Petrochemicals and solvents

Solvents are grouped by chemistry because chemistry decides how they dissolve, evaporate and behave in a process. Alcohols and glycols, ketones and esters, glycol ethers, chlorinated and fluorinated solvents and polar aprotic solvents each have their own page, with typical uses in coatings, inks, adhesives, cleaning, extraction, pharmaceuticals and electronics.

Prices for petrochemicals follow crude oil, naphtha and natural gas, and contract prices are often linked to published benchmarks. When you request quotes, give the product, grade and specification, the volume and frequency, and the delivery mode, since these products move by pipeline, ship, rail, ISO tank, road tanker, IBC or drum. Most products are flammable or toxic dangerous goods, and many solvents are regulated as volatile organic compounds or hazardous air pollutants. Some solvents such as toluene, acetone and MEK are also listed as drug precursors in many countries, which adds paperwork.