xylene

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xylene

The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | 2008 | The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. Copyright 2008 Columbia University Press. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

xylene or dimethylbenzene , C 6 H 4 (CH 3 ) 2 , colorless, oily, liquid aromatic hydrocarbon , used extensively as a solvent, obtained from coal tar, wood tar, and sometimes from petroleum. It is a mixture of three isomers that differ structurally from one another in the location of the two methyl groups that have replaced hydrogen atoms in the benzene molecule. Ortho -xylene is 1,2-dimethylbenzene; it melts at -25°C and boils at 144°C. Meta -xylene is 1,3-dimethylbenzene; it melts at -48°C and boils at 139°C. Para -xylene is 1,4-dimethylbenzene; it melts at 13°C and boils at 138°C. The separation of these three isomers from one another by fractional distillation is difficult because their boiling points are so close together. The ortho and para isomers are converted to meta -xylene by treatment with aluminum trichloride and hydrochloric acid at about 80°C. The xylenes are often used in the synthesis of other compounds, e.g., the xylidenes that are amino derivatives used in the synthesis of azo dyes and other compounds.

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xylene

A Dictionary of Nursing | 2008 | © A Dictionary of Nursing 2008, originally published by Oxford University Press 2008. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

xylene (dimethylbenzene) (zy-leen) n. a liquid used for increasing the transparency of tissues prepared for microscopic examination after they have been dehydrated.

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xylene

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | © World Encyclopedia 2005, originally published by Oxford University Press 2005. (Hide copyright information) Copyright

xylene (C6H4(CH3)2) Organic chemical compound obtained from the distillates of coal tar and petroleum, and important as a solvent. Chemically it is dimethyl benzene which exists in three isomeric forms: ortho-, meta-, and para-xylene. The isomers have different physical properties.

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

Free Article Increasing dependence on mixed xylene import.(Organics)
Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 8/26/2004
Free Article Urgent Need to Develop m-Xylene Downstream Products.
Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 5/26/1999
Free Article Recycling xylene saves money and the environment.
Magazine article from: Medical Laboratory Observer; 7/1/1991

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Related articles from newspapers, magazines, and more

Mixed xylenes. (Product Focus).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Magazine article from: Chemical Week; 6/26/2002; 700+ words ; ...growth area for mixed xylenes over the next five...come from para-xylene production in Asia...Demand from Asian p-xylene producers is likely to drive global xylenes demand growth to...tightening global xylenes supply, he says...15%20% of its xylene requirements from...
Xylene Market Research.
M2 Presswire; 8/6/2009; 667 words ; ...xylene markets. We describe xylene characteristics, application...Key Topics Covered: 1. XYLENES: PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES...4. GLOBAL MARKET FOR MIXED XYLENES 5. WORLD ORTHOXYLENE MARKET...PARAXYLENE MARKET FORECAST 9. XYLENE MARKET BY REGION 10. MARKET...
Para-xylene booms in the Far East. (Bulk Chemicals Special Report)
Magazine article from: Chemical Week; 7/29/1992; ; 700+ words ; The market for para-xylene, the aromatic used to make purified...demand for base materials. Major p-xylene producers--Exxon (Houston), Amoco...situation is the opposite. Demand for p-xylene is stable at best, with some observers...
PARA-XYLENE.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
Magazine article from: Chemical Week; 4/11/2001; 700+ words ; ...she says. TECHNOLOGY P-xylene can be extracted from mixed xylenes; these streams can also...processes for recovery of p-xylene from mixed xylenes streams. ExxonMobil Chemical recently introduced a xylene isomerization process called...
Increasing dependence on mixed xylene import.(Organics)
Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 8/26/2004; ; 700+ words ; Mixed xylene is one of the important basic chemical raw materials. It mainly contains p-xylene, o-xylene, m-xylene and 4 ethylphenyl aromatics. Mixed xylene can be divided by aromatics it contains into solvent-grade varieties and isomerization...
Urgent Need to Develop m-Xylene Downstream Products.
Magazine article from: China Chemical Reporter; 5/26/1999; ; 700+ words ; In China m-xylene is a most needed chemical product mainly...derived from them. The capacity of m-xylene in China is around 10 000 t/a. The...completed a 2 000 t/a high purity m-xylene unit in May 1994. Chongqing Organic Chemical...
Recycling xylene saves money and the environment.
Magazine article from: Medical Laboratory Observer; 7/1/1991; ; 700+ words ; Buying and disposing of xylene used to cost the authors' laboratory...effort, and money purchasing virgin xylene and disposing of its waste after use...when we established a highly economical xylene recycling system that is a model of...
Para-Xylene Imports Surge as Cutbacks Tighten Supply.(Brief Article)
Magazine article from: Chemical Week; 5/16/2001; ; 700+ words ; ...of toluene and mixed xylenes in the gasoline pool...convert toluene into para-xylene and benzene (CW, May...Asian and European para-xylene is gasoline driven and...Jenkins, analyst at PCI-Xylenes and Polyesters (Guildford...traditionally exported para-xylene, but overcapacity and...
CMAI Completes 2003 World Xylenes & Terephthalates Analysis.
PR Newswire; 9/23/2003; 700+ words ; ...recently completed the World Xylenes & Terephthalates Analysis...covering the world markets for the xylenes/terepthalates chain. This...Consulting Services. The World Xylene & Terphthalates Analysis...the period 1997- 2007 for xylenes and their derivatives. According...
Xylenes Prices Headed Up (para-xylene and ortho-xylene sales)
Magazine article from: Chemical Week; 5/19/1999; 595 words ; ...rising raw material costs. P-xylene sellers have not concluded...is due for an increase. P-xylene producers have proposed increases...Producers say that mixed xylenes have risen from 51 cts/gal...cts/gal for May, while p-xylene has remained at 14.25 cts...
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xylene. (Image by David Berardan, GFDL)

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