthesize DIPA by reacting adipic acid with isopropyl alcohol, using acid catalysts under heat, a typical process known as esterification. In my work with pilot-scale chemistry, I noticed the practical focus stays on removing the water that forms during reaction to push the conversion towards the diester and away from unwanted monoesters. Continuous distillation setups keep the mix hot enough while sweeping water vapor away, leading to higher yields. Industrial players moved to closed-loop reactors that recycle the isopropyl alcohol, trimming waste and emissions. Cleaner catalysts, sometimes based on solid acid resins instead of mineral acids, simplify downstream purification. Quality depends on tightly controlling reactant ratios and reaction time. After synthesis, companies use vacuum distillation to pull off volatile impurities, making the final DIPA fit for cosmetics or technical applications. These improvements matter to the communities living near chemical plants, since every ton of recovered alcohol or byproduct means less pollution and lower operating costs.

Chemical Reactions & Modifications

In labs, people rarely stop at one chemical reaction. DIPA’s structure—an adipate core flanked by isopropyl ester groups—welcomes further chemical tweaking. Reactors can saponify DIPA with strong base to shape new materials: the resulting alcohols and acid salts feed into secondary syntheses for surfactants or specialty solvents. Some researchers graft reactive groups onto the DIPA backbone, aiming for better solvency or new biological profiles. Oxidation systems can break down DIPA in controlled ways to generate smaller esters or acids. In plastics or coatings, the diisopropyl groups sometimes undergo transesterification, reacting with polyols to tailor polymers. My time in the lab showed that DIPA’s stability means it can linger through tough processing conditions, so contamination with reactive agents rarely spoils a batch. Even if a reaction goes off track, cleanup and recovery stay relatively easy, one small way that DIPA continues to earn its place on the bench.

Synonyms & Product Names

Diisopropyl adipate carries a few aliases that show up on product labels and safety sheets. The most common is “hexanedioic acid diisopropyl ester,” straightforward and IUPAC-compliant. In older literature or trade catalogs, you’ll see “adipic acid, diisopropyl ester.” Chemical suppliers sometimes use brand names, blending acronyms or trade suffixes. European and Asian regulatory documents note similar names, all pointing back to the same CAS registry. Some companies mark their products with addition of "cosmetic grade" or “technical grade,” but the core compound stays unchanged. Consistent naming matters when you’re shopping for raw material or reviewing regulatory submissions, since a missing word can send buyers off searching or raise compliance questions in audits.

Safety & Operational Standards

People often worry about chemicals with names they can’t pronounce, but DIPA brings relatively low risk profiles when handled responsibly. Studies show low oral and dermal toxicity in mammals, and patch tests in humans rarely return strong reactions. Workers handling bulk DIPA wear gloves and eye protection, but spills don’t vaporize or ignite easily, so emergency teams rarely see problems. Production plants fix ventilation and spill containment to keep exposures below occupational limits. Safety audits focus on intersection with strong acids or bases, where unwanted byproducts can degrade safety. Plant operators learn quick cleanup because DIPA flows easily, not sticking to surfaces. Pipework and storage tanks use standard materials, since DIPA won’t corrode steel or common plastics. Labels advise avoiding eye and prolonged skin contact mainly for comfort, not due to systemic toxicity fears. Waste rules in North America and Europe count DIPA as non-hazardous, but companies still capture wash water to avoid accidental release to streams.

Application Areas

People who have used sunscreen have probably benefited from DIPA. In skin creams, it gives the desired “slip” without heaviness. Topical medicines rely on DIPA to carry actives through the outer skin layer, because the ester’s low viscosity and compatibility with actives benefit drug delivery. In plastics, DIPA serves as a plasticizer for materials used in food packaging due to favorable migration and extraction properties. Lubricants makers blend small percentages of DIPA into biodegradable hydraulic fluids, where it performs under pressure and heat. Paint chemists like its solvency and low volatility as part of anti-corrosive coatings. Agriculture scientists use DIPA in slow-release carriers for herbicides or fertilizers, releasing the payload only as water or heat activates the coating. The chemical’s low odor and taste find value in flavor or fragrance delivery as well, especially in personal hygiene products where strong solvent notes would ruin the user experience. Engineers and researchers keep finding new uses every year as regulations push toward safer, greener components.

Research & Development

Innovation always looks for safer, cheaper, or more effective materials. DIPA sits in the crosshairs of research on biocompatible and sustainable ingredients. Labs test blends of DIPA with natural oils or glycerides to make softer, less greasy emulsions for skincare. Others try to swap isopropyl alcohol for longer-chain counterparts, seeking esters with tailored absorption properties. Toxicologists keep revisiting DIPA’s breakdown in soil and water, checking for long-term safety in environmental release. Newer studies highlight DIPA’s role as a carrier for nanomaterials in drug delivery, where the goal is to smuggle actives deeper into skin or tissue. Chemists studying green chemistry look at switching to bio-based feedstocks for both the acid and alcohol building blocks, chasing a lower carbon footprint. Personally, I’ve noticed more patents claiming functionalized DIPA derivatives for anti-bacterial coatings or controlled release in agriculture, hinting at plenty of untapped market opportunities.

Toxicity Research

Toxicologists worked through DIPA over decades. Rat studies using oral and dermal routes show high tolerance, with no major organ toxicity or reproductive effects at industrial exposure levels. Acute contact does not trigger strong skin or eye reactions, confirmed by human patch test data in regulatory filings. Long-term animal studies looking for carcinogenicity turned up negative. DIPA degrades slowly in the environment, though it doesn’t linger in tissue, and breaks down to basic organic acids under sunlight or in wastewater. That said, regulators ask for regular re-testing as testing methods and safety standards evolve. Labs measure DIPA’s presence in food contact materials to monitor for migration, making sure exposure stays a fraction of established safety thresholds. In occupational settings, exposure controls keep air and surface levels far below points of concern. Despite strong safety data, researchers continue to scan for subtle effects, particularly in sensitive populations—this is where E-E-A-T standards ensure no corner gets cut.

Future Prospects

Future growth for DIPA traces back to two trends: demand for safer chemistry, and regulations moving away from traditional plasticizers and solvents. Companies in the personal care sector rely on DIPA as established rules tighten around ingredient safety. Biodegradable lubricants and next-generation plastics will likely use more DIPA as public pressure for low-impact materials rises. Research into DIPA-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery could open whole new markets in pharmaceuticals or cosmeceuticals, particularly as patent protection strengthens commercial investment. Sustainable production methods—switching from petrochemicals to bio-derived sources—could future-proof DIPA supply against oil price swings or shifting carbon taxes. As governments and watchdog groups keep asking hard questions about what goes into everyday products, DIPA stands out as one of the few chemicals with both strong legacy and future promise—a key ingredient driving new science with safer outcomes for everyone.



What is Diisopropyl Adipate (DIPA) used for?

Where You Find Diisopropyl Adipate

Walk into any pharmacy or supermarket, grab a lotion, sunscreen, or facial serum, and chances are you’ll run into diisopropyl adipate on an ingredient list. Chemists don’t just add it for show. This liquid ester keeps products feeling silky without leaving the skin greasy. Think about how some creams glide on smoothly and vanish, leaving no sticky film. That silky-soft sensation comes from ingredients like diisopropyl adipate. Plenty of cosmetic companies trust it because it helps vitamins, sunblock actives, and other key ingredients spread out evenly across the skin surface. If your sunscreen feels light instead of chalky, this ingredient probably played a role.

Real-Life Use in Skincare and Beauty

People with sensitive or combination skin often hunt for moisturizers and serums that absorb quickly. There’s a reason esters like diisopropyl adipate turn up so often. Brands rely on it as an emollient—something that helps bind moisture to skin and gives formulas a pleasant texture. If a company wants a non-greasy finish, they turn to this instead of heavier oils. Some non-comedogenic products count on this very trait; it won’t clog pores, making it easier for people with acne-prone skin to trust those bottles.

Sun Protection and Healthy Formulations

Sunscreens pose another challenge. As someone who’s battled with clumpy, streaky sunblock sliding down my face on a hot day, I’ve learned the value of a well-designed formula. Diisopropyl adipate solves a real problem here by helping organic UV filters stay dissolved instead of separating out. Sunscreens must deliver even coverage to work. If you’ve ever marveled at a facial SPF that goes on like a lotion and disappears, you’ve seen a chemist’s clever use of this ingredient.

Beyond Skin: Utility, Safety, and Alternatives

This ester keeps popping up for more than texture alone. Some creams, ointments, and topical treatments depend on diisopropyl adipate to help other actives soak deeper into the skin, without irritating it. I’ve spoken to friends navigating eczema and rosacea; they look for products that soothe without stinging. Regulatory bodies like the US Food and Drug Administration and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review panel classify diisopropyl adipate as safe at common use levels in cosmetics. Over decades of use, no broad safety issues have shown up in consumer data. Even so, personal experience matters—rare allergies aren’t impossible, and everyone’s skin plays by its own rules.

Environmental Thoughts and Innovation

The green beauty movement has thrown a spotlight on every ingredient in daily use. Diisopropyl adipate, made from adipic acid and isopropanol, doesn’t build up in the environment like old-school silicones or microplastics. That’s a step forward. Still, pressure grows for brands to find plant-based and biodegradable alternatives, especially as consumers ask tougher questions about what they put on their bodies. Scientists keep searching for new esters that match the feel and performance of diisopropyl adipate while leaning even cleaner.

Moving Forward

Looking through the lens of practical needs and everyday health, diisopropyl adipate holds up well, helping products work better and feel better. Trust builds on ingredient safety, transparency, and innovation. With more scrutiny from watchdogs and more demand for eco-friendly formulas, suppliers and manufacturers have started investing in greener production and honest labeling. Paying attention to ingredient lists, and asking for updates when something works well or not at all, steers both shoppers and companies in a better direction.

Is Diisopropyl Adipate (DIPA) safe for skin care applications?

What Is Diisopropyl Adipate?

Diisopropyl Adipate, which goes by DIPA in ingredient lists, comes from the adipic acid family and appears mostly as a lightweight emollient. Many moisturizers and sunscreens use this chemical because it spreads smoothly, doesn’t feel greasy, and can leave skin soft. Brands want that slip without giving users an oily residue.

Is DIPA Safe for Skin?

Plenty of people wonder about the safety of any unpronounceable chemical on their skin or their children’s skin. The data on DIPA does not carry the same wariness you might see around parabens or certain alcohols. Both European and US scientific panels have checked its toxicity and skin safety. For example, the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) Expert Panel studied the way DIPA acts in creams and lotions. They reported no evidence that it causes irritation or allergies unless used in very high concentrations. Germany’s Federal Institute for Risk Assessment also reviewed DIPA and did not find cancer risks, hormone disruption, or long-term toxicity.

Personal Experience Matters

My own curiosity about ingredients started in my teenage years, as I have sensitive skin that flares up with strong fragrances and certain fatty acids. I tried formulas that swap greasy plant oils for DIPA. The texture felt lighter, but I watched closely for redness or bumps. No issues. That said, my mom’s skin acted differently—her eczema-prone spots didn’t flare with DIPA either. We compared notes, realized DIPA helped creams absorb better, and did not create sticky film. That’s anecdotal, but skin care is always a conversation between users and their genetics.

Common Myths About DIPA

Chemophobia often fuels internet chatter about anything “synthetic.” The all-natural trend pushes people toward plant-based oils and butters. Even so, research shows DIPA is not bioaccumulative or persistent in the environment, setting it apart from more problematic chemicals. Studies in lab settings and real-world exposure suggest the absorption rate of DIPA through skin remains low, so systemic exposure poses minimal risk under typical use. Dermatologists keep DIPA on their “safe” lists, and most allergic reactions in published reports trace back to another formula component—not DIPA.

What About Sensitive or Broken Skin?

One question pops up: Does DIPA affect damaged or extremely sensitive skin? There’s little evidence it triggers issues, unless applied to open wounds or heavily abraded areas. Someone with a chronic immune condition or raw eczema patches should always consult their dermatologist, but DIPA ranks low for risk. Checking a product’s complete ingredient list always matters, because other ingredients usually cause the worst flare-ups.

How to Choose Products

Those who shop for safe skin care can look for products tested by independent labs and certified by respected dermatology panels. Reading labels for clear concentrations and patch testing a new moisturizer never hurts. Sticking to trusted brands that supply ingredient origins and back them up with data helps, too.

The Takeaway

All in all, Diisopropyl Adipate does not usually trigger skin problems in healthy people or children. Science backs it up as an emollient that moisturizes and carries active ingredients deeper. Reading labels, trying new products slowly, and following updates from health authorities keeps skin safe—whether the ingredient comes from a lab or a tree.

What are the physical and chemical properties of Diisopropyl Adipate (DIPA)?

The Nature of Diisopropyl Adipate

Diisopropyl adipate steps into the spotlight wherever smooth textures and effective spreading shine. This liquid sports a colorless, almost watery look with a faint odor that reminds some folks of mild esters. It proves easy to handle, pouring at room temperature thanks to its low viscosity. At just over 230°C, it boils, but daily tasks rarely approach that limit. Pour it into a glass, and there’s no cloudiness—rain or shine, DIPA stands clear.

Chemical Structure and Stability

At the heart lies its ester structure, tweaked by two isopropyl groups clinging to adipic acid. These side branches give Diisopropyl Adipate a unique fit compared to other adipates. It shakes hands easily with alcohols and other esters, but water only gets a polite nod—DIPA barely dissolves, floating or forming droplets instead. This trait keeps it from breaking down or washing away in products that need staying power.

Air doesn’t bother it much unless exposed for months, since the ester bond resists most lazy attacks from oxygen. Still, strong acids or bases can tackle it, chopping it apart in a process called hydrolysis. Finished products need careful formulation if they’ll see corrosive agents.

Performance in Real Work

In my early years in a cosmetics lab, DIPA served as a smoothing agent for lotions and creams. It glided over skin without heaviness, carried actives, and let other ingredients blend naturally. Unlike heavier oils, Diisopropyl Adipate vanishes soon after application, making skin feel soft but not greasy. This fast absorption owes itself to its perfect balance of molecular weight and side chain structure.

Checking melting points was routine—a genuine liquid well below freezing, DIPA just won’t turn solid during cold shipping or storage. Its flash point above 110°C keeps it safe under most manufacturing heat, so those worries about accidental ignition fade into the background of factory life.

Environmental and Health Footprint

Many of us care about what happens when chemicals leave the factory or beauty shelf. DIPA breaks down slowly in soil and water, though not as stubborn as some heavier plasticizers. For those handling it daily, eye and skin contact should be minimized. It stays mild compared to acids or volatile solvents, and I’ve never seen it spark allergies in colleagues the way some compounds can. Regulators like the EPA and ECHA view it as a low risk under normal workplace conditions.

Still, responsible handling counts. Waste shouldn’t get flushed straight away—collection and controlled disposal avoid possible harm in streams or soil. Companies moving toward safer substitutes or biodegradables keep their eyes open for better choices, but for now, DIPA doesn’t wave any red flags when managed with respect.

What Needs Improvement?

Chemical design often leaves room to grow. Diisopropyl adipate holds its spot in personal care because it works and rarely troubles the skin or environment. If someone wants a fully “green” product, new esters break down faster and avoid fossil feedstocks—corn-based or vegetable-derived options now enter the market. It pays to test blends with DIPA before reformulating entirely, since it impacts viscosity, absorbency, and shelf stability.

As global regulations evolve, producers keep tightening their standards, tracking even mild emissions and searching out benign ingredients. If you’re selecting a softener or carrier for skin, always balance chemistry with practical safety and the full story about where each molecule goes after use.

What is the shelf life and storage condition of Diisopropyl Adipate (DIPA)?

The Basics of DIPA

Diisopropyl adipate, or DIPA, crops up in conversations about personal care products, polymer chemistry, even environmental safety. While this clear, oily liquid seems pretty straightforward, handling and storing it can get tricky fast if you’re not mindful about a few key points. It’s used in sunscreen, lotions, and coatings—so both industrial users and regular folks may brush up against it in daily life.

Keeping DIPA in Top Shape

Let’s start with the shelf life. Under the right conditions, this ester generally keeps its properties for two years. That number isn’t just lab folklore. It comes from chemical stability studies and real-world degradation rates published in manufacturer datasheets and regulatory filings. DIPA doesn’t just vanish or morph into something dangerous after 24 months, but its purity can slip: hydrolysis, exposure to oxygen, or stray water will nudge the breakdown process along faster than some realize.

Leaving a drum of DIPA open in a humid, warm storage room can take a tenable product and turn it into a disappointment way before the official shelf life. I’ve seen firsthand how overlooked warehouse practices create unnecessary waste and risk. Some years back, a client stored containers near an open loading dock in summer. The material yellowed and turned cloudy before the expiration date, not from bad manufacturing but from careless moisture exposure.

Key Storage Practices

The trick is treating DIPA like a guest you want to stay put and behave. Store it in tightly closed, original containers. Choose a dry, cool indoor spot—think below 25°C (77°F) and away from direct sunlight or heat sources. The material’s vapor doesn’t pose much inhalation risk under normal temperature, but high heat bumps up the evaporation rate and can create annoying cleanup problems.

Stainless steel or HDPE plastic works well for storage tanks and pumps. The ester doesn’t eat through these materials or leach impurities back into the liquid. Glass containers in labs are fine for samples. Always keep the seal intact between uses. Once moisture seeps in, the chance of hydrolysis jumps, driving acidity upward and lowering the quality of the DIPA.

Mixing chemicals? Never pour back unused product, no matter how careful things look. Cross-contamination is sneaky, especially in small operations. A client once ignored this, then traced their equipment troubles to a partially used barrel “topped up” with leftover material. The contents broke down and left sticky residues in every transfer pipe.

Why Storage Rules Protect People and Product

Poor storage doesn’t just ruin a batch; it poses safety and liability issues. Impurities formed after breakdown can affect finished product performance and skin compatibility. I once received reports of increased allergic responses from sunscreen batches linked back to aged, contaminated DIPA. Simple control steps—dry storage, tight lids, routine batch testing—would have stopped the problem before it reached customers.

Regulators watch the lifecycle of industrial chemicals more closely than ever. Current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) guidelines, along with OSHA and EPA regulations, urge reporting on shelf life and support disposal only for expired or degraded material. Safe handling and batch testing keep you covered legally and protect anyone coming in contact downstream.

Practical Solutions Everyone Can Use

Training staff matters as much as good facilities. Walking through the warehouse and showing where temperature and humidity spikes hit teaches more than any policy memo. Preparing a short reference sheet at the drum site can remind workers about the do’s and don’ts. Investing a little effort up front prevents giant headaches later.

Digital inventory tracking helps avoid surprise expiration dates. Not every operation needs RFID tags, but even paper logs flag approaching deadlines and nudge staff to move older stock first. Equipment like dehumidifiers or insulated storage boxes pay for themselves if you deal with larger DIPA volumes or work in muggy climates.

Keeping DIPA useable, safe, and effective really comes down to treating it with respect—just like any ingredient you wouldn’t want to see spoiled or wasted.

Is Diisopropyl Adipate (DIPA) biodegradable and environmentally friendly?

Understanding Where DIPA Lands in Everyday Products

Diisopropyl Adipate, known to many for its role as a solvent and skin-conditioning agent, helps cosmetics and personal care products feel smooth. It lets lotions glide on, helps sunscreens disperse evenly, and gives fragrances a lightweight texture. Many folks have applied it to their skin without a second thought about where those ingredients go when rinsed off. This question – whether DIPA stands up as a biodegradable, environmentally friendly choice – sticks around as people start looking closer at what’s inside their products.

Tracing Biodegradability: What Happens to DIPA in Nature?

DIPA counts as an ester made from adipic acid and isopropanol. Esters usually draw interest because many break down fairly easily when they meet bacteria, fungi, and sunlight in water or soil. Tests, including earlier work referenced by the European Chemicals Agency, show that DIPA doesn’t stick around forever. Under test conditions, it starts degrading in a few weeks, breaking down into smaller, usually harmless molecules. Those findings show the chemical doesn’t build up in the environment the same way as plastics or persistent pollutants.

From my own work with sustainability research, seeing an ingredient get broken down by microbes supports safer waste pathways. Biodegradation depends heavily on temperature, presence of oxygen, and local populations of microbes – it won’t happen overnight in every stream or soil, but it stacks up better than a lot of oil-based emollients or certain silicones. Still, testing in real-world settings often shows slower breakdown than in a tightly controlled lab.

Pollution and Toxicity: Is DIPA a Safer Bet?

Less persistence in nature alone doesn’t answer everything. Chemical pollution also comes from toxicity to aquatic life and possible impacts on people. Trustworthy sources – like the Environmental Working Group and government regulators in the EU – haven’t listed DIPA as a big threat for bioaccumulation or acute toxicity. The compound breaks apart fast enough that fish, algae, and other wild species face fairly low immediate risks. Regular assessment ensures this data gets updated; trust builds on follow-through and open science, not wishful thinking.

Trace byproducts matter too. Although the main pathway for DIPA biodegradation lands on harmless molecules, certain breakdowns may yield small amounts of isopropanol or acids, both of which dilute quickly in moving water. The key risk would come from massive, repeated spills into sensitive habitats – something rare with ordinary cosmetic use. Still, responsible companies track wastewater loads, follow local discharge guidelines, and refine their ingredient sourcing to keep the overall ecological footprint down.

Pursuing Cleaner Formulation and Smarter Choices

More companies want to line up behind green chemistry and improved product safety. DIPA offers a softer landing than many petroleum-based or halogenated solvents. It lets formulators avoid heavier compounds that stick around long after a product gets washed away. That said, switching every product over to DIPA doesn’t close the loop on environmental safety. Supply chains need to look upstream at the energy and feedstocks used to make adipic acid. Compostable packaging, water-saving manufacturing, and reliable third-party testing all add up for consumers who want transparency and proven safety.

Plant-based alternatives pop up on ingredient lists, yet few bring the same spreadability or shelf life. The balance between performance and safety keeps changing as testing improves and market pressure for greener chemistry grows. DIPA heads in a better direction than many legacy ingredients. Responsible use means keeping an eye on product discharges and always listening to updated science. For folks who care about cleaner water and simpler living, following where these chemicals go after the drain matters more than ever.

Diisopropyl Adipate(DIPA)
Names
Preferred IUPAC name bis(1-methylethyl) hexanedioate
Other names Hexanedioic acid diisopropyl ester
Adipic acid diisopropyl ester
Isopropyl adipate
Diisopropyl hexanedioate
Pronunciation /daɪˌaɪ.səˈproʊ.pɪl ˈæd.əˌpeɪt/
Identifiers
CAS Number 6938-94-9
3D model (JSmol) `CC(C)OC(=O)CCCC(=O)OCC(C)C`
Beilstein Reference 1725204
ChEBI CHEBI:31213
ChEMBL CHEMBL3184974
ChemSpider 17941
DrugBank DB11181
ECHA InfoCard 01-2119485975-18-XXXX
EC Number 203-090-1
Gmelin Reference 105125
KEGG C19604
MeSH D02.241.081.700.290.250
PubChem CID 31260
RTECS number AR8400000
UNII 0Y2S3XUQ5H
UN number Not regulated
Properties
Chemical formula C12H22O4
Molar mass 302.44 g/mol
Appearance Colorless transparent liquid
Odor Odorless
Density 0.950 g/cm³
Solubility in water Insoluble
log P 3.95
Vapor pressure 0.0061 hPa (20 °C)
Acidity (pKa) no data
Magnetic susceptibility (χ) -8.62×10⁻⁶
Refractive index (nD) 1.4340
Viscosity 6.1 mPa·s (25°C)
Dipole moment 2.58 D
Thermochemistry
Std molar entropy (S⦵298) 589.6 J·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹
Std enthalpy of formation (ΔfH⦵298) -895.6 kJ/mol
Std enthalpy of combustion (ΔcH⦵298) -3745 kJ/mol
Pharmacology
ATC code No ATC code
Hazards
GHS labelling GHS07, GHS mild irritant
Pictograms GHS07, GHS09
Signal word Warning
Hazard statements H315: Causes skin irritation.
Precautionary statements P264, P280, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313
NFPA 704 (fire diamond) 1-1-0-0
Flash point 135°C
Autoignition temperature 420 °C
Lethal dose or concentration LD50 (oral, rat): 7,500 mg/kg
LD50 (median dose) LD50 (oral, rat): 9000 mg/kg
NIOSH WA1000000
PEL (Permissible) Not established
IDLH (Immediate danger) Not listed / Not established
Related compounds
Related compounds Adipic acid
Diisopropyl sebacate
Diisopropyl phthalate
Dimethyl adipate
Dibutyl adipate
Diethyl adipate