Hexane . Volatile saturated aliphatic hydrocarbon, which was widely used in the shoe industry and leather goods. It is currently more restricted in use. Also called n-hexane, it is an alkane comprises 6 atoms of carbon and 14 atoms hydrogen .
Summary
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- 1 Obtaining
- 1 Physical and chemical properties
- 2 Use
- 3 Environment
- 4 Exposure to n-hexane
- 5 Health
- 6 Applications
- 2 Sources
Obtaining
Hexane and its isomers are part of various oils and are obtained by fractional distillation.
Physical and chemical properties
- It’s liquid
- Colorless and easily flammable
- Strong odor, similar to that of solvents
- Little non-polar or combinable with water.
- Zero dipole moment
- Boiling point of 68.85 ° C
- Melting point of – 95.15 ° C
Use
Used as a solvent for paints and chemical processes and to remove price tags as it dissolves the glue with which they adhere. It was widely used in the footwear and leather goods industry, although its use in controlled industries is more restricted.
Environment
N-hexane enters the environment during its manufacture and use. It evaporates very easily into the air where it is degraded in a few days. It’s fairly soluble in water. Most of the n-hexane released into the water will float to the surface, from where it evaporates into the air. If n-hexane is spilled into the earth, most of it will evaporate before it penetrates the soil. Neither plants nor animals accumulate n-hexane.
Exposure to n-hexane
The most likely way to be exposed to n-hexane is by breathing air contaminated with n-hexane. You may be exposed if you use products that contain n-hexane at work. Since it occurs in gasoline, almost everyone is exposed to very small amounts of n-hexane in the air. There may be exposure in the home if you use products containing n-hexane without adequate ventilation.
Health
The only people known to have been harmed by n-hexane used it at work. Breathing large amounts produces numbness in the feet and hands, followed by muscle weakness in the legs and feet. Continuous exposure caused paralysis of the arms and legs, however, removed from the exposure, the workers recovered within 6 months to a year. In laboratory studies, animals exposed to high levels of n-hexane in the air showed signs of nerve damage. In other studies, animals exposed to very high levels of n-hexane suffered damage to the lungs and sperm- producing cells .
Applications
- It is used as a solvent in paints
- As a solvent in chemical processes
- In the shoe industry