Xylene, also called dimethylbenzene or xylol, is an aromatic hydrocarbon derived from benzene.
It is a colorless, volatile, flammable liquid that emits an unpleasant odor at room temperature.
Xylene is composed of three isomeric structures:
- 1,2 – dimethylbenzene, also called orthodimethylbenzene (o-xylene) ;
- 1,3 – dimethylbenzene, also known as metadimethylbenzene (m-xylene);
- The 1,4 – dimethylbenzene or paradimethylbenzene (p-xylene).
The proportions of the different isomers – and of other constituents such as ethylbenzene – depend on the origin of the product, whether it is obtained by catalytic reforming or by cracking for example.
Xylene can be used in the following products
- Varnish solvent
- Paints
- In printing
- Rubber
- manufacturing
- Leather
- Cleaning
- Plant protection
- products
- Raw materials for the plastics industry
- Additives for certain fuels