Description
Petroleum distillates are colorless liquid petrochemical
mixtures with kerosene-like odor and a boiling range of
90–240 °C containing hydrocarbons ranging between C7
and C12 divided into three major components. The group
with highest proportion (30–50%) is usually linear and
branched alkanes. The second group of relevant components
is cycloalkanes, which can be found in petroleum distillates
between 30 and 40%. Finally aromatic hydrocarbons can
also be found in significant proportions up to 25% in these
distillates. Nevertheless, it is important to keep in mind that
petroleum distillates may change over the years, mainly due
to different origins of crude oils used for production and
changes undergone in the refinery processes, which can
conduce to variations in the exact composition of the same
product even among different manufacturers. It is also remarkable that the name ‘petroleum distillates’ might
include other preparations coming from different distillations
of crude petroleum; indeed, European regulation for
classification of labeling of chemicals considers petroleum
distillates as a total of 12 different products, five with CAS
number as described above plus another seven preparations
corresponding to heavier distillation fractions (higher
than C15).
The petroleum distillates can be divided into three different
categories according to the manufacturing procedure, that might
be by catalytic hydrodesulfurization (type 1), by solvent extraction
(type 2), or by treating a petroleum fraction with hydrogen
in the presence of a catalyst (type 3) . The proportion or
aromatics is lower than 25, 5, and 1% for types 1, 2, and 3,
respectively. A special preparation of petroleum distillate type 1
is manufactured in the United States under the name of Stoddard
solvent. A fourth type (type 4) might be considered as
a crude mixture not treated beyond the process of distillation.
Petroleum distillates types 1, 2, and 3 are further divided
into three technical grades, which are defined by flash point:
low flash petroleum distillates (ranging between 21 and 30 C),
regular flash petroleum distillates (ranging between 31 and
54 C), and high flash petroleum distillates (with flash point
higher than 55 °C).
Petroleum solvents are included by International Agency for
Research on Cancer within Group 3 (not classifiable as to its
carcinogenicity to humans). However, the current European
regulations consider distillates as belonging to carcinogen
category 1B (presumed to have carcinogenic potential for
humans) and require that these distillates be labeled with the
hazard statement H350 (may cause cancer). In addition, they
are also classified for aspiration toxicity and mutagenicity.
Chemical Properties
Colorless liquid with a kerosene-like odor;density 0.79 at 20°C (68°F); boils at 154–202°C (309–395°F); insoluble in water, miscible with most organic solvents..
Uses
Coating agent; float; food additive; frothflotation cleaning; insecticide formulations component.
Uses
White spirit is generally used:
- As a solvent for the extraction of oil-bituminous rock organic components from mineral.
- As a component in the mixture of organic liquids to clean the coal samples by float/sink gravity separations.
White spirit with ~17% aromatics basis can be used as a solvent in the synthesis of alkyd resin from camelina oil.
Uses
Petroleum distillates are used as extraction, cleaning, and
degreasing solvents. The industrial uses of petroleum distillates
include solvent in aerosols, paints, wood preservatives, waxes,
asphalt products, photocopier toners, printing inks, adhesives,
dry cleaners, lacquers, and varnishes.
Definition
STODDARD SOLVENT is a complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained from the distillation of crude oil or natural gasoline. It consists predominantly of saturated hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C9 through C12 and boiling in the range of approximately 140.degree.C to 220.degree.C (284.degree.F to 428.degree.F).
Health Hazard
Recommended Personal Protective Equipment: Plastic gloves; goggles or face shield (as for gasoline); Symptoms Following Exposure: INHALATION: mild irritation of respiratory tract. ASPIRATION: severe lung irritation and rapidly developing pulmonary edema; central nervous system excitement followed by depression. INGESTION: irritation of stomach; General Treatment for Exposure: INHALATION: remove victim to fresh air. ASPIRATION: enforced bed rest; give oxygen; call a doctor. INGESTION: do NOT induce vomiting; guard against aspiration into lungs. EYES: wash with copious amounts of water. SKIN: wipe off and wash with soap and water; Toxicity by Inhalation (Threshold Limit Value): 200 ppm; Short-Term Inhalation Limits: 4000-7000 ppm for 60 min.; Toxicity by Ingestion: Grade 2, LD50 = 0.5 to 5 g/kg; Late Toxicity: Data not available; Vapor (Gas) Irritant Characteristics: Vapors are nonirritating to the eyes and throat; Liquid or Solid Irritant Characteristics: Minimum hazard. If spilled on clothing and allowed to remain, may cause smarting and reddening of skin; Odor Threshold: Data not available.
Health Hazard
No serious health hazard has been reported asresulting from exposure to Stoddard solvent.Vapors are an irritant to the eyes, nose, andthroat. Skin contact can cause defatting andirritation. A 7-hour exposure to 1700 ppmwas lethal to cats.
Flammability and Explosibility
Flammable
Chemical Reactivity
Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reaction; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.
Environmental Fate
Bioaccumulation and Environmental Persistency
No relevant information is available regarding the potential of
petroleum distillates to be bioaccumulated. However, its
potential for bioaccumulation is dependent of the bioaccumulation
potential of their individual components. In
general, lower molecular weight alkenes display higher water
solubility and do not tend to bioaccumulate, aromatics may
exhibit a moderate tendency to bioaccumulate, and the higher
molecular weights alkanes tend to bioaccumulate, as observed
in aquatic organisms such as mussels and others after crude fuel spills containing several of the components found in petroleum
distillates.
The volatile hydrocarbons tend to be photodegraded in the
atmosphere. The hydrocarbons dissolved in water or retained
on soil can be biodegraded by microorganisms. In general, the
rate of biodegradation is higher for aromatics than for
aliphatic hydrocarbons, and for lineal hydrocarbons than for
branched or cyclic compounds. Degradation by aerobic
microorganisms is usually faster than degradation by anaerobic
microorganisms.
Toxicity evaluation
The mechanism of action of petroleum distillates on central
nervous system is not known, but it is reported that inhalation
of petroleum distillates causes oxidative stress in hippocampus.
The nephrotoxicity of petroleum distillates has been clearly
demonstrated in rats, but not in other species like humans,
rabbits, guinea pigs, dogs, and monkeys. It is proposed that
petroleum distillates exert their toxic effects on kidney by
binding to the carrier protein a-globulin after their resorption
in the proximal tubule, causing in this way the described
nephropathy. The selectivity of this toxic effect toward rats is
explained because this target protein is synthesized in large
amounts only in this species. Humans do not produce a-globulin, which allows being resistant to nephrotoxicity
induced by hydrocarbons. The resistance of female and castrated
male rats to this kind of nephrotoxicity is understood
considering that the synthesis of a-globulin is under androgenic
control.
