Toluene Solvent Liquid, Purity : >99%

Toluene is a naturally occurring compound. Toluene is primarily derived from petroleum or petrochemical processes. It is a very common component in substances like gasoline, glues, and other products. Toluene is a liquid that is colourless, water-insoluble and smells similar to paint thinners.

What is Toluene?

Toluene is also known as toluol. Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon. It is a mono-substituted benzene derivative and consists of a methyl group i.e., CH3 that is attached to a phenyl group. The systematic IUPAC name of toluene is methylbenzene. Toluene is predominantly in use as an industrial feedstock and a solvent. It is a common solvent like paints, paint thinners, silicone sealants, many chemical reactions, rubber, printing ink, adhesives (glues), lacquers, leather tanners, and disinfectants. Toluene is also in use as a recreational inhalant. Toluene has the capability of causing severe neurological harm to our body.

Uses of Toluene

The precursor to benzene and xylene

Toluene is primarily in use as a precursor to benzene via hydrodealkylation:
C6H5CH3+H2→C6H6+CH4

The other application involves its disproportionation to a mixture of benzene and xylene.

Nitration of toluene gives mono-, di-, and trinitrotoluene, all of which are broadly in use. Dinitrotoluene is the precursor to toluene diisocyanate. It is in use for the manufacture of polyurethane foam. Trinitrotoluene is the explosive typically abbreviated as TNT.

Benzoic acid and benzaldehyde are manufactured commercially by partial oxidation of toluene with oxygen. The catalysts include cobalt or manganese naphthenates.
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Toluene is in use as an octane booster in gasoline fuels for internal combustion engines as well as jet fuel. Toluene at 86 percent by volume fuelled all the turbocharged engines in Formula One during the 1980s. It was first pioneered by the Honda team. The rest 14 per cent was a fille of n-heptane. It is to reduce the octane to meet Formula One fuel restrictions.
Toluene at 100 per cent is in use as a fuel for both two-stroke and four-stroke engines. Due to the density of the fuel and other factors, the fuel does not vaporize easily unless it is preheated to 70oC or 158oF. Honda solved this problem cars by routing the fuel lines through a heat exchanger in their Formula One. It was done by drawing energy from the water in the cooling system to heat the fuel.
In Australia, toluene was found to have been illegally mixed with petrol in fuel outlets for sale as it was meant as a standard vehicular fuel. Toluene incurs no fuel excise tax, though other fuels are taxed at more than 40percent. It provides a greater profit margin for fuel suppliers.