Ethanol 85%, denatured (MEK/IPA/BTX) is a liquid with versatile applications. It is widely used in medical diagnostics, histology and life sciences as a solvent, cleaning agent and preservative. Denaturing with methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), isopropyl alcohol (IPA) and benzene (BTX) prevents its use for human consumption and reduces the risk of misuse.

The special suitability of denatured ethanol lies in its ability to be fat soluble and to mix aqueous solutions. Therefore, it can be used in histology to degrease and prepare tissue specimens. In addition, it is used in medical diagnostics to prepare specimens for microscopic examination or to clean materials and surfaces.

Chemically, ethanol is an organic compound with the formula C2H5OH. It is an alcohol that is highly volatile at room temperature. Denatured ethanol has similar properties to pure ethanol, but is unsuitable for human consumption. Its mode of operation is based on interaction with hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules, which allows it to dissolve both water and fats.