German:
Lösungsmittel, Lösemittel
Spanish:
disolventes
French:
solvants
Italian:
solventi
Russian:
растворители
Arabic:
المذيبات
Chinese:
溶剂
Japanese:
溶媒 (ようばい)
General overview of solvents
A solvent is defined as a substance which has the ability to dissolve or dilute other substances, without causing any chemical changes. Water is the most widely used solvent. Aside from water, organic solvents are the most commonly applied, whereby they are typically made up of carbon and hydrogen. These solvents are generally liquid at room temperature, but have the tendency to outgas in air, which is why they are also considered to be highly volatile. Natural solvents also exist, which are manufactured from scarcely modified natural plant products. However, the most frequently used type of solvents in this group are substances based on petroleum or natural gas. Approximately 17.9 million tons of solvents were consumed globally in 2005, which translated to a market value of roughly 8 billion Euros.
Solvents are used as additives during industrial production, for example, during the manufacture of adhesives, paints and lacquers, as well as household cleaning products. They are additionally used as components for pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, as well as detergents and paint strippers. Consequently we come into contact with solvents almost every day. However, some have been proven to be or are believed to be hazardous - accordingly, there are a multitude of environmental and health regulations regarding the use of solvents. Certain solvents have been entirely prohibited, while some have been limited to particular application areas, and many substances are recycled. Demand trends have been moving from chlorinated and hydrocarbon solvents to oxygenated and environmentally friendlier solvents.
Detailed information on solvents - their characteristics, application areas, market data, and manufacturers throughout the different world regions, as well as legal and environmental issues - can be found in Market Study - Solvents, from Ceresana Research.
Oxygenated Solvents
Oxygenated solvents include alcohols, esters, glycol ethers, and ketones. These solvent groups are, in principle, more environmentally friendly than most hydrocarbon and chlorinated solvents. Therefore, many oxygenated solvents have been able to gain market shares in recent years.
- Butanol (oxygenated solvents: alcohols)
- Ethanol (oxygenated solvents: alcohols)
- Ethyl acetate (oxygenated solvents: esters)
- Ethylene oxide (oxygentated solvents: glycol ether)
- Propylene oxide (oxygenated solvent: glycol ether)
- Acetone (oxygenated solvents: ketones)
Aliphatic Hydrocarbons
Aliphatic hydrocarbons are commonly used solvents, which are found, for example, in white spirit, petroleum, adhesives, lacquers, paints, and plastic materials containing PVC.
Hydrocarbons have the empirical formula CxHy and are organic compounds, made up of carbon and hydrogen. There are differences between aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic compounds. Aliphate is the group name for organic compounds, whose C atoms are arranged in straight or branched chains - in contrast to isocyclical compounds, whereby the C atoms form rings (benzene rings). The aliphates are complimentary to aromatic compounds: all organic compounds, which are not aromatic, are aliphatic.
Aromatic hydrocarbons
Hydrocarbons have the empirical formula CxHy and are organic compounds made up of carbon and hydrogen. There are distinctions between aliphatic, alicyclic, and aromatic compounds. Aromatic compounds are cyclical hydrocarbons, which contain at least one benzene unit. They are found in nature, for example, as flavoring substances, and are obtained from mineral oil and, in small amounts, from coal. Due to their chemical responsiveness, they are very prevalent starting materials in the chemical industry. Aromatic compounds are used as aroma substances, in the pharmaceutical sector, and in many other branches. For example, aromatic hydrocarbons can be found in fuels, adhesives, (nitrocellulose) lacquer, and thinners.
- Benzene (aromatic hydrocarbons)
- Cumene (aromatic hydrocarbon)
- Ethylbenzene (aromatic hydrocarbons)
- Toluene (aromatic hydrocarbon)
- Xylene (aromatic hydrocarbon)
Other Solvents
Last revision: 13 Feb 09
