Durene
Encyclopedia
Durene, or 1,2,4,5-tetramethylbenzene, is an aromatic hydrocarbon
used as a solvent
. It is also an intermediate in the manufacture of pyromellitic acid, which is used for manufacturing curing agents, adhesives and coating materials. It is used in the manufacture of some raw materials for engineering plastics (polyimides) and cross-linking agent for alkyd
resin
s.
1,2,4,5-Tetramethylbenzene has a simple proton NMR
spectrum comprising two signals due to the 2 aromatic hydrogens (2H) and four methyl groups (12H). It is also readily soluble in chloroform
. This compound is thus a useful internal standard
.
Durene is a significant byproduct that is created in the process of gasoline synthesis from methanol
. This is called the "MTG (Methanol To Gasoline) process"
. A network consisting of a few industrial plants in New Zealand
, though currently (as of March 2011) not in operation because their method of gasoline synthesis is more expensive than "traditional" methods (i.e. drilling for oil), may be reopened if gasoline prices rise above a certain level. The MTG process these plants employed produces a significant quantity of durene; their gasoline had to go through a process to reduce the level of durene to an acceptable one when constituting their final product. This was done in order to comply with New Zealand laws on gasoline composition.
Hydrocarbon
In organic chemistry, a hydrocarbon is an organic compound consisting entirely of hydrogen and carbon. Hydrocarbons from which one hydrogen atom has been removed are functional groups, called hydrocarbyls....
used as a solvent
Solvent
A solvent is a liquid, solid, or gas that dissolves another solid, liquid, or gaseous solute, resulting in a solution that is soluble in a certain volume of solvent at a specified temperature...
. It is also an intermediate in the manufacture of pyromellitic acid, which is used for manufacturing curing agents, adhesives and coating materials. It is used in the manufacture of some raw materials for engineering plastics (polyimides) and cross-linking agent for alkyd
Alkyd
An alkyd is a polyester modified by the addition of fatty acids and other components. They are derived from polyols and a dicarboxylic acid or carboxylic acid anhydride. The term alkyd is a modification of the original name "alcid", reflecting the fact that they are derived from alcohol and...
resin
Resin
Resin in the most specific use of the term is a hydrocarbon secretion of many plants, particularly coniferous trees. Resins are valued for their chemical properties and associated uses, such as the production of varnishes, adhesives, and food glazing agents; as an important source of raw materials...
s.
1,2,4,5-Tetramethylbenzene has a simple proton NMR
Proton NMR
Proton NMR is the application of nuclear magnetic resonance in NMR spectroscopy with respect to hydrogen-1 nuclei within the molecules of a substance, in order to determine the structure of its molecules. In samples where natural hydrogen is used, practically all of the hydrogen consists of the...
spectrum comprising two signals due to the 2 aromatic hydrogens (2H) and four methyl groups (12H). It is also readily soluble in chloroform
Chloroform
Chloroform is an organic compound with formula CHCl3. It is one of the four chloromethanes. The colorless, sweet-smelling, dense liquid is a trihalomethane, and is considered somewhat hazardous...
. This compound is thus a useful internal standard
Internal standard
An internal standard in analytical chemistry is a chemical substance that is added in a constant amount to samples, the blank and calibration standards in a chemical analysis. This substance can then be used for calibration by plotting the ratio of the analyte signal to the internal standard signal...
.
Durene is a significant byproduct that is created in the process of gasoline synthesis from methanol
Methanol
Methanol, also known as methyl alcohol, wood alcohol, wood naphtha or wood spirits, is a chemical with the formula CH3OH . It is the simplest alcohol, and is a light, volatile, colorless, flammable liquid with a distinctive odor very similar to, but slightly sweeter than, ethanol...
. This is called the "MTG (Methanol To Gasoline) process"
Gas to liquids
Gas to liquids is a refinery process to convert natural gas or other gaseous hydrocarbons into longer-chain hydrocarbons such as gasoline or diesel fuel...
. A network consisting of a few industrial plants in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, though currently (as of March 2011) not in operation because their method of gasoline synthesis is more expensive than "traditional" methods (i.e. drilling for oil), may be reopened if gasoline prices rise above a certain level. The MTG process these plants employed produces a significant quantity of durene; their gasoline had to go through a process to reduce the level of durene to an acceptable one when constituting their final product. This was done in order to comply with New Zealand laws on gasoline composition.