Have you ever come across the term cyclohexane? Cyclohexane is a colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent odor. The odor of cyclohexane is almost detergent-like reminiscent of cleaning products.
It is used as a solvent and paint remover in analytical chemistry and industrially in making adhesive and perfumes. It is also used in the industrial production of adipic acid and caprolactam, which are all essential materials in manufacturing leather.
But with all the uses of cyclohexane mentioned above, can it catch fire? Is cyclohexane flammable?
YES, cyclohexane is highly flammable and can easily catch fire. It is also prone to explosion since vapor from the burning liquid mix quite fast with air and travels back to the source of ignition and flashback. Heating the liquid will cause a rise in pressure with the risk of bursting.
This post will cover all you need to know about cyclohexane and its level of flammability.
Contents
What Is Cyclohexane?
It is quite possible that now is the first time you’re coming across this term. Cyclohexane is also called CYX, hexamethylene, hexahydrobenzene, hexanaphthene, and benzenehexahydride.
As mentioned earlier, cyclohexane is a clear, colorless liquid with a detergent-like odor.
Cyclohexane is insoluble in water, but soluble in alcohol like acetone. Cyclohexane occurs naturally in petroleum crude oil, volcanic gases, and cigarette smoke.
Industrially, cyclohexane can be produced in two ways: The first is the catalytic hydrogenation of benzene using rhodium on carbon, and the second method is via fractional distillation of petroleum.
Uses Of Cyclohexane
Cyclohexane is used majorly in the nylon industry in the industrial production of adipic acid and caprolactam. It can also be used in producing solvents for paints, resins, correction fluid, varnish, and oil, and as a plasticizer.
Cyclohexane can also be used as an intermediate in manufacturing other industrial chemicals such as cyclohexanone and nitrocyclohexanone.
The liquid is also used as a non-polar organic solvent and as a recrystallization solvent. This is because many organic compounds are soluble in hot cyclohexane.
Cyclohexane is also used to calibrate differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) instruments, while the vapor from the liquid is used in vacuum carburizing furnaces in heat-treating manufacturing equipment.
Is Cyclohexane Flammable?
Now, let’s get back to the main gist, is cyclohexane flammable? Yes! Cyclohexane is highly flammable and combustible.
Most products that contain these liquid-like paints, nail varnish, etc., are impending fire hazards in the right circumstances and temperature.
Their flashpoints determine the flammability of most liquids. Cyclohexane has a very low flashpoint of -18 degrees Celsius, which makes it extremely explosive.
Cyclohexane has heavy vapors that can flow along surfaces to distant ignition sources and flashback. In fact, the vapors from cyclohexane can spread to confined like sewers, basements, tanks, causing a big fire explosion in such spaces.
Even when sealed containers, the right temperature can cause the container to explode or rupture, causing an explosion. While cyclohexane is not exactly a reactive liquid, it can cause an explosion when combined with strong oxidizers.
Health Hazards of Cyclohexane
Apart from being highly flammable, cyclohexane can constitute a health hazard. Thus, you should avoid coming in contact with this harmful liquid.
Ventilating this liquid can cause cough, nausea, headache, and dizziness. Thus, you need to wear breathing protection if you’re to come close to this liquid.
Contact on the skin causes skin redness and dryness of the skin. Thus, it is recommended that you wear protective gloves when coming in contact with the liquid.
Also, remove all contaminated clothes and rinse and then wash skin with water and soap after contact with cyclohexane.
Contact with the eyes can cause redness of the eyes and, in severe cases, loss of sight. Thus, always wear safety goggles or eye protection in combination with breathing protection if you’re dealing with this liquid.
Ingestion of cyclohexane can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. It goes without saying that this harmful liquid shouldn’t be ingested in any circumstances! If consumed accidentally, refer immediately for medical attention.
Safe Ways to Handle Cyclohexane
Given how flammable cyclohexane is, it goes without saying that open flames shouldn’t be brought close to it.
Avoid smoking when working with cyclohexane and also eliminate all ignition sources.
Cyclohexane should be worked within an open, well-ventilated area to avoid explosion.
Explosion-proof electrical equipment and lighting should be used when working with this liquid. Also, non-sparking hand tools are recommended to prevent any chance of explosion.
As a thumb rule, do not use compressed air for filling, discharging, or handling.
Can Water Extinguish Cyclohexane Explosion?
We have already established that this liquid is highly flammable and explosive, which begs the question, what do you do when cyclohexane catches fire?
For most liquid with low flash points like cyclohexane, the use of water spray when fighting an explosion caused by it will be ineffective.
While small explosions can be contained with water sprays, large explosions will have to be extinguished with dry chemicals, foam, or carbon dioxide.
In the event of a fire, professional firefighters should be called immediately. If you must deal with the situation, wear full protective clothing and a self-contained breathing apparatus with a full facepiece that is operated in the pressure demand or other positive pressure mode.
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