Product Overview
Petroleum Ether ACS Reagent Grade is a low-boiling, highly volatile hydrocarbon solvent composed of aliphatic hydrocarbons. Designated ACS Reagent Grade, this product is procured for analytical and laboratory workflows where solvent purity directly affects reproducibility — HPLC separations, liquid–liquid extractions, and sample preparation for chromatographic analysis. CAS Number: 8032-32-4.
Alliance Chemical offers Petroleum Ether ACS Reagent Grade in sizes from 1 liter bottles through 55 gallon drums, serving analytical labs running bench-scale work as well as industrial operations with higher-volume solvent demand.
Why This Grade
ACS Reagent Grade is the designation analytical buyers look for when solvent background interference can compromise instrument readings. Labs running HPLC, GC, or extraction protocols specify ACS Reagent Grade because the designation signals a procurement tier intended for quantitative analytical work — distinguishing it from technical or industrial solvent grades that may carry residues visible on a chromatogram baseline.
If your process is a parts-cleaning line or a bulk degreasing operation where trace impurities are immaterial, a technical-grade hydrocarbon solvent will cost less per gallon. But if your workflow generates reportable data — environmental sample prep, pharmaceutical extraction, or organic synthesis where side-product identification matters — the ACS Reagent designation is the practical starting point.
Chemical Profile
Petroleum Ether ACS Reagent Grade carries CAS Number 8032-32-4. It is a petroleum distillate — a mixture of light aliphatic hydrocarbons, not a single-compound reagent. Because it is a multi-component fraction rather than a pure substance, no single molecular formula or molecular weight applies. The product is characteristically non-polar, low-viscosity, and highly volatile, which is precisely why it evaporates cleanly in extraction and chromatography workflows. Its high volatility also defines the primary handling constraint: this is a Packing Group II flammable liquid.
Industrial Applications
Petroleum Ether serves as a workhorse solvent across several analytical and industrial processes:
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HPLC Mobile Phase — Used as a mobile-phase component in normal-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Its non-polar character and clean evaporation profile make it effective for separating organic compounds by polarity differences.
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Extraction Solvent — Employed in liquid–liquid extraction to isolate non-polar analytes from aqueous matrices. Pharmaceutical and environmental labs use it to pull target compounds from plant materials, soil samples, and water matrices ahead of instrumental analysis.
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Organic Synthesis Solvent — Functions as a reaction medium or co-solvent in organic synthesis where a low-boiling, non-polar environment is needed. Its volatility simplifies solvent removal from the product post-reaction.
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Laboratory Cleaning — Dissolves greases, oils, and residues from glassware and equipment. Evaporates quickly without leaving a film, which matters when the next use of that flask is an analytical run.
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Sample Preparation for GC — Used in environmental testing labs to prepare samples for gas chromatography. The solvent's boiling range and clean baseline minimize interference with target analyte peaks.
Handling & Storage
Petroleum Ether ACS Reagent Grade carries the signal word Danger (per the product's GHS classification). The hazard profile is serious and demands strict engineering and administrative controls:
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H225 — Highly flammable liquid and vapour (per the product's GHS classification)
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H304 — May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways (per the product's GHS classification)
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H336 — May cause drowsiness or dizziness (per the product's GHS classification)
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H340 — May cause genetic defects (per the product's GHS classification)
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H350 — May cause cancer (per the product's GHS classification)
Store in a cool, well-ventilated area, away from heat sources, open flames, and strong oxidizers. Containers should be kept tightly sealed when not in use — this solvent's high vapor pressure means losses and vapor accumulation happen fast in warm or poorly ventilated spaces. HDPE or glass containers are appropriate; avoid materials that degrade on contact with light hydrocarbons.
Operators should wear chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof safety goggles, and use the product only under adequate ventilation or with respiratory protection rated for organic vapors. Given the H340 and H350 classifications, exposure minimization is not optional — review the SDS and establish workplace exposure limits before opening the container.
Hazmat & Shipping
This product ships as a regulated hazardous material. The DOT classification governs every outbound shipment from our Taylor, TX warehouse:
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UN Number: UN1268 (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Hazard Class: 3 — Flammable Liquid (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Packing Group: I (per 49 CFR 172.101)
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Proper Shipping Name: Petroleum distillates, n.o.s. (Petroleum ether) (per 49 CFR 172.101)
Packing Group II is the highest danger category within Class 3 — this product has a very low flash point. Every shipment leaves with compliant DOT placarding, hazmat shipping papers, and proper packaging. Our team handles PG I flammable liquids daily; the classification is routine for us, though it does govern carrier selection and packaging requirements.
Documentation
A Safety Data Sheet ships with every order of Petroleum Ether ACS Reagent Grade. SDS documents are available in English, Spanish, French, and Japanese. A Technical Data Sheet is also available for this product. Lot-specific Certificates of Analysis are provided on request, giving you the actual analytical data for the batch you receive — useful when your quality system requires incoming material verification.
Why Buy from Alliance Chemical
Petroleum Ether ACS Reagent Grade is available from 1 liter bottles through 55 gallon drums, with lot-specific COAs and multilingual SDS documentation — the paperwork your QC team actually needs at receiving. Alliance Chemical has operated as a chemical distributor since 1998, serving over 50,000 customers from our warehouse at 204 S Edmond St, Taylor, Texas 76574. Shipping and handling guidance for this product has been reviewed by Andre Taki, DOT Hazmat Specialist.
