Among the many specialty hydrocarbons we can produce are isohexane and n-hexane. The latter is commonly used as a solvent in both edible oil extraction and polymerization. It is a highly efficient solvent for that specific purpose. But isohexane offers an alternative, an alternative that is deemed safer for many types of applications.
Isohexane drives the same efficiency n-hexane is known for. It does so by reducing energy demand for solvent recovery. Under some applications, it also increases throughput while still giving comparable oil yields and polarization performance. Its structure facilitates the desirable hexane-like solvency while changing volatility and operating behavior in beneficial ways.
Isohexane In Edible Oil Extraction
One of the key drivers of efficiency is energy. The less energy required during desolventizing and distillation, the more efficient a process is. Ideally, processors want to use the least amount of thermal energy for solvent recovery. Isohexane is perfectly suited for that goal. It accomplishes the goal better than many other solvents.
Isohexane requires less steam energy to do what it does. Choosing it as an alternative to n-hexane can reduce operating costs and make steam-limited plants more efficient. Best of all, isohexane is a low-boiling, non-polar C6 hydrocarbon that doesn’t require sacrificing performance for increased efficiency.
In the business of extracting oil from cotton-seed plants, swapping out n-hexane for isohexane requires little-to-no process retrofitting. More oil can be extracted per hour, leading to higher plant throughput without increasing extraction hardware.
Studies have shown that overall extraction efficiency, measured in terms of oil yield and minor component removal, is comparable to n-hexane processes. Efficiency gains are realized whether isohexane is used alone or as part of a mixed solvent system.
Solvent Residue After Extraction
Isohexane is considered a safer alternative to n-hexane for edible oil extraction because residue levels following extraction are expected to be extremely low. When standard desolventizing and refining are properly applied, residue measurements are typically in the trace ppm range.
Manufacturers can use several mitigation and verification steps to ensure minimal residue levels. Among them is utilizing integrated systems that optimize desolventizing, deodorization, and vapor handling.
Isohexane in Polymerization and Polymer Processing
In polymer and rubber manufacturing, isohexane is normally used as an inert hydrocarbon medium for slurry polymerization. Manufacturers also use it as a solvent in manufacturing adhesives and coatings. In many cases, isohexane fits process requirements well enough to be a full substitute for n-hexane or other similar solvents. As long as the solvent remains inert, there is no fundamental change in catalyst chemistry.
The efficiency gains of utilizing isohexane are directly related to the compound’s volatility and handling characteristics. For example, isohexane’s nature as a low-boiling C6 solvent makes it ideal for supporting reflux cooling. It can easily be removed from polymer slurry as well.
The result is that plants optimize energy consumption in solvent recovery in much the same way as manufacturers in oil extraction. Isohexane even gives petrochemical producers more flexibility in solvent selection and recycling.
The Trecora Advantage
Isohexane is one of many specialty chemicals and hydrocarbons that Trecora can produce. We offer tailored chemistry along with batch-to-batch consistency using strict process controls. We can produce specialty chemicals and hydrocarbons at virtually any volume regardless of your needs.
If your processes for edible oil extraction or plastics polymerization require the use of n-hexane as a solvent, consider looking at isohexane as well. As a safer alternative, isohexane drives efficiency by reducing energy needs without sacrificing production or finished product quality. We welcome your inquiries about isohexane or any of the other products we manufacture.
