December 23, 2024, 01:17:24 PM
Forum Rules: Read This Before Posting


Topic: Toluene and methyl ethyl ketone  (Read 10288 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline vmelkon

  • Chemist
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 474
  • Mole Snacks: +28/-10
  • Gender: Male
Toluene and methyl ethyl ketone
« on: July 22, 2011, 11:01:29 AM »
I have a can of some product that is used by people who paint cars.
The can contains a liquid, probably used as a thinner for paint.
The can says it contains toluene and methyl ethyl ketone.

Since toluene bp = 110.6 °C
methyl ethyl ketone bp = 79.64 °C

can I separate them by distillation? Is it safe to do so (it won't explodo-boil like water does)?
There is the issue of azeotrope formation but I suppose noone here would know about Toluene + methyl ethyl ketone.

There are also other chemicals in there but I assume they are in low quantity since they are listed after Toluene and methyl ethyl ketone.

Offline enahs

  • 16-92-15-68 32-7-53-92-16
  • Retired Staff
  • Sr. Member
  • *
  • Posts: 2179
  • Mole Snacks: +206/-44
  • Gender: Male
Re: Toluene and methyl ethyl ketone
« Reply #1 on: July 22, 2011, 12:01:17 PM »
They do not form an azeotrope.  Yes you could separate them with fractional distillation. But the gasses are both highly flammable so be careful.

Offline vmelkon

  • Chemist
  • Full Member
  • *
  • Posts: 474
  • Mole Snacks: +28/-10
  • Gender: Male
Re: Toluene and methyl ethyl ketone
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2011, 09:35:21 PM »
I bought some lacquer thinner instead of using that thing for cars because that is cleacoat and probably has some polymer or something in it that hardens.
I bought a can of Recochem lacquer thinner. Accoring to their page, it contains 20% methyl ethyl ketone, 60-80% toluene, some methanol and 1% acetone.

I distilled it. To my surprise, it boils off gently with smaller bubbles compared to water. I'm sure it contains lots of methanol and some minor amount of acetone.

Sponsored Links