Toluene Market Insights
Toluene is a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet smell and low toxicity. The chemical formula for toluene is CHCH3 and it belongs to the family of organic compounds called benzene and phenols. In the past, toluene was used in making industrial chemicals like xylene and tetrachloroethane, but now it is mainly used as a solvent or paint remover. Toluene affects the central nervous system by acting as an antidepressant, which makes it hard for people who abuse it to feel sad or tired.Â
Toluene can be easily extracted from toluol or benzene and it can also be manufactured by reacting benzene with chlorine. The chemical formula for toluene is CHCH3 and it consists of 10 carbon atoms, 6 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms. The boiling point of toluene is 27 °C which is somewhat lower than the boiling point of benzene which is about 80 °C.Â
Toluene occurs commonly in petroleum products, such as gasoline, fuel oil, kerosine and some other kinds of petroleum based products. Benzene is another chemical that occurs commonly in petroleum products. Benzoyl chloride is a common chemical used for the production of dyes and rubber chemicals. Toluene can be found in many ordinary chemical products, such as paint removers and nail polish. It is also a common ingredient in woodstain strippers.Â
Toluene is used in the process of making some benzyl derivatives. It is also used as an industrial cleaning solvent to remove oils from metal surfaces and it is featured heavily in the wood finishing industry. Toluene is quite useful because it can evaporate easily and it will not leave any oily residue behind since toluene actually dissolves oils rather than breaking them down like most cleaning solvents do. In the past, toluene was used as a solvent in the production of herbicides, pesticides and plastic polymers.Â
In the past, toluene was used as an anesthetic for surgery but it is rarely used today because it can damage nerve cells. Some of the symptoms of nerve damage include numbness and tingling in fingers and toes, confusion, dizziness and drowsiness. Toluene can also cause contact dermatitis, which is a rash that occurs when your skin comes into contact with it.Â
Toluene abuse has been a problem for some teenagers because its depressant effects make them feel good and they tend to abuse it more than they would other drugs that are stronger. Toluene, also called toluol, methylbenzene or phenylmethane, is a colorless aromatic liquid. It is extracted from petroleum and natural gas. Toluene is a part of gasoline and can be found in paints, paint thinners and other chemical products.Â
Toluene affects the central nervous system (CNS) by depressing the function of the brain. At low doses it induces feelings of euphoria while at high doses it causes headaches, drowsiness and nausea which after prolonged exposure leads to liver or kidney damage or respiratory failure leading to death. The effects are equal to that of alcohol at very high doses.Â
Toluene is also a solvent and slightly soluble in water which means it dissolves other lipophilic chemicals such as petroleum products. It is also an intermediate ingredient in the synthesis of benzene-based chemicals such as dyes, herbicides, insecticides, gasoline additives (such as octane boosters) and plasticizers. Toluene is also used in the production of many organic compounds including aspirin, acetone, DCP (dichlorophenol) and phthalates. In high doses toluene can cause neurotoxicity that is similar to Parkinson's disease. Toluene is also a narcotic.Â
Toluene can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes of the body at low levels. It can enter the body if one gets in contact with toluene vapors, powdery toluene or heated toluene. The minimum lethal human dose is dependent on the person's weight, length of exposure and other medical factors. Generally, a lethal dose is considered to be greater than 3500 mg/m³ exposure for a prolonged period of time (greater than 6 hours).
