At room temperature (25 °C) diethyl carbonate is a colorless liquid with a low flash point.

[7] As a fuel additive, it can reduce emissions such as volatile organic compounds, CO2, and particulates.

[8] It can be made by reacting phosgene with ethanol, producing hydrogen chloride as a byproduct.

This reaction requires a heterogeneous catalysis that can act both as a Lewis acid and a base, such as various metal oxides.

[8] 0.01% v/v DEC solutions can be used as a relatively gentle cold sterilizing reagent for laboratory chromatography resins.