Petroleum purification

Lassaigne test, 1039, 1040 defects in, 1043 Lead dioxide, 199 Lead tetracetate, 199, 951 Lessing rings, 92 Leuckart reaction, 561, 567 Liebermann nitroso reaction, 649 Light petroleum, purification of, 174 Ligroin, 174 Linseed oil, 445... 

Naphthenic acids have been the topic of numerous studies extending over many years. Originally recovered from the petroleum distillates to minimise corrosion of refinery equipment, they have found wide use as articles of commerce in metal naphthenates and other derivatives. A comprehensive overview of the uses of naphthenic acid and its derivatives can be found in References 1 and 2. A review of the extensive research on carboxyUc acids in petroleum conducted up to 1955 is available (3), as is a more recent review of purification, identification, and uses of naphthenic acid (4). 

Methylphenol. y -Cresol is produced synthetically from toluene. Toluene is chlorinated and the resulting chlorotoluene is hydrolyzed to a mixture of methylphenols. Purification by distillation gives a mixture of 3-methylphenol and 4-methylphenol since they have nearly identical boiling points. Reaction of this mixture with isobutylene under acid catalysis forms 2,6-di-/ f2 -butyl-4-methylphenol and 2,4-di-/ f2 -butyl-5-methylphenol, which can then be separated by fractional distillation and debutylated to give the corresponding 3- and 4-methylphenols. A mixture of 3- and 4-methylphenols is also derived from petroleum cmde and coal tars. 

Propylene oxide is a useful chemical intermediate. Additionally, it has found use for etherification of wood (qv) to provide dimensional stabiUty (255,256), for purification of mixtures of organosiUcon compounds (257), for disinfection of cmde oil and petroleum products (258), for steriliza tion of medical equipment and disinfection of foods (259,260), and for stabilization of halogenated organics (261—263). 

The octyl hydrogen phthalate is filtered, washed with water, ground thoroughly with water in a mortar and finally filtered and dried. For complete purification it may be crystallized either from petroleum ether (b.p. 60-70°) or glacial acetic acid from which it separates as needles melting at 55°. The crude material, however, is perfectly satisfactory for the following experiments. The yield is nearly quantitative if the ec.-octyl alcohol is pure (Note 2). 

Acids that are solids can be purified in this way, except that distillation is replaced by repeated crystallisation (preferable from at least two different solvents such as water, alcohol or aqueous alcohol, toluene, toluene/petroleum ether or acetic acid.) Water-insoluble acids can be partially purified by dissolution in N sodium hydroxide solution and precipitation with dilute mineral acid. If the acid is required to be free from sodium ions, then it is better to dissolve the acid in hot N ammonia, heat to ca 80°, adding slightly more than an equal volume of N formic acid and allowing to cool slowly for crystallisation. Any ammonia, formic acid or ammonium formate that adhere to the acid are removed when the acid is dried in a vacuum — they are volatile. The separation and purification of naturally occurring fatty acids, based on distillation, salt solubility and low temperature crystallisation, are described by K.S.Markley (Ed.), Fatty Acids, 2nd Edn, part 3, Chap. 20, Interscience, New York, 1964. 

Common impurities found in aldehydes are the corresponding alcohols, aldols and water from selfcondensation, and the corresponding acids formed by autoxidation. Acids can be removed by shaking with aqueous 10% sodium bicarbonate solution. The organic liquid is then washed with water. It is dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate or magnesium sulfate and then fractionally distilled. Water soluble aldehydes must be dissolved in a suitable solvent such as diethyl ether before being washed in this way. Further purification can be effected via the bisulfite derivative (see pp. 57 and 59) or the Schiff base formed with aniline or benzidine. Solid aldehydes can be dissolved in diethyl ether and purified as above. Alternatively, they can be steam distilled, then sublimed and crystallised from toluene or petroleum ether. 

Because phenols are weak acids, they can be freed from neutral impurities by dissolution in aqueous N sodium hydroxide and extraction with a solvent such as diethyl ether, or by steam distillation to remove the non-acidic material. The phenol is recovered by acidification of the aqueous phase with 2N sulfuric acid, and either extracted with ether or steam distilled. In the second case the phenol is extracted from the steam distillate after saturating it with sodium chloride (salting out). A solvent is necessary when large quantities of liquid phenols are purified. The phenol is fractionated by distillation under reduced pressure, preferably in an atmosphere of nitrogen to minimise oxidation. Solid phenols can be crystallised from toluene, petroleum ether or a mixture of these solvents, and can be sublimed under vacuum. Purification can also be effected by fractional crystallisation or zone refining. For further purification of phenols via their acetyl or benzoyl derivatives (vide supra). 

Benzene, which has been used as a solvent successfully and extensively in the past for reactions and purification by chromatography and crystallisation is now considered a very dangerous substance so it hasto be used with extreme care. We emphasise that an alternative solvent system to benzene (e.g. toluene, toluene-petroleum ether, or a petroleum ether to name a few) should be used first. However, if no other solvent system can be found then all operations involving benzene have to be performed in an efficient fumehood and precautions must be taken to avoid inhalation and contact with skin and eyes. Whenever benzene is mentioned in the text an asterisk e.g. C Hg or benzene, is inserted to remind the user that special precaution should be adopted. 

Adipic acid [124-04-9] M 146.1, m 154 , pK 4.44, pK 5.45. For use as a volumetric standard, adipic acid was crystd once from hot water with the addition of a little animal charcoal, dried at 120 for 2h, then recrystd from acetone and again dried at 120 for 2h. Other purification procedures include crystn from ethyl acetate and from acetone/petroleum ether, fusion followed by filtration and crystn from the melt, and preliminary distn under vac. 

Skellysolve L is essentially octanes, b 95-127°. For methods of purification, see petroleum ether. 

Solid sulfonyl cyanides now show a melting point not more than 1-2 below that of recrystallized material. They may be used with t further purification. Analytically pure samples are obtained by r crystallization from dry benzene, diy petroleum ether, or a mixture or the two. 

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