CAS 9000-59-3 (Shellac) is a natural bio-based resin, non-toxic, odorless, and has good adhesion, film-forming properties and biodegradability. It is widely used in food, medicine, woodworking, coatings, electrical, ink, leather and other fields, and is a versatile natural material.

1. Food Industry: Used as a glazing film-forming agent, color-enhancing agent and preservative. It can be used for glazing apples, citrus and other fruits to improve gloss and prevent moisture loss; it is used as a glazing agent for chocolate, wafer biscuits and roasted coffee, with a maximum usage of 0.20g/kg (China national standard); it can also be used as a gum base for chewing gum[5].
2. Woodworking & Coating Industry: It is a high-grade natural coating, mainly used for polishing or priming wood furniture. Its alcohol solution or alkali solution can form a smooth, bright, hard and durable film on the surface of objects, which has good isolation and sealing effects on wood secretions and aniline colorants. It can also prevent formaldehyde from escaping from ordinary paints and avoid toxic substances contacting the human body directly.
3. Pharmaceutical Industry: Used as a film-coating agent for tablets and pills, which can improve the stability of drugs, mask the bitter taste of drugs, and control the release rate of drugs; it is also used as a binder in pharmaceutical preparations, with good biocompatibility and no toxic side effects.
4. Other Fields: In the electrical industry, it is used as an electrical insulation material due to its excellent electrical insulation performance; in the ink and leather industry, it is used as a modifier to improve the gloss and durability of inks and leather; in the military industry, it is used as a protective coating for precision instruments; it is also used as a standard substance in analytical chemistry experiments and a research reagent in natural product chemistry research[3][5].

Safety Information

• Hazard Category: Irritant (GHS hazard symbol: GHS07; hazard statements: H302, H315, H319, H335); warning word: Warning.
• Hazards: Toxic if swallowed (H302). It is irritating to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract; direct skin contact may cause skin irritation (H315), such as redness, itching and dryness; eye contact may cause serious eye irritation (H319), such as conjunctival hyperemia, burning sensation and corneal irritation; inhalation of dust may cause respiratory tract irritation (H335), such as cough, chest tightness and other discomfort symptoms. It is non-toxic in normal use (ADI allowed, FAO/WHO, 2001), and no harmful effects have been found in long-term traditional use as a traditional Chinese medicine (Zicaorong) for clearing heat, cooling blood and detoxifying[3][5]. When discharged into water, it will increase the biological oxygen demand of water bodies, cause eutrophication, and make the water body turn red visually.
• Operation Precautions: All operations shall be carried out in a well-ventilated environment; wear nitrile gloves, protective clothing, safety goggles and dust mask to avoid direct contact, inhalation of dust and accidental ingestion. Follow the prevention instructions P264, P280, P302+P352, P321, P332+P313, P362, P305+P351+P338, P337+P313, P270, P301+P312, P330, P501. Do not eat, drink or smoke during operation; clean the face and hands thoroughly after operation. The operation area shall be equipped with emergency rescue equipment and first aid drugs; avoid contact with strong oxidants and strong acids to prevent decomposition and side reactions.
• Storage & Transportation Requirements: It shall be stored in a sealed HDPE barrel or cardboard barrel, with desiccant inside; the storage temperature shall be controlled at 2–8 ℃ for long-term storage, protected from light, moisture and high temperature. Follow the storage instructions P403+P233, P405. Transportation shall avoid violent vibration, sun exposure and moisture; it shall be transported in accordance with the regulations of general chemicals (customs code: 1301900190), and shall not be mixed with food, feed, strong oxidants and strong acids; common packaging specifications include 100g, 500g, 25kg, which can meet the needs of laboratory and industrial production[3][5].
• Waste Disposal: Waste residues and contaminated packaging shall be disposed of in strict accordance with the management regulations of environmental protection, follow the disposal instruction P501; they shall not be directly discharged into water bodies, soil or sewers to avoid environmental pollution. It is recommended to discharge into a sludge drying field, and enter the sewage treatment station for treatment to reach the standard before discharge after sand filtration.
• First Aid Measures: In case of skin contact, immediately take off contaminated clothes, rinse thoroughly with plenty of soapy water and clean water for at least 15 minutes, and seek medical advice if there is discomfort; in case of eye contact, rinse with plenty of water for at least 15 minutes and seek medical advice in time; in case of accidental ingestion, do not induce vomiting, keep the patient in a supine position, and seek medical treatment immediately with the product label; in case of inhalation discomfort, move to a well-ventilated place and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.