(a) Ninety per cent. benzol, so called because in the distillation 90 per cent, should come over at a temperature of 100° C. It is made up of 80-85 per cent. benzene, 13-15 per cent. toluene, 2-3 per cent. xylene, and contains, as impurities, traces of olefines, paraffins, sulphuretted hydrogen, and other bodies.
(b) Fifty per cent. benzol contains 50 per cent. of constituents distilling at 100° C. and 90 per cent. at 120° C.; it is a very mixed product, with only 40-50 per cent. of benzene.
(c) Solvent naphtha, so called because it is largely used for dissolving rubber, is free from benzene, but contains xylene and its homologues and other unknown hydrocarbons.
Fig. 24.—Column Apparatus of Hickman for Distillation of Benzene (after Ost)
A Still body; B Analysing column; C Cooler; D Condenser for pure distillate.
Benzol is widely used. Ninety per cent. benzol is largely used in the chemical industry, serving for the preparation of dye stuffs, pharmaceutical preparations, scents, &c. In other industries it took the place of benzine and also of turpentine oil, especially in the paint industry, since it evaporates quickly and readily dissolves resins. Hence it is used in the preparation of quick drying ship’s paints, as a protection against rust, and as an isolating lacquer (acid proof colours) for electrical apparatus, in the production of deck varnishes, and as a solvent of resins.
This use of benzol in the paint industry is by no means unattended with danger, as benzol is poisonous. Far less harmful, if not altogether without risk, is use of benzol free solvent naphtha—but this evaporates only slowly and hence cannot take the place of benzol.
Benzol serves further for fat extraction from bones in manure factories and of caffein from coffee beans.
Again, it is used as a motive power in motor vehicles.