n‑Pentane for UV is a high-purity, low-absorbance solvent specifically refined for ultraviolet (UV) and spectrophotometric applications in analytical and pharmaceutical laboratories, providing an optical medium with excellent clarity for analyses of non-polar compounds, extractions, and method development.
🏭⚗️ Production
n‑Pentane for UV is produced through rigorous purification including fractional distillation, removal of water, acids, fluorescing impurities and non-volatile residues, followed by filtration and packaging under inert conditions in amber, moisture-controlled containers to preserve its optical transparency and chemical stability during laboratory use.
🔬 Properties
n‑Pentane is a clear, colorless, highly volatile liquid with a faint odor, non-polar and immiscible with water, with a boiling point around 35–36 °C, a density of approximately 0.626 g/mL at 25 °C, and a refractive index around 1.357–1.358. It exhibits minimal UV absorbance, making it especially suitable for dissolution of highly non-polar substances and for maintaining a flat optical baseline in UV–Vis spectrophotometry.
🧪 Applications
In pharmaceutical and analytical laboratories, n‑Pentane for UV is used for the preparation of standard and calibration solutions where non-polar analytes or excipients must be dissolved and measured. It serves as a solvent for dissolution of non-polar active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), lipophilic excipients, extraction of bioactive compounds from hydrophobic matrices, and for UV–Vis or spectrophotometric assays requiring high optical purity and minimal background absorbance. Additionally, it is used in chromatography, including normal-phase HPLC and TLC, as a mobile phase or diluent for non-polar separations, providing reproducible baselines and clean spectra.
⚠️ Safety
n‑Pentane is highly flammable and evaporates rapidly due to its low boiling point. It must be handled in a well-ventilated fume hood away from ignition sources, sparks, heat, and flame. Vapor-air mixtures may form explosive atmospheres. Skin and eye contact should be avoided, and prolonged inhalation may cause central nervous system effects such as dizziness or drowsiness. Proper personal protective equipment including gloves, goggles, and lab coat must be worn. Containers should be tightly sealed when not in use and stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area in fire-safe cabinets. Waste and residues must be disposed of according to hazardous laboratory solvent protocols.
