Cyclohexane
Cyclohexane (also known as CYX, hexamethylene, hexahydrobenzene, hexanaphthene, and benzenehexahydride) is a colourless, volatile, and inflammable liquid with the formula C6H12. It has a slight odour, is insoluble in water, but is soluble in alcohol, ether, acetone, benzene, and ligroin. Cyclohexane occurs naturally in petroleum crude oil, volcanic gases and cigarette smoke.
Production
Cyclohexane can be produced on an industrial scale by two methods. The primary is the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene using rhodium on carbon with this method being favoured because of its high proficiency. The subsequent method of making Cyclohexane is via the fractional distillation of petroleum.
Storage and Distribution
Cyclohexane is normally stored and distributed in stainless steel, aluminium or lined tank cars, tank trucks, or drums. It should be stored in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area which is free from the danger of ignition and the container should be tightly closed.
Cyclohexane has a specific gravity of 0.78 and a flashpoint of -20 C and is highly flammable. For transportation purposes, it is labeled as hazard class 3 and packing group II and should be labelled asflammable, as risky if swallowed or inhaled, and as a risk to aquatic systems.
Uses
Cyclohexane is used predominately in the nylon industry in the making of cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone. These two chemicals are afterward used to manufacture the intermediates adipic acid and caprolactam, that are then themselves used in the making of nylon. Roughly 60% of Cyclohexane is consumed in the industrial production of adipic acid, via cyclohexanol, which is then used to create Nylon 6.6 fibre. These fibres are used in apparel such as hosiery, sleepwear, underwear, carpets, and home furnishings. They are in addition used in tough fabrics (such as those used in parachutes or backpacks), cords and fishing lines, and brush bristles. Cyclohexane is too used to create caprolactam, via the intermediate Cyclohexanone, which is the monomer for Nylon 6. Nylon 6 is then used in the manufacture of carpeting, textiles, hosiery, and tyre cords.
Cyclohexane is too employed both as a solvent for paints, resins, varnish and grease, and as a plasticiser. It can too be used as an intermediate in the manufacture of other industrial chemicals such as benzene, cyclohexyl chloride, and nitrocyclohexanone.Cyclohexane can in addition be a component of dry cleaning chemicals and insecticides, and it can in addition be used in solid form as a fuel for camp stoves. It is as well used in analytical chemistry for molecular load determination and can be used in the extraction of necessary oils.
