Most people don’t even know what CDA 12A means, even though they might be using similar products on a daily basis. It is a chemical common among sanitation companies, health technicians, and industrial staff. The substance is regarded as one of the cheapest cleaning chemicals on the market, which makes it ideal for a larger surface area.
Oftentimes, people falsely presume that completely denatured alcohol can be used for botanical and, in particular, cannabis extraction. They believe that the substance can be utilized for making CBD gummies and other CBD items.
Also read: How many CBD gummies should I eat?
However, this is not the case. The liquid is toxic, and you need to avoid ingesting it at all costs.
The main reason why companies change their formula in the first place is so they can avoid high taxes that come with food-grade alcohol. Denatured alcohol has a specific smell and color, preventing users from ingesting it or mistaking it for regular alcohol.
Once a company creates this liquid, it will be very hard to separate its initial components. So, even if consumers want, they cannot restore it to its previous state and utilize the chemical as a food-grade product.
What is the point of denatured alcohol?
Truth be told, regular, food-grade alcohol can be used for much more things than denatured one. However, not all companies want to use it in such a capacity. In some cases, they just need it as a cleaning agent or for some other purpose.
In order to avoid high taxation that comes with a food-grade substance, they will alter its chemical composition. Once a company adds other ingredients, it can no longer be utilized for consumption, plant extraction, or anything else that justifies high taxation.
As there is no longer a basis for high taxes, the government will reduce it, allowing the company to save a lot of money in the process.
How do denatured liquids look like?
Not only are denatured alcohols altered as a way of repurposing, but they are also changed so that a person wouldn’t make the mistake of ingesting it. Depending on what a company added to the mix, they can become very stinky, taste awful, or have a completely different color. Oftentimes, blue and purple dyes are added to alcohol so that a person can easily notice there is something wrong with ethanol.
The way of repurposing/altering can vary from country to country. In some parts of the world, specific dyes will be used. In various countries, there will also be a hazard label notifying the potential consumer that the chemical isn’t for drinking.
What are the dangers of denatured chemicals?
Denatured alcohol can be a very complex substance. It can combine several volatile chemicals together. In most cases, a company will put a list of ingredients on the product so that a person knows what’s inside of it.
Almost in every case, regardless of a denatured substance, a person will have a very negative experience. The range of consequences can vary significantly depending on the chemical, the quantity of a substance that affected your body, as well as how you got in touch with it. Needless to say, ingesting the liquid is most problematic, and, in some cases, it can even lead to death. Milder side effects include dizziness, fainting, vomiting, etc
Anyway, in order to avoid potential issues, it is very important to have a highly skilled staff on premises so they can handle denatured alcohol properly. You will likely need a good ventilation system, special fire extinguishers, and protective clothing.
What kind of chemicals can be found in CDA 12A?
As mentioned, there are various ways you can alter these substances. So much so that it is really hard to make a simple list of potential ingredients. Companies will sometimes shuffle ingredients based on how they’re promoting the substance.
For example, if an alcohol is utilized as a fuel, a business might use 5% of methanol as its main denaturant. This chemical is highly flammable and can present a major fire hazard within a workplace. It can also go through skin tissue and is highly toxic. Because of that, you should always wear protective gear when dealing with denatured alcohol that utilizes methanol.
Keep in mind that not every denatured alcohol will be toxic. Some of them are even utilized as healthcare items. This is why you need to inquire about a product and its properties before using it.
About the writer: Nikolay Stoyanov is an experienced cannabis content writer with over 10 years of professional experience in the field of SEO and content marketing for cannabis companies.