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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Chemical Engineering Forum => Topic started by: f1r4z on July 04, 2008, 10:49:18 PM

Title: why use hexane?
Post by: f1r4z on July 04, 2008, 10:49:18 PM

hai ppl,
i wanna ask some question...
why it would prefer to use hexane instead of others liquid(butane, octane etc) in the extraction process.
for clearly, the extracting oil from palm kernel, we use hexane to extract it...

thanks a lot

f1r4zx

Title: Re: why use hexane?
Post by: enahs on July 05, 2008, 09:28:32 AM

Because the compound you are interested in is soluble in hexane, other compounds you do not want are less soluble in hexane. Not too toxic, nor too expensive, etc etc.

And butane is a gas at room temperature and pressure.

Title: Re: why use hexane?
Post by: f1r4z on July 08, 2008, 09:39:33 PM

all right, thanks enahs... :)

Title: Re: why use hexane?
Post by: sukara12345 on October 13, 2008, 12:33:56 PM

yea and the other merit of Hexane in extraction that it is not so volatile and it it boils in a very moderate temp. and suitable for not making degradation for the mother material and so good in closed extraction cycles like Soxhlet apparatus.  ;)
thank you