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Chemistry Forums for Students => Undergraduate General Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: stxbomber9 on December 09, 2004, 06:34:48 PM

Title: Petroleum Ether
Post by: stxbomber9 on December 09, 2004, 06:34:48 PM

I wanted to know what the easiest way is to extract or get petroleum ether? Preferably not from gasoline. Please let me know.

Title: Re:Petroleum Ether
Post by: limpet chicken on December 09, 2004, 08:00:46 PM

Zippo lighter fluid is petroleum ether, AKA colemans fuel, there are a few different brands, depending on the purity needed, test it, by placing a single drop on a mirror or glass slide and allow to evaporate.

Residue indicates oily inpurities.

Edit: a quick overview of common brands, Ronson is poor, leaves oily traces, Coleman's fuel, never used it myself, but its popular with tweakers who cook their own, so probably cheap and nasty ;D go with Vm&p naptha if you can find it, according to the hive, VM&P is the "Bee's knees" ;)

Title: Re:Petroleum Ether
Post by: Mitch on December 09, 2004, 11:23:55 PM

petroleum ether is just any hydrocarbon from pentanes to c10. It is usually collected from crude oil. Gasoline would be mostly c8(octane), depending on grade.