Petroleum ether is a light petroleum product, a mixture of low molecular weight hydrocarbons (mainly pentane and hexane). It is a colorless transparent liquid with a kerosene-like odor. Insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol, benzene, oils, and most organic solvents. Primarily used as a solvent and for oil processing, but it is highly volatile and flammable. It is typically produced from platinum-reformed raffinate or straight-run gasoline through fractionation, hydrogenation, or other refining methods.

Generally classified into three boiling point ranges: 30–60°C, 60–90°C, and 90–120°C.

In laboratory column chromatography, petroleum ether (PE) and ethyl acetate (EA) are commonly used as eluents.
Petroleum ether is not equivalent to gasoline, and it does not contain an ether bond (C-O-C) in its structure.
Chinese Name: 石油醚
English Name: Petroleum ether
Alias: Petroleum spirit
Chemical Formula: C5H12, C6H14, C7H16, etc.
CAS Registry Number: 8032-32-4
EINECS Registry Number: 309-852-0
Water Solubility: Insoluble
Density: 0.64–0.66
Appearance: Colorless transparent liquid with a kerosene-like odor.
Function and Uses
Mainly used as a solvent and for oil extraction.
Used as an organic solvent and chromatography analysis solvent; employed as a high-efficiency organic solvent, pharmaceutical extraction agent, fine chemical synthesis aid, etc.; also used in organic synthesis and as a chemical raw material.
Applied in organic synthesis and chemical raw materials, such as in the production of synthetic rubber, plastics, nylon monomers, synthetic detergents, pesticides, etc. It is also an excellent organic solvent. Primarily used as a solvent, as well as a foaming agent for foam plastics and an extraction solvent for fragrances.