Isohexane

About This Product

Isohexane is the trade name for the branched isomers of hexane, principally 2-methylpentane (CAS 107-83-5) with 3-methylpentane, all with the formula C6H14. It is a clear, colourless, highly volatile liquid distilling between about 57 and 62 °C, insoluble in water and a strong solvent for oils, rubbers and non-polar resins. What a buyer is paying for is the absence of one isomer. Straight-chain n-hexane is metabolised in the body to 2,5-hexanedione, which damages peripheral nerves, and for that reason adhesive, cleaning and extraction users have moved to isohexane, which gives almost the same solvency and evaporation rate without that metabolic route. The specification is built around that purpose: n-hexane is limited to 1.5 percent against a total isohexane content of 98 percent minimum, typically 99, with 2-methylpentane around 65 percent and 3-methylpentane around 23. Benzene is held to 1 ppm, sulphur to 1 mg/kg and olefins, as bromine index, to 100 mg Br/100 g, which also suits it to polymerisation duties where impurities would poison a catalyst. It is used as a polymerisation solvent, in contact and rubber adhesives, in precision and instrument cleaning, as a diluent for oils, as a reference material for gas chromatography and as a fuel component. Bio Green Chem supplies isohexane to specification on n-hexane, isomer distribution, boiling range, bromine index, sulphur, water, density, Saybolt colour, benzene and non-volatile matter, in 130 kg drums or ISO tanks. It is highly flammable and an aspiration hazard; handle to the safety data sheet.