Although geothermal resources are abundant on several of the
islands, apart from Guadeloupe which has a 4.5 MWe binary
plant, geothermal development is still in the early stages for
several reasons:

1. Geothermal development is not a priority in the energy policies
   of the island governments. Traditionally, the islands have
   depended on diesel generation, with the exceptions of
   Dominica and St.Vincent which use hydroelectric power.
2. None of the countries have geothermal laws; many do not have
   laws for the regulation of the electricity sector in particular.
3. Limited financing and the high cost of geothermal exploration
   has held back the projects in the feasibility stage.
4. There are no economic incentives for geothermal development.
5. The population, and consequently the markets, of the islands
   are small.

Geothermal Energy Potential
Huttrer ranks the islands, in order of development potential, as follows:

1. Guadeloupe
2. St. Lucia
3. Dominica
4. St. Vincent
5. Nevis
6. Saba
7. St. Kitts
8. Grenada
9. Martinique
10. Montserrat
11. Statia
    Geothermal power could almost
    surely be sold to the utilities for
    less than the 12 -15¢/kWh cost of
    generation now estimated by the
    various utility companies, and the
    prospect of initiating significant
    savings is appealing to government
    officials as well as the citizens-onthe-streets (Huttrer, 1998).

Dominica
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• Dominica has an estimated 1,390 MWe of
geothermal power potential. Geothermal
development is important as a substitute for
diesel generation and to supply Dominica’s
increasing base load demand.
• The French institute of geological
investigations and mines, Bureau de
Recherches Géologiques et Minières
(BRGM), began the first integrated
exploration of Dominica’s geothermal
resources in 1977, identifying three areas of
interest: Watten Waven, Boiling Lake, and
Soufrière.
• 13th March 2008, Government launched a
250 Million Euro Geothermal Project titled
“Preparations of a geo-thermal based cross
border electrical interconnection in the
Caribbean.”

Grenada
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•Grenada has an estimated 1,110 MWe of
geothermal power potential. OLADE
observed a possible resource of high
enthalpy in the area of Mount Saint
Catherine in 1981 which was later
confirmed in 1992 as part of the
UN/DTCD program.
•Prefeasibility studies have revealed one
small solfatara on Mount Saint Catherine,
several small thermal springs in ravines
radial to the central volcano, and numerous
relatively young phreatic explosion craters.
Additionally, the sub-sea volcano “Kickem-Jenny” lies only five miles off
Grenada’s north coast suggesting that the
zone between it and the central
northeastern part of the island may be of
geothermal interest.

Guadeloupe
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•Guadeloupe has an estimated 3,500 MWe
of geothermal power potential.
Guadeloupe has the only geothermal
power plant in the Caribbean, a 4.5 MWe
double flash power plant at Bouillante
which came online in 1984 and supplies
the leeward coast of Basse-Terre with
electricity.
•The plant has been generating at an
average rate of 4.7 MWe. The Bouillante
plant had intermittent problems caused by
relatively high amounts of noncondensable gases and associated H2S04,
which seem to have been mitigated by
Compagnie Française de Géothermie
(CFG) (Huttrer, 1998).
•There are plans to expand the Bouillante
plant.

Martinique
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•The very active Mt. Pele
comprises an obvious locus for
geothermal resources. There are
solfataras, hot springs,
underlying earthquake activity,
and well developed fracture
systems (Huttrer, 1998).
•Martinique has an estimated
3,500 MWe of geothermal
power potential.
•There are plans to set up a
geothermal plant in Martinique
(Lawrence, 1998).

Montserrat
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•Montserrat has an estimated 940
MWe of geothermal power
potential.
•Even before the 1995 eruption,
the southwestern flank of the
Soufrière Hills Volcano was the
site of solfataric activity and of
numerous thermal springs.
•There was also significant
seismic activity, and several
well developed fracture systems
transecting the volcano (Huttrer,
1998.

Netherland Antilles
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• The Netherlands Antilles have an
estimated 3,000 MWe of geothermal
power potential. Saba is a small island
comprising a central volcano with at least
15 andesitic domes on its flanks. There is a
record of volcanic eruption(s) less than
1000 years ago and there are numerous hot
springs along the shoreline and just off
shore.
• The island is highly fractured, some hot
springs temperatures have risen in the last
40 years. INEEL, GMC, and USGIC
prepared a preliminary assessment of the
potential for the development of
geothermal resources of Saba and Statia
under a DOE sponsored program.
• While some heat probably remains
beneath The Quill on Statia there are no
known hot springs or paleo-thermal
areas on the island (Huttrer, 1998).

Saint Kitts & Nevis
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
•St. Kitts and Nevis have an estimated 50 MWe
of geothermal power potential. INEEL, GMC,
and USGIC prepared a preliminary assessment
of the potential for the development of
geothermal resources of St. Kitts and Nevis
under a DOE sponsored program.
•There are encouraging geothermal indicia at
five places on Nevis. On Nevis’s western and
southern sides there are two solfataras,
numerous thermal wells, and a large area of
hydrothermal alteration.
•On St. Kitts, though there are moderately large
areas of steaming ground in the crater of Mount
Liamuiga, as well as thermal springs along the
western shoreline, the geothermal indicia are
less well-defined than on the other islands
(Huttrer, 1998).

Saint Lucia
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• St. Lucia has an estimated 680 MWe of geothermal power
potential.
• In the 1980s, Aquater (Italy), Los Alamos National
Laboratory (funded by USAID), and the UN Revolving Fund
for Natural Resources Exploration (UN/RFNR) conducted
prefeasibility studies which included drilling production-size
exploratory wells.
• The second of two wells drilled by a team led by Italian
geothermists found what appeared to be an economically
exploitable resource. Unfortunately, this well suffered
mechanical failures and the produced steam was never
harnessed to generate power.
• More recently, INEEL, GMC, and USGIC prepared a
preliminary assessment of the potential for the development
of geothermal resources of St. Lucia under a DOE sponsored
program.
• Geothermal indicia on St. Lucia comprise a very large
solfatara near the village of Soufrière, numerous thermal
springs, and very recent volcanic activity including both
phreatic and pyroclastic eruptions (Huttrer, 1998).

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines
Geothermal Sites / Projects:
• St. Vincent and the Grenadines have an estimated
890 MWe of geothermal power potential.
• St. Vincent’s geothermal potential has not been
formally studied. INEEL, GMC, and USGIC
prepared a preliminary assessment of the potential
for the development of geothermal resources of St.
Vincent under a DOE sponsored program.
• La Soufrière volcano has erupted three times since
1902, there is a steaming resurgent dome in the
crater and there are numerous hot springs in river
valleys on the western side of the volcano (Huttrer,
1998). Of additional interest are three striking
features near Wallibou Beach, in an area locally
known as “Hot Waters,” and a circular feature near
Morgans Wood near Trinity Falls (Huttrer, 1995).

Bibliography
•Battocletti, Liz. 1999. Database of Geothermal Resources in Latin American & the Caribbean. Bob Lawrence & Associates Inc. for Sandia National
Laboratories under Contract No. AS-0989.
•Barthelmy, Aloysius (1990). “The Economics of Geothermal Power in Saint Lucia, West Indies,” Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, Vol.
14, Part 1, August 1990, pp. 477-481.
•———— (1990). “Overview of Geothermal Exploration in Saint Lucia, West Indies,” Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, Vol. 14, Part 1,
August 1990, pp. 227-234.
•“Caribbean Geothermal Potential” (1998). The U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies, Vol. 3, Issue 4, November, p. 4.
•D’Archimbaud, Jean Demians and Jean-Pierre Munier-Jolain (1975). “Geothermal Exploration Progress at Bouillante in Guadeloupe,” Second United
Nations Symposium. Berkeley, CA; Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory; Volume 1, Issue: May, pp. 105-107.
•Demange, Jacques et al. (1995). “The Use of Low- Enthalpy Geothermal Energy in France,” Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress, 1995,
Florence, Italy: International Geothermal Association, pp. 105-114.
•Gandino, A. et al. (1985). “Preliminary Evaluation of Soufriere, Geothermal Field, St. Lucia (Lesser Antilles),” Geothermics, Pergamon Press plc,
Volume 14, No. 4, pp. 577-590.
•Huttrer, Gerald W. (1995). “A Report Describing Airphoto Lineaments On and Near Soufrière Volcano, St. Vincent, W.I.” Prepared for Lockheed
Idaho Technologies Company under Purchase Order No. C95-175738.
•———— (1995). “A Report Describing the Results of a Literature Search and Review of the Geology of St. Vincent, W.I..” Prepared for Lockheed
Idaho Technologies Company under Purchase Order No. C95-175738.
•———— (1996). Final Report Regarding Prefeasibility Studies of the Potential for Geothermal Development, St. Vincent, W.I. Work supported in
part by Lockheed Idaho Technologies Company under Subcontract C95-175738 and by the U.S. Department of Energy under DOE Idaho Operations
Office Contract DEAC07-94ID13223.
•———— (1998). “Geothermal Small Power Generation Opportunities in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean Sea,” Presented at the “Geothermal
Off-Grid Power Workshop” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Geothermal Technologies, Sandia National Laboratories, and the
Geothermal Resources Council, Reno, Nevada, December 2-4.
•———— (1995). “Trip Report: Pre-Feasibility Studies of the Potential for Geothermal Development in St. Vincent, W.I.” Submitted to US/ECRE
under the terms of Cost Reimbursable Assistance Subagreement No. AID T-94-09-01 under USAID Cooperative Agreement No. LAG- 5730-A-00-
3049-00.
•Jaudin, Florence (1994). “Bouillante Exploitation, “ IGA News, Number 19, October-December 1994 (see also
http://www.demon.co.uk/geosci/wrguadel.html). Meridian Corporation (1987). “Focus on St. Lucia: A Geothermal International Series,” Prepared for
Los Alamos National Laboratory under Contract No. 9-X36-3652C.
•Rivera, R.J. et al. (1990). “Geothermal Project at St. Lucia (W.I.) — A Preliminary Assessment of the Resource,” Proceedings: Fifteenth Workshop on
Geothermal Reservoir Engineering, Stanford, CA; Stanford University; January 23-25, 1990; pp. 147-159.
•Saba Tourist Bureau, http://www.turq.com/saba, Turquoise Systems Group.
•St. Eustatius Tourist Bureau, http://www.turq.com/statia, Turquoise Systems Group.

The cooling water pumps cool down steam or fluid, depending on the application:

• Binary Cycle Geothermal Plant Organic Rankine or Kalina Cycle: working fluid (i.e. isopentane for Rankine cycle or a mixture of ammonia and water for Kalina cycle) coming from the gas expander.
• Dry Steam Geothermal Plant: the exhaust dry steam coming from the steam turbine.
• Flash/Binary Cycle Geothermal Plant: the exhaust flashed steam coming from the steam turbine and the exhaust flashed working fluid (i.e. isopentane for Rankine cycle or a mixture of ammonia and water for Kalina cycle) coming from the gas expander.
• Flash Steam Geothermal Plant: the exhaust flashed steam coming from the steam turbine.

The Geothermal Energy Sector in Guadeloupe

Bouillante Site

Bouillante is currently the only geothermal power plant in the Caribbean, and the first of its kind to produce electricity at an industrial scale in France. Geothermal-powered electricity production began in 1996, with total production increasing to 15 MW once Bouillante 2 was brought on line in 2003. Electricity generated here accounts for 5% total generation in Guadeloupe. Cyclical phenomena brought down production between 2007 and 2010, but production has rebounded since 2013 even though major refurbishing and maintenance work have prevented the plant from reaching its maximum potential of 100 GWh.

In March 2016, ORMAT Technologies, Inc., a U.S. company based in Reno, Nevada, signed an Investment and Equity Investment Protocol with SAGEOS, a holding company and fully owned subsidiary of BRGM (French geological survey), to gradually acquire 85% of SA Géothermie Bouillante.

Geothermal energy is especially attractive since Guadeloupe is an archipelago.

• Production can be fully controlled, unlike photovoltaics, for example, which depends on sunlight conditions
• Production costs are about half those of fossil fuel power plants and are not vulnerable to fluctuations in the world market
• Associated CO₂ emissions are low

Bouillante 1

The history of the Bouillante power plant dates back to the 1960s, when BRGM drilled the initial wells, and 1970s, when EURAFREP drilled four deep wells.

One of these, a well over 300 m deep, was able to extract sufficient geothermal fluid to power a steam turbine. This discovery led to the construction of a 5 MW-capacity unit in 1984. Bouillante 1 was commissioned in 1986 by EDF and taken over by the BRGM in 1995.

Bouillante 2

A second drilling campaign began in 2000 to increase the plant’s capacity and improve performance of the available reservoir. Four wells were drilled between 2000 and 2001, accompanied by a second above-ground unit that was commissioned in 2005. The new production unit, Bouillante 2, increased total production to 15 MW and provides approximately 6% of Guadeloupe’s electricity needs.

2021/01/26. USD TO CNY TODAY.
Actual USD to CNY exchange rate equal to 6.4690 Chinese Yuans per 1 Dollar. Today’s range: 6.4660-6.4790. Previous day close: 6.4790. Change for today -0.0100, -0.15%.

DOWN
6.4690
-0.15%

Junyuan Petroleum Group was established in 1999 and over the years has grown and evolved into one of the major suppliers of solvents and chemicals in China. We have gained an enviable reputation for the supply of n-Pentane, Isopentane, Pentane Blends, n-Hexane, Isohexane, n-Heptane and D-Solvents both to the industrial and commercial markets. For sales inquires or questions, please email us at: info@junyuanpetroleumgroup.com.

English Name: n-Heptane
English alias: dipropylmethane; heptane; heptyl hydride; n-Heptane, Normal heptane
CAS:142-82-5
EINECS:205-563-8
Dangerous regulation No.: 32006
Hazard category: class 3.2 medium flash point flammable liquid
Molecular formula: C7H16
Molecular weight: 100.2019

Why is pentane used as blowing agent? Pentane–blown foams have another advantage: better dimensional stability due to the fact that pentane does not condense as much as HCFC-141b at temperatures normally experienced by the foam in use. The condensation of HCFC-141b causes the cells to shrink and expand on a cyclical basis, reducing dimensional stability.”

Blowing agents are used to decrease the density of the polymer, typically by 40–60% with loading levels of 0.5–20.5% by weight on the amount of polymer.

Releated Terms:

Extrusion, Carbon Dioxide, Flame Retardant, Polyurethane Foam, Polyurethanes, Resin, Injection Moulding, Foaming Agent, Porosity

A blowing agent is a substance which is capable of producing a cellular structure via a foaming process in a variety of materials that undergo hardening or phase transition, such as polymers, plastics, and metals. They are typically applied when the blown material is in a liquid stage. The cellular structure in a matrix reduces density, increasing thermal and acoustic insulation, while increasing relative stiffness of the original polymer.

Blowing agents are additives used in the manufacture of foamed plastics, which have the advantage of lightness, contribute to material and cost savings, and are distinguished by the fact that they are thermally insulating. Blowing agents usually create fine and regular cellular structures during polymer processing.

Blowing agent plays a fundamental role in the production of polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulations foam. A small quantity of blowing agent indirectly provides important performance characteristics to these foams as great thermal insulation properties.

The global warming potential (GWP) of the blowing agents used to manufacture insulation products like polyiso insulation can be an important consideration when assessing each product’s environmental impacts. Blowing agents function to increase the final thermal resistance or R-value of foam insulation, and also help to facilitate the manufacturing or foaming process.  

Manufacturers of laminated insulation products in North America use #pentane or #pentane #blends in their production processes. Pentane is a hydrocarbon with zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and low-GWP. Manufacturers have utilized pentane technologies in product formulations for over 20 years.

Pentane has a GWP value of less than 10, which means that insulation products produced and sold in North America comply with climate regulations that limit the manufacture or installation of products produced with higher-GWP substances (including products manufactured with hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) or blends thereof). Therefore, architects and contractors can continue to specify insulation products manufactured by PIMA members with confidence in both the industry’s performance and environmental scorecard.

Blowing agents can allow the polymer processor to achieve weight reduction and use less raw materials by introducing a finely controlled cell structure within the polymer. With the endothermic blowing agents, as part of their functionality, they will absorb heat energy from their surroundings.

Foam blowing agents encompass a wide variety of applications including refrigerators, buildings, automobiles, furniture, packaging, and many more. The blowing agent is used to create a cellular structure from liquid plastic resin, and in the case of foam used for insulation it functions as an insulating component of the foam.

When it comes to blowing agents, a controlled foam structure makes your production process go a lot smoother

Not only do blowing agents expand up to 60 times in volume, they also provide:

• highly controlled foaming
• closed, uniform cell structure
• guards against water penetration
• create internal pressure to combat shrinkage.

Blowing agent plays a fundamental role in the production of polystyrene (PS), polyurethane (PU) and polyisocyanurate (PIR) insulations foam. A small quantity of blowing agent indirectly provides important performance characteristics to these foams as great thermal insulation properties.

Blowing agents can allow the polymer processor to achieve weight reduction and use less raw materials by introducing a finely controlled cell structure within the polymer. With the endothermic blowing agents, as part of their functionality, they will absorb heat energy from their surroundings.

What is EPS

Polystyrene is one of the most widely used kinds of plastic. It is a polymer made from the monomer styrene, a liquid hydrocarbon that is commercially manufactured from petroleum by the chemical industry. Polystyrene is a thermoplastic substance, it melts if heated and becomes solid again when cool.

Polystyrene is most commonly found in three forms. Rigid Polystyrene (PS), Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Extruded Polystyrene (XPS).

Rigid polystyrene has many applications including disposable cutlery, cd cases, video/casette casings, components for plastic model toys as well as some margarine and yoghurt containers.  Extruded polystyrene foam has good insulating properties making it important as a non-structural construction material.  XPS is sold under the trademark Styrofoam by Dow Chemical, however this term is often used informally for other foamed polystyrene products.

How to produce foam?

Expandable Polystyrene / EPS:

This is PS Foam that uses Pentane gas (C5H12) as the blowing agent. During the material production process called “Polymerisation” the polystyrene resin granules impregnated with the blowing agent. EPS production processes begin in the pre-expansion process where the EPS bead will expand by the heat of steam usually 50 times in volume. The next step in the process is moulding process where expanded foam bead will be heated again with steam then they expand further until they fuse together, forming as foam products.

There are mainly 2 types of EPS moulding machines;

• Shape moulding machine that produce various shapes of foam products according to the molds such as icebox, helmet and packaging foam.
• Block moulding machine that produce block foam and sheet foam Expanded EPS foam bead contains 98% air per volume, only 2% is plastic. This make EPS foam very light weight, has low thermal conductivity because air is the best insulation, high compressive strength and excellent shock absorption. These properties make EPS to be ideal material for packaging and construction.

Polystyrene Paper (PSP):

This is a PS Foam which is produced by extruding process as another plastic. Production process start when put polystyrene resin pellets into the extruder that heated by electric. Foaming process occur at the end of extruder where the blowing agent, butane (C4H10) gas react with the melt plastic then become foam. The melted polystyrene foam is then extended as sheet then rolled as paper roll, that is why it is commonly known as “Polystyrene Paper”. The polystyrene foam sheet or polystyrene paper can be produced as many shape according to the mould by thermal forming process such as food tray, cups, bow, and food box.

There’s no any CFC’s in PS foam

Both EPS and PSP contain 95 -98 % air another 2-5% is polystyrene which is pure hydrocarbon. CFC’s is Chlorofluorocarbons which is totally different in its chemical structure from polystyrene. CFC’s has very low blowing point and uneasy to be maintained in EPS beads. Therefore, EPS Foam never use CFC’s at any stage of its production. The blowing agent used since EPS Foam was first introduced in 1952 by BASF  is Pentane gas which, does not contain any chlorine atoms as CFC’s. PSP Foam in the beginning used CFC’s as blowing agent. In the past two decades CFC’s are gradually phased out from plastics and refrigerator industries. PSP moulders in Thailand already use Butane (C4H10) as the blowing agent since the last 15 years. Butane gas is the gas that we use at home for cooking. The blowing agents that use in producing PS Foam are Pentane and Butane, which are pure hydrocarbon as polystyrene. They belong to the same chemical family, the paraffin series as methane, ethane, and propane gas.

How to manage the EPS foam waste

Apart from recycling by melting and compacting, there are many ways to manage the EPS waste as the followings:

• Crush in to small particle and mix with soil. Foam waste will improve ventilation in the soil, organic substances in the soil will become easier the humus.
• Mixing the crushed bead with cement to reduce the weight and increase insulation properties.
• Combustion at 1000 C with sufficient air supplies in to generate heat. Burning EPS require no any additional fuel, in fact EPS can replace the fuel normally required for combustion, l kg of EPS saves 1 kg = 1.2 – 1.4 Litre of fuel oil.

The Recycling of PS:

Since both EPS and PSP Foam are made of Polystyrene, which is thermoplastic, so that it will become again a polystyrene plastic when recycled. AMEPS members recycle both EPS and PSP Foam by first crushing into small particle then melting or compacting it. Melting can be done by heated roller, disk or screw extruders, where the regrind scraps is heated usually by electrical power for some time above the melting temperature. Compacting can be done by rotary compactors where pressure and frictional force create heat below melting temperature to soften the regrind scraps for only few seconds. This method also called “agglomeration”.PS pallet from recycled foam will be produced in various kinds of plastic products e.g. video and tape cassette and ruler. The other way to reuse EPS Foam is to mix the regrind beads with the new expanded bead for re-production in moulding process.

Pentane as Blowing Agent in PUR foam and PU Market in China

Geothermal power generation must operate with whatever temperature is found in a particular well. Water and steam work well at high temperatures. At lower temperatures, a “binary system” may sometimes provide better efficiency.

In a binary system, the hot fluid from the geothermal source is used to heat a second, lower boiling point fluid (in this case, pentane) to convert it to gas and drive a turbine. The nature of pentane allows the whole cycle (fluid to gas, drive the power generation turbine, and condense to fluid) to take place efficiently at a lower temperature.

At this location, a binary system is being used to squeeze additional power from the hot condensate leaving a primary water/steam turbine. Using an additional set of heat exchangers this energy is captured to heat low boiling point pentane and to drive an additional turbine. The pentane system harnesses more of the energy brought out of the ground.

Like getting something for nothing.

An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream. That pentane-hexane solvent fraction is then injected into the reservoir as part of a gravity-dominated recovery process within the reservoir, and when that solvent fraction is subsequently produced as part of the oil or bitumen blend, it is allowed to remain within the blend to enhance the subsequent blend treating and transportation steps. Meanwhile, the remainder of the diluent from which the solvent stream had been extracted is utilized at surface as a blending stream to serve as an aid in treating of produced fluids and also to serve as a means of rendering the bitumen or heavy oil stream pipelineable.

An integrated thermal recovery process using a solvent of a pentane or hexane or both as an additive to, or sole component of, a gravity-dominated process for recovering bitumen or heavy oil from a reservoir. A pentane-hexane specific solvent fraction is extracted at surface from a diluent stream.
Author: Subodh Gupta, Simon D. Gittins, Mark A. Bilozir
Cited by: 22
Publish Year: 2012

Is pentane an alkane or alcohol?Pentane is found in alcoholic beverages. Pentane is present in hop oil. Pentane is any or one of the organic compounds with the formula C5H12. This alkane is a component of some fuels and is employed as a specialty solvent in the laboratory. Its properties are very similar to those of butane and hexane.

Is pentane an organic compound?It is a volatile organic compound and an alkane. Pentane is found in alcoholic beverages. Pentane is present in hop oil. Pentane is any or one of the organic compounds with the formula C5H12. This alkane is a component of some fuels and is employed as a specialty solvent in the laboratory.

N-HEPTANE

CAS No. 142-82-5

Definition

Heptane is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)8CH3. Heptane has 9 isomers, or 11 if enantiomers are counted. (Wikipedia)

Important Natural Compounds, Substances of Biological Interest, Food Toxin, Household Toxin, Industrial/Workplace Toxin, Natural Toxin, Plant Toxin

Description

N-Heptane is found in cardamom. Heptane is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)8CH3. Heptane has 9 isomers, or 11 if enantiomers are counted. (Wikipedia) N-Heptane belongs to the family of Acyclic Alkanes. These are acyclic hydrocarbons consisting only of n carbon atoms and m hydrogen atoms where m=2*n + 2.

Application: n-Heptane is a straight-chain alkane consisting of seven carbons that is widely used as a completely non-polar solvent. n-Heptane is sometimes chosen as a less toxic option to the traditional hexane in appropriate processes. In liquid form, n-Heptane is very easy to transport and store.

Compatibility: Heptane is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents. It should not be stored near ignition sources and avoid excessive heat and confined spaces. Please see SDS for full safety and compatibility information.

Packaging Options: Typically available in drums, Isotanks, and bulk. Contact us or ask your representative for further information.

CAS Number:	142-82-5
Molecular Formula:	C7H16
Molecular Weight:	100.21

Purity:	99%
Bp:	98°
Density:	0.684
Refractive Index:	1.387

Signal Word:	Danger
Hazard Statements:	H225, H304, H315, H336, H410
Precautionary Statements:	P210, P261, P273, P281, P301 + P310, P303 + P361 + P353, P304 + P340, P305 + P351 + P338, P312, P331, P332 + P313
UN#:	UN1206
Packing Group:	II
Hazard Class:	3
Flash Point:	-4°
RTECS:	MI7700000
Risk Statements:	11-38-50/53-65-67
Safety Statements:	9-16-29-33-60-61-62

Heptane Chemical Properties,Uses,Production

Chemical Properties

n-Heptane is a flammable liquid, present in crude oil and widely used in the auto- mobile industry. For example, as a solvent, as a gasoline knock testing standard, as automotive starter fl uid, and paraffi nic naphtha. n-Heptane causes adverse health effects in occupational workers, such as CNS depression, skin irritation, and pain. Other compounds such as n-octane (CH 3 (CH 2 ) 6 CH 3 ), n-nonane (CH 3 (CH 2 ) 7 CH 3 ), and n-decane (CH 3 (CH 2 ) 8 CH 3 ) have different industrial applications. Occupational workers exposed to these compounds also show adverse health effects. In principle, manage- ment of these aliphatic compounds requires proper handling and disposal to avoid health problems and to maintain chemical safety standards for safety to workers and the living environment.

Chemical Properties

n-Heptane is a clear liquid which is highly flammable and volatile with a mild, gasoline-like odor. The odor threshold is 40 547 ppm; also reported @ 230 ppm.

Physical properties

Clear, colorless, very flammable liquid with a faint, pleasant odor resembling hexane or octane. Based on a triangle bag odor method, an odor threshold concentration of 670 ppb_v was reported by Nagata and Takeuchi (1990).

Uses

Suitable for HPLC, spectrophotometry, environmental testing

Uses

As standard in testing knock of gasoline engines.

Uses

heptane is a solvent and viscosity-decreasing agent.

Definition

A colorless liquid alkane obtained from petroleum refining. It is used as a solvent.

Definition

heptane: A liquid straight-chainalkane obtained from petroleum,C₇H₁₆; r.d. 0.684; m.p. -90.6°C; b.p.98.4°C. In standardizing octanenumbers, heptane is given a valuezero.

Production Methods

Heptane is produced in refining processes. Highly purified heptane is produced by adsorption of commercial heptane on molecular sieves.

Synthesis Reference(s)

Tetrahedron Letters, 3, p. 43, 1962 DOI:10.1007/BF01499754

General Description

Clear colorless liquids with a petroleum-like odor. Flash point 25°F. Less dense than water and insoluble in water. Vapors heavier than air.

Air & Water Reactions

Highly flammable. Insoluble in water.

Reactivity Profile

HEPTANE is incompatible with the following: Strong oxidizers .

Hazard

Toxic by inhalation. Flammable, dangerous fire risk.

Health Hazard

VAPOR: Not irritating to eyes, nose or throat. If inhaled, will cause coughing or difficult breathing. LIQUID: Irritating to skin and eyes. If swallowed, will cause nausea or vomiting.

Fire Hazard

FLAMMABLE. Flashback along vapor trail may occur. Vapor may explode if ignited in an enclosed area.

Chemical Reactivity

Reactivity with Water No reaction; Reactivity with Common Materials: No reactions; Stability During Transport: Stable; Neutralizing Agents for Acids and Caustics: Not pertinent; Polymerization: Not pertinent; Inhibitor of Polymerization: Not pertinent.

Potential Exposure

n-Heptane is used in graphics, textiles, adhesives, and coatings; as an industrial solvent and in the petroleum refining process; as a standard in testing knock of gasoline engines.

Source

Schauer et al. (1999) reported heptane in a diesel-powered medium-duty truck exhaust at an emission rate of 470 g/km.
Identified as one of 140 volatile constituents in used soybean oils collected from a processing plant that fried various beef, chicken, and veal products (Takeoka et al., 1996).
Schauer et al. (2001) measured organic compound emission rates for volatile organic compounds, gas-phase semi-volatile organic compounds, and particle-phase organic compounds from the residential (fireplace) combustion of pine, oak, and eucalyptus. The gas-phase emission rate of heptane was 28.9 mg/kg of pine burned. Emission rates of heptane were not measured during the combustion of oak and eucalyptus.
California Phase II reformulated gasoline contained heptane at a concentration of 9,700 mg/kg.
Gas-phase tailpipe emission rates from gasoline-powered automobiles with and without catalytic converters were 1.82 and 268 mg/km, respectively (Schauer et al., 2002).

Environmental Fate

Biological. Heptane may biodegrade in two ways. The first is the formation of heptyl hydroperoxide, which decomposes to 1-heptanol followed by oxidation to heptanoic acid. The other pathway involves dehydrogenation to 1-heptene, which may react with water forming 1- heptanol (Dugan, 1972). Microorganisms can oxidize alkanes under aerobic conditions (Singer and Finnerty, 1984). The most common degradative pathway involves the oxidation of the terminal methyl group forming the corresponding alcohol (1-heptanol). The alcohol may undergo a series of dehydrogenation steps forming heptanal followed by oxidation forming heptanoic acid. The acid may then be metabolized by β-oxidation to form the mineralization products, carbon dioxide and water (Singer and Finnerty, 1984). Hou (1982) reported hexanoic acid as a degradation product by the microorganism Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Photolytic. The following rate constants were reported for the reaction of hexane and OH radicals in the atmosphere: 7.15 x 10^-12 cm³/molecule?sec (Atkinson, 1990). Photooxidation reaction rate constants of 7.19 x 10^-12 and 1.36 x 10^-16 cm³/molecule?sec were reported for the reaction of heptane with OH and NO3, respectively (Sablji? and Güsten, 1990). Based on a photooxidation rate constant 7.15 x 10^-12 cm³/molecule?sec for heptane and OH radicals, the estimated atmospheric lifetime is 19 h in summer sunlight (Altshuller, 1991).
Chemical/Physical. Complete combustion in air yields carbon dioxide and water vapor. Heptane will not hydrolyze because it has no hydrolyzable functional group.

Shipping

UN1206 Heptanes, Hazard Class: 3; Labels: 3-Flammable liquid.

Incompatibilities

May form explosive mixture with air. Strong oxidizers may cause fire and explosions. Attacks some plastics, rubber and coatings. May accumulate static electric charges that can ignite its vapors.

Waste Disposal

Dissolve or mix the material with a combustible solvent and burn in a chemical incinera tor equipped with an afterburner and scrubber. All federal, state, and local environmental regulations must be observed.

eneral Information

• Metabolism: Volatile hydrocarbons are absorbed mainly through the lungs, and may also enter the body after ingestion via aspiration. (A600)
• Uses/Sources: Heptanes may be found in gasoline and are widely used as solvents. They are also sold as fuel for outdoor stoves. (L1289)
• Health Effects: Petroleum distillates are aspiration hazards and may cause pulmonary damage, central nervous system depression, and cardiac effects such as cardiac arrhythmias. They may also affect the blood, immune system, liver, and kidney. (A600, L1297)
• Symptoms: Heptane affects the central nervous system and may cause lightheadedness, giddiness, stupor, vertigo, incoordination, loss of appetite, nausea, and unconsciousness. Direct skin contact with heptane may cause pain, burning, and itching. (T29)
• Treatment: Treatment is mainly symptomatic and supportive. Gastric lavage, emesis, and the administration of activated charcoal should be avoided, as vomiting increases the risk of aspiration. (A600)
• Route of Exposure: Oral (T29) ; inhalation (T29) ; dermal (T29)

• Carcinogenicity: N-Heptane is found in gasoline, which is possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). (L135)
• Toxicity: LD50: 222 mg/kg (Intravenous, Mouse) (T14) LC50: 75 g/m3 over 2 hours (Inhalation, Mouse) (T14)