Several grades of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) exist on the market. This includes industrial/technical grade, pharmaceutical (USP), and ACS (Spectrophotometric grade).
Industrial / Tech Grade IPA
This type of IPA is commonly used as an industrial/technical solvent and cleaner and as a raw material for derivatives. It's used for a variety of non-medical applications, including general purpose wiping and cleaning, as a cleaner for printed circuit boards (PCBs), surface coatings, inks, and various household/commercial cleaners.
Since Industrial or Tech-Grade IPA is held to lower purity standards, it is not approved for medical, food, or drug use.
USP / Medical / Pharmaceutical Grade IPA
This IPA covers a wide range of applications, including drug manufacturing, medical wipes, as well as cosmetic use and personal care products (toiletries). Its purity is expected to be slightly higher than the industrial grade.
ACS (Spectrophotometric grade)
ACS IPA is held to a higher purity standard compared to USP grade. It's common in applications including cosmetic and personal care products (toiletries) and rubbing alcohol.
Click here to get the latest global isopropyl alcohol (CAS67-63-0) market prices for 2026.