Petroleum ether, a petroleum distillation fraction, is a mixture of low molecular weight aliphatic hydrocarbons (mostly pentanes and hexanes) with a low boiling range, typically around 30-60oC. Its name is derived from its origin and its ease of evaporation. Petroleum ether is commonly used as a nonpolar solvent for oils, fats, and waxes. Petroleum ether is used in pharmaceutical industries as a solvent to isolate compounds, e.g. petroleum ether can extract stigmasterol and beta-sitosterol from the aerial parts of Ageratum conyzoides and compounds with immunomodulatory activity from Anacyclus pyrethrum. It is also used as a detergent, a fuel, insecticide, in paints and varnishes, and in photography.
PETROLEUM ETHER is a complex combination of hydrocarbons obtained from a catalytic hydrodesulfurization process. It consists of hydrocarbons having carbon numbers predominantly in the range of C7 through C12 and boiling in the range of approximately 90.degree.C to 230.degree.C (194.degree.F to 446.degree.F).
