Bitrex: Difference between revisions
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'''Bitrex''' is a registered trademark of Johnson Matthey-Macfarlan Smith of Edinburgh Scotland for the product [[Denatonium|Denatonium Benzoate]]. This synthetic chemical is extremely bitter and detectable to humans at 0.05 [[parts per million|ppm]] (50 ppb). Macfarlan Smith chemists discovered this product in 1958 during research on derivatives of the local anesthetic lidocaine. |
'''Bitrex''' is a registered trademark of Johnson Matthey-Macfarlan Smith of Edinburgh Scotland for the product [[Denatonium|Denatonium Benzoate]]. This synthetic chemical is extremely bitter and detectable to humans at 0.05 [[parts per million|ppm]] (50 ppb). Macfarlan Smith chemists discovered this product in 1958 during research on derivatives of the local anesthetic lidocaine. |
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Revision as of 13:31, 8 May 2012
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Bitrex is a registered trademark of Johnson Matthey-Macfarlan Smith of Edinburgh Scotland for the product Denatonium Benzoate. This synthetic chemical is extremely bitter and detectable to humans at 0.05 ppm (50 ppb). Macfarlan Smith chemists discovered this product in 1958 during research on derivatives of the local anesthetic lidocaine.
In 1960 US patents were filed and shortly thereafter Bitrex was approved as an ethanol denaturant by the US Treasury Department's Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms (now Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau). The name of the chemical was derived from the term "denature" or render unfit for beverage use. The reason it is added is to protect the revenue generated from beverage ethanol sales by preventing diversion of non-taxed industrial ethanol into the liquor market. Specially Denatured Alcohol Formula SDA-40 B (where the "B" stands for Bitrex) is detailed US Code of Federal Regulations 27 CFR 21.76. SDA-40B is used in cosmetics, perfumes and topical medications. Denatonium benzoate is the most widely accepted ethanol denaturant worldwide.
By 2005 the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases at the U.S. Center for Disease Control had received requests that Bitrex be required as an economical additive to automotive antifreeze (ethylene glycol) to deter human ingestion of the otherwise sweet tasting, yet highly toxic ethylene glycol. In 2012 the CDC and U.S. government continues to be unresponsive to this recommended use of Bitrex.