(_a_) _Ninety per cent. benzol_, so called because in the distillation 90
per cent, should come over at a temperature of 100° C. It is made up of
80-85 per cent. benzene, 13-15 per cent. toluene, 2-3 per cent. xylene,
and contains, as impurities, traces of olefines, paraffins, sulphuretted
hydrogen, and other bodies.
(_b_) _Fifty per cent. benzol_ contains 50 per cent. of constituents
distilling at 100° C. and 90 per cent. at 120° C.; it is a very mixed
product, with only 40-50 per cent. of benzene.
(_c_) _Solvent naphtha_, so called because it is largely used for
dissolving rubber, is free from benzene, but contains xylene and its
homologues and other unknown hydrocarbons.
[Illustration: FIG. 24.—Column Apparatus of Hickman for Distillation of
Benzene (_after Ost_)
A Still body; B Analysing column; C Cooler; D Condenser for pure
distillate.]
Benzol is widely used. Ninety per cent. benzol is largely used in
the chemical industry, serving for the preparation of dye stuffs,
pharmaceutical preparations, scents, &c. In other industries it took the
place of benzine and also of turpentine oil, especially in the paint
industry, since it evaporates quickly and readily dissolves resins.
Hence it is used in the preparation of quick drying ship’s paints, as a
protection against rust, and as an isolating lacquer (acid proof colours)
for electrical apparatus, in the production of deck varnishes, and as a
solvent of resins.
This use of benzol in the paint industry is by no means unattended with
danger, as benzol is poisonous. Far less harmful, if not altogether
without risk, is use of benzol free solvent naphtha—but this evaporates
only slowly and hence cannot take the place of benzol.
Benzol serves further for fat extraction from bones in manure factories
and of caffein from coffee beans.
Again, it is used as a motive power in motor vehicles.
The solvent naphtha above mentioned with boiling-point above 140° C. and
all the light oils are employed in chemical cleaning and for dissolving
indiarubber (see Indiarubber).
These are known in the trade erroneously as ‘benzine,’ which
unfortunately often leads to confusion with petroleum benzine (see
Petroleum) and to mistakes in toxicological accounts of poisoning.
2. Between 150° and 200° C. the _middle oil_ comes over, from which on
cooling _naphthalene_ (C₁₀H₈) crystallises out, and is subsequently
washed with caustic soda liquor and with acid; it is re-distilled and
hot pressed. The remaining liquor yields, when extracted with caustic
soda, _phenol_ (carbolic acid, C₆H₅OH), which, on addition of sulphuric
acid or carbonic acid, separates from the solution and then—generally in
special factories—is obtained pure by distillation and special purifying
processes.
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