Special Methylated Spirit (SMS / SDA)
Definition
Denatured alcohol formulated with milder or more specific denaturants for use in particular industrial applications (cosmetics, fuel, cleaning products). In the UK, defined by Denatured Alcohol Specifications DAS 1-10; in the US, by 27 CFR Part 21 SDA formulas 1-44.
- UK standard
- Denatured Alcohol Specifications DAS 1-10
- US standard
- 27 CFR Part 21, SDA formulas 1-44
- Purpose of denaturants
- Render ethanol unfit to drink while keeping it usable industrially
- Typical uses
- Cosmetics, fuel, cleaning products
- Contrast term
- Methylated spirit (mineralised, cruder denaturant mix)
Common questions
Why does the denaturant formula matter in a forensic case?+
The specific denaturant profile in a sample can be matched to a known SDA or DAS formula, which narrows the product source and can support tracing where a batch of alcohol was diverted from its declared industrial use.
Is SMS the same product everywhere?+
No. The permitted denaturants and their concentrations differ by country and by formula number, so a formulation legal for cosmetics in one jurisdiction may not match the specification used in another.
Related terms
- 27 CFR Part 21
- The US TTB regulatory code listing all approved formulas for completely denatured alcohol (CDA) and specially denatured alcohol (SDA) in the United...
- Bitrex (Denatonium Benzoate)
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- Completely Denatured Alcohol (CDA)
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- Country Liquor (India)
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- EU Directive 92/83/EEC
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- Industrial Methylated Spirit (IMS)
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- T-Permit
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