Petroleum Ether, 40-65°C
| Density | 0.65 g/cm3 |
| CAS number | 64742-49-0 |
| HS code | 27101125 |
| EC number | 265-151-9 |
| Storage (temprature) | +15 OC to +25 °C |
| SDS | Available |
| R phrase | R 11-51/53-65-66-67 |
| S phrase | S9-16-23-2-24-33-61-62 |
| Description | Conforms | ||
| Specific gravity | 0.640 – 0.670 | g/cm3 | |
| Free Acid | ≤ | 0.0005 | % |
| Discolored matter | Conforms | ||
| Boiling Range | ≥ | 95.0 | % |
| Evaporation Residual | ≤ | 0.001 | mg/l |
| Water | ≤ | 0.01 | % |
Petroleum ether (40-65°C) is a volatile, flammable liquid mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, primarily used as a solvent in laboratories and industry.
🏭⚗️ Production
Petroleum ether is produced by the fractional distillation of crude oil, collecting the fraction boiling between 40 and 65 degrees Celsius. It is refined to remove impurities and standardized for consistent solvent properties.
🔬 Properties
It appears as a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic petroleum odor. It is a non-polar solvent with a boiling range of 40-65°C, low density (~0.64-0.66 g/cm³), and is highly volatile and flammable. It is insoluble in water but miscible with many organic solvents.
🧪 Applications
Petroleum ether is widely used as a solvent for fats, oils, and waxes, in extraction processes, cleaning, and degreasing. It is also used in laboratories for thin-layer chromatography and other organic chemistry applications.
⚠️ Safety
Petroleum ether is highly flammable and its vapors can form explosive mixtures with air. It can cause skin and eye irritation and central nervous system effects if inhaled in high concentrations. Proper ventilation, use of flame-proof equipment, and personal protective equipment such as gloves and goggles are essential. It should be stored in tightly sealed containers away from heat sources and oxidizers.
