Product Overview
n-Heptane 99% Technical is a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent — a clear, colorless liquid with a petroleum-like odor, formula C7H16, CAS 142-82-5. At 99% concentration it does one job well: it dissolves oils, greases, and other nonpolar material without reacting with them. That low reactivity is why extraction operators, parts-cleaning lines, and instrument labs keep it on the shelf.
we distribute this product in our Taylor, TX warehouse and ship it daily as a fully regulated Class 3 flammable liquid. Every container leaves here in DOT-compliant packaging with the SDS in the box. This is the working solvent for buyers who need dependable nonpolar solvency at industrial volume — from a pint on a lab bench to 55-gallon drums on a dock.
Why This Concentration
At 99%, this heptane is concentrated enough for demanding solvent work — extraction, degreasing, and use as a nonpolar mobile-phase or calibration solvent — without the price of higher-purity laboratory grades. If your process tolerates trace hydrocarbon impurities, technical material at this concentration is the economical choice. If your method is sensitive to co-eluting impurities or you operate under a specification that names a higher grade, verify against the certificate of analysis before committing a production run.
The trade-off to plan for is not chemistry — it is handling. Heptane at any concentration is highly flammable (per the product's GHS classification), with a flash point of 25 °F and vapors heavier than air that can travel along floors and collect in low spots. The concentration you buy does not change the fire discipline you need; buy the concentration your process requires and build the handling around it.
Chemical Profile
n-Heptane (C7H16, molecular weight 100.20, CAS 142-82-5) is a clear, colorless liquid with a gasoline-like odor. It is markedly lighter than water — density 0.6838 at 68 °F — so spills float and spread on water rather than sinking. It is practically insoluble in water, with a solubility of 0.0003%, which is exactly what makes it useful: it partitions cleanly away from aqueous phases in extraction work. Vapor pressure is 37.49 mmHg at 70 °F, high enough that open containers lose product and generate flammable vapor quickly. The flash point of 25 °F puts routine ambient handling well above the temperature at which it can form an ignitable vapor-air mixture, and those vapors are heavier than air.
Industrial Applications
Buyers put this material to work in a handful of well-established roles:
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Solvent extraction. Its nonpolar character and near-zero water solubility make heptane a workhorse for liquid-liquid extraction of oils, actives, and other nonpolar compounds from aqueous mixtures. Phases separate cleanly and the solvent strips off readily.
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Chromatography and instrument work. Heptane serves as a nonpolar mobile-phase component and as a hydrocarbon reference solvent for calibrating analytical instruments. Confirm the purity requirement of your specific method before substituting technical material for a laboratory grade.
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Cleaning and degreasing. On metal parts, heptane cuts oils and greases fast and evaporates without leaving an aqueous residue. It is a common choice where a fast-flashing, nonpolar wash solvent is needed — with ventilation and ignition control to match.
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Fuel and formulation component. Heptane appears as a hydrocarbon component in fuel and solvent blend formulations where a light, straight-chain alkane is specified.
Handling & Storage
Treat this product as what it is: a highly flammable liquid. The signal word is Danger (per the product's GHS classification), and the classification carries H225 (highly flammable liquid and vapor), H304 (may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways), H315 (causes skin irritation), H336 (may cause drowsiness or dizziness), and H410 (very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects) (per the product's GHS classification).
In practice, that means: no flames, no sparks, no hot work anywhere near open containers. Ground and bond during transfers — static discharge is a real ignition source with a solvent this volatile. Vapors are heavier than air, so ventilate at floor level, not just overhead. Wear chemical-resistant gloves and goggles; repeated skin contact defats and irritates, and vapor concentrations in confined spaces will cause dizziness. Never siphon by mouth — aspiration into the lungs is the H304 hazard and it is serious. Keep it away from strong oxidizers. Store cool, dry, and well-ventilated in closed, compatible containers, and keep it out of drains and waterways given its aquatic toxicity.
Hazmat & Shipping
This product ships as fully regulated hazardous material. The proper shipping name is Heptanes (per 49 CFR 172.101), under UN1206 (per 49 CFR 172.101), Hazard Class 3 — flammable liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101), Packing Group II (per 49 CFR 172.101). We pack every order to those requirements: UN-rated packaging, correct marks and labels, and shipping papers prepared by people who do this daily. Our shipping and handling guidance is reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist. You receive a shipment that is compliant on arrival — no surprises at your receiving dock.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet ships with every order, available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A lot-specific Certificate of Analysis is available for the material you receive, so your QC team can verify the lot against your incoming-inspection requirements. A Technical Data Sheet is also available for process and compatibility review before you buy.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
We are hazmat operators and distributors. This heptane sits in our Taylor, TX warehouse, and we pick, pack, and ship it daily in DOT-compliant packaging — from single pints and quarts for bench work up to 5-gallon pails and 55-gallon drums for production. Our team handles Class 3 flammable liquids every working day, and our shipping guidance is reviewed by a DOT Hazmat Specialist. You get the documentation with the shipment, a package that arrives compliant, and a supplier who answers questions about the freight as readily as the product. And we charge hazmat fees may apply.
