What is the substitute for ethanol?

Isopropyl alcohol is often used as a substitute for ethanol in various laboratory settings, particularly in histopathology. It serves as an effective dehydrating agent and disinfectant, similar to ethanol, but has distinct advantages such as lower toxicity and a less severe odor. This makes it safer to handle in many situations.

In histologic preparations, isopropyl alcohol can effectively dehydrate tissues, which is a critical step in the preservation and processing of histological specimens. Since it is also miscible with water, it can be used in various solutions without adverse effects on tissue morphology.

Other alcohols may have specific uses; for example, methyl alcohol (methanol) is sometimes used, but it is more toxic and can harm tissue morphology. Butyl alcohol and amyl alcohol are less common substitutes and are generally not preferred for standard histological procedures due to their different properties and potential impacts on the tissues being processed. Hence, isopropyl alcohol stands out as the most suitable and widely accepted alternative to ethanol in many histopathological applications.