[Chemical Knowledge]：Properties, uses, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods of petroleum ether, introduction of petroleum ether

Petroleum ether properties

Petroleum ether is a mixture composed of hydrocarbons with different boiling ranges, mainly including n-hexane, n-heptane and isoparaffins. Its appearance is usually a colorless transparent liquid with a pungent odor similar to gasoline. The boiling point range of petroleum ether is generally between 30°C and 90°C, depending on the specific mixing ratio. Due to its high volatility and low viscosity, petroleum ether is easy to volatilize at room temperature and is sensitive to temperature. Petroleum ether is insoluble in water, but can be miscible with most organic solvents, such as ethanol, ether and so on. Its density is usually 0.6-0.7g/cm³, which is lower than water, so petroleum ether will float on the water surface.

Petroleum ether uses

Petroleum ether is widely used in chemical industry. One of its main uses is as an organic solvent, which is widely used in laboratory and industrial production. For example, petroleum ether is commonly used to extract natural products, separate organic compounds, and clean laboratory ware. Due to its good solubility properties and low boiling point, petroleum ether is particularly suitable for solvent operations requiring rapid evaporation. Petroleum ether is used in the pharmaceutical industry for pharmaceutical purification and extraction processes. In the paint and coatings industry, petroleum ether is also used as a thinner and cleaning agent. In agriculture, it is used to make carrier solvents for pesticides and herbicides.

Petroleum ether upstream and downstream raw materials

The production of petroleum ether mainly depends on the fractionation process of crude oil. In oil refineries, crude oil is separated into different fractions by atmospheric and vacuum distillation columns, where the light fraction is further processed to obtain petroleum ether. Its upstream raw materials mainly include crude oil and light hydrocarbon compounds generated in the refining process. In the specific production process, the components of petroleum ether can be further adjusted by catalytic cracking, isomerization and other processes to meet the needs of different applications.

The downstream products of petroleum ether mainly include various fine chemical products and organic synthesis raw materials. For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, petroleum ether is used as a solvent to synthesize various pharmaceutical intermediates; in the flavor and fragrance industry, it is used to extract natural flavors and synthetic flavors. Petroleum ether has a wide range of uses, so it has important application value in a variety of industries.

Petroleum ether storage method

Petroleum ether is highly volatile and flammable, so its storage requires special attention. Petroleum ether should be stored in a cool, well-ventilated place, avoid direct sunlight and high temperature environment to prevent volatilization and fire hazards. Storage containers shall be metal or glass containers with good sealing performance and clearly marked with flammable liquid. The storage area should be kept away from fire, heat and oxidant to avoid fire and explosion accidents. The storage site should be equipped with necessary fire fighting equipment, such as dry powder fire extinguishers and fire blankets, to deal with emergencies.

During transportation, petroleum ether should use special containers that meet safety standards and operate in strict accordance with dangerous goods transportation regulations. Transportation vehicles should be equipped with appropriate protective equipment to prevent leakage and accidents. Operators of petroleum ether should be professionally trained, familiar with its nature and safe operation procedures, and ensure that correct protective measures are taken during use.

Environmental and safety considerations

Due to the high volatility and flammability of petroleum ether, special attention must be paid to environmental and safety issues during its use and storage. When the concentration of petroleum ether vapor in the air reaches a certain level, it will form an explosive mixture, which is easy to cause combustion and explosion when exposed to open flame, high heat or oxidant. Therefore, the fire source should be strictly controlled in the place where petroleum ether is used, and good ventilation should be maintained.

Petroleum ether also presents potential environmental and health hazards. Its vapor can irritate the eyes, skin and respiratory system, and prolonged exposure may cause headaches, nausea and other symptoms. Therefore, use should wear protective gloves, goggles and gas masks to avoid direct contact and inhalation of vapors. Waste petroleum ether and its containers shall be treated as hazardous waste to avoid environmental pollution caused by random discharge.

Market and Development Prospects

The petroleum ether market is driven by the development of the petrochemical industry and downstream demand. With the continuous growth of the global chemical, pharmaceutical and agricultural industries, the demand for petroleum ether is expected to maintain steady growth. The continuous strictness of environmental regulations also puts forward higher requirements for the production and use of petroleum ether, prompting enterprises to continuously improve production processes and improve product quality and safety performance.

In the future, with the development of green chemical technology and the utilization of renewable resources, the production and application of petroleum ether will develop in a more environmentally friendly and sustainable direction. By improving production efficiency and developing alternatives, we can meet the market demand in reducing the environmental impact and promote the healthy development of the chemical industry.

Summary

As an important organic solvent, petroleum ether plays an important role in chemical, pharmaceutical, agricultural and other fields because of its unique physical and chemical properties and wide range of applications. Understanding the properties, uses, upstream and downstream raw materials and storage methods of petroleum ether is of great significance for its safe and efficient use. In the future, with the advancement of technology and the improvement of environmental protection requirements, the petroleum ether industry will continue to innovate and develop to provide better services and products for related industries.