Alkanes are a class of organic compounds in which the carbon atoms in the molecule are connected by carbon-carbon single bonds, and the rest of the valence bonds are combined with hydrogen to form compounds. According to whether there is a carbon branch chain or not, alkanes are divided into n-alkanes (also known as n-alkanes, linear alkanes) and isoparaffins. Orthomorphism indicates that the chain in the molecule is a straight chain without the presence of branched substituents. Heterosterism refers to the presence of branched chains in a molecule.
n-paraffin, also known as liquid paraffin (referred to as liquid wax), refers to the paraffin wax containing n-paraffin obtained by separating by molecular sieve adsorption and separation or isopropanol-urea dewaxing with kerosene or diesel fraction as raw material, which is called liquid paraffin because it is transparent colorless or light yellow liquid at room temperature. According to the fraction, it can be divided into light liquid paraffin (referred to as light wax) and heavy liquid paraffin (referred to as heavy wax), and the number of carbon atoms in alkanes C9 C13 is light wax, and C14 C16 is heavy wax. N-alkanes are suitable for the production of linear alkylbenzene, chlorinated paraffins, lauric acid, brasilic acid, long-chain diacids or advanced fragrances, nylon plastics, etc.
Isoparaffin is a kind of alkane with a branched chain structure, with a specific flash point, volatile properties and distillation range of synthetic solvents, usually we are exposed to C8-C20 carbon number of isoparaffin solvents. Isoparaffin solvents are colorless and odorless, have a very low freezing point, good fluidity at low temperatures, and have the characteristics of low volatilization rate and low fluid viscosity. Due to its branched chain structure (which can be imagined as a fishbone), the intermolecular force is small, the surface tension is low, the cloud point is low, the melting and boiling point is low, the volatilization of the same distillation section is faster than that of other solvents, and it is easily biodegradable, and has no adverse effects on the environment.
Isoparaffin solvents are the best choice for a wide range of industrial cleaners and can be used as an alternative to chlorinated solvents, mineral oils, and kerosene-based cleaning fluids, and the high purity of isomeric products, combined with the relative inertness of the saturated isoparaffin structure, minimizes or eliminates harmful reactions in industrial processes and consumer applications. Isoparaffins are the highest-end products of environmentally friendly solvent oils, and there are many types, among which the most widely used are isododecane (Isopar H, Isopar L) and isocetane (Isopar M). As a solvent oil with a narrow distillation range in hydrocarbon solvents, it has a wide range of uses, high added value and broad economic prospects.