Toluene aromatic hydrocarbon solvent is a solvent in paints, lacquers, thinners, glues, correction fluid, carbon nanotubes and nail polish remover used as an octane booster in gasoline fuels

1. Industrial Applications of
Toluene
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2. Introduction
 Toluene is an aromatic hydrocarbon solvent and
natural sources of toluene include crude oil and
small quantities it is found in tolu tree.
 Toluene alternative names include
methylbenzene, toluol, anisen, phenyl
methane.Toluene is produced during the process of
making gasoline and other fuels from crude oil, in
making coke from coal, and as a by-product in the
manufacture of styrene.

3. Industrial Applications
 Toluene has numerous commercial and industrial
applications and is a solvent in
paints, lacquers, thinners, glues, correction fluid and
nail polish remover
 Toluene used in the printing and leather tanning
processes.
 Methylbenzene can also be used as a fullerene
indicator, and is a raw material for toluene
diisocyanate.

4. Toluene in carbon nanotubes, octane boosters
 Toluene as a solvent used in carbon nanotubes
like fullerenes. It is also used as cement for fine
polystyrene kits as. Biological usage of toluene
includes breaking or disrupting red blood cells in
order to extract hemoglobin in biochemistry
experiments.
 Toluene can be used as an octane booster
in gasoline fuels used in internal combustion
engines. Absolute toluene can be used as a fuel for
both two-stroke and four-stroke engines.

5. Toluene Cosmetic and Personal care applications
 One of the cosmetic and personal care products like
nail products containing toluene are applied to the
hard, largely impenetrable surface of the nail where a
smooth and glossy film is quickly formed upon
evaporation of the solvents.
 Methylbenzene is used to manufacture
benzene, urethane raw materials, and other organic
chemicals. It is used in the production of
pharmaceuticals, dyes, and cosmetic nail products. It
is used in agricultural sector against roundworms
and hookworms.

6. Toluene Natural Occurance
 Toluene occurs naturally at low levels from crude oil and
is usually produced in the processes of gasoline via a
catalytic reformer, in an ethylene cracker or making coke
from coal. It is widely used in industry, often as a
substitute for benzene.
 The methyl group which is present in methylbenzene
makes it around 25 times more reactive than benzene in
such reactions. Methylbenzene undergoes smooth
sulfonation to give p-toluenesulfonic acid, and
chlorination by Cl2 in the presence of FeCl3 to give ortho
and para isomers of chlorotoluene.

7. Toluene Harmful Effects
Toluene may have local as well as systemic harmful
effects. It may cause irritation of the eyes, respiratory
tract, and skin. Repeated or prolonged contact with the
liquid may cause removal of natural lipids from the skin
resulting in dry, fissured dermatitis.
Low-level, chronic exposure as well as acute exposure to
toluene may result in central nervous system depression
and decreased memory.
Other symptoms include
headache, dizziness, fatigue, muscular
weakness, drowsiness, and incoordination with
staggering gait, skin paresthesia, collapse, and coma.

8. Toluene Harmful Effects Cont …
 The rate of polluted gases in the atmosphere comprises
of dissolved organic compounds which affects the
environment apparently. One of the best methods to
reduce harmful gases in environment is bioreactors.
 The bioreactors are abundantly used to degrade those
substances depending upon various parameters and
suitable materials like packing material, microbes, etc.
 One such dissolved organic compound which is highly
toxic to human beings and also present in the gaseous
state is Toluene.

9. Toluene and Bioreactor
 A bioreactor is a vessel in which a chemical process is carried out. This process can
conducted either be aerobically or anaerobically. These bioreactors are commonly
cylindrical, capacity ranging in size from litres to cubic metres, and are made of
stainless steel material.
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Bioreactor comprises of an
Air compressor
Oxygen tank
Dehumidifier
Activated carbon beds
Dynamic system for the generation of BTX vapours
Foam columns
Cell reservoir
Deformer
Controlling devices
 In the field of biochemical engineering, using various types of reactors, including an
airlift loop reactor, a bubble column reactor, a stirred tank reactor, and a jet loop
reactor etc.

10. Techniques used in treating Toluene
 Physiochemical treatment methods
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Bio filtration
Bio degradation
Thermal oxidation
Catalytic oxidation
 All these biological treatment methods can convert toluene into
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Carbon dioxide
Water
Salt
Biomass

11. Jet loop reactor - Volatile organic compound
degradation
 Jet loop reactor
 A jet loop reactor (JLR) contains a central draft tube inside the reactor. A bi
fluid (liquid and gas) nozzle is located at the top or bottom of the reactor in
a structure of two concentric cylinders. The gas delivered through one
cylinder is dispersed by the liquid jet stream, delivered through the other
cylinder.
 The liquid or gas can be circulated back to the reactor to increase the
concentration of the gas species in the liquid phase. In JLR toluene is
absorbed by circulating nonionic surfactants which is of polyoxyethylene
based (LA5 and LA7) Polyol- based and Surfactants.
 The toluene removal efficiency was 70 per cent in Tween 81. The removal
efficiency of toluene was not affected by Tween 81 which concentration is
observed by effects of liquid flow rate. Dissolving oxygen in the water is
found to be superior to other reactors interms of oxygen transfer rate per
unit power input.

12. References
 Find here Toluene chemical formula, Toluene
density, Toluene molecular weight, Toluene boiling
point
 http://www.worldofchemicals.com/wochem/pub/ch
emtoluene.html
 Toluene - Buy toluene, toluene solvents, toluene
manufacturers, toluene suppliers
 http://www.worldofchemicals.com/wocmanf/pub/fl
/chemtoluene.html