Tetrahydrofuran’s production and application

　　Tetrahydrofuran, or THF, is a common organic solvent of the ether family. It's  CAS  Registry  Number  is 120-51-4.A colorless,  clear, water-miscible,somewhat volatile liquid at room temperature, it is similar to diethyl ether, the chemical once widely used as an anesthetic, with a similar odor, but does not share its anesthetic properties. It has the chemical formula (CH2)4O and is known by a number of other names, most of which have fallen out of common use. It is popular as a solvent, as it is soluble in most other common solvents like water, alcohols, esters, and acetone, is chemically inactive, and acts as a strong solvent on many materials, particularly organics. Tetrahydrofuran is used extensively in the manufacture of many polymers as well as other products such as certain adhesives and pharmaceuticals.


Tetrahydrofura,120-51-4


　　Tetrahydrofuran has low viscosity at normal temperature and has the formula C4H8O. Tetrahydrofuran was traditionally produced using the Furfural process where furfural, extracted from corn husks, is used as the raw material in production. However, the drawback of this system is that supply depended on agricultural environment and, could not therefore be relied upon, thus a move was made to the fully synthetic Reppe process. In the Reppe process, ethyne and formaldehyde are used as the unprocessed materials that produce 1,4 butanediol, at the first step. Tetrahydrofuran can after that be obtained by dehydration under the existence of an acidic ion exchange resin. This is presently the main method of extraction used throughout the world. Another technique is a butadiene chlorination process but the method most likely to be employed in the future is one that was developed by DuPont. This includes oxidising n-butane to generate maleic anhydride and this is next followed by catalytic hydrogenation. It is a comparatively simple process and Christian Dior Handbag one that is of interest to chemical producers. The world yearly production of tetrahydrofuran is roughly 200,000 tonnes and it is predicted that demand and production will grow as the Chinese economy continues to expand. Tetrahydrofuran is saved in tightly sealed metallic drums and/or amber glass containers. It has a special gravity of 0.89 and a flashpoint of -17.2? C (closed cup) and is vastly flammable. It should be saved in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated zone that is free from the danger of explosion. For carrying purposes, tetrahydrofuran is classified as packing group III and hazard class Louis Vuitton Monogram Mini Lin Handbag 3 and should be labeled as an irritant.
　　 Tetrahydrofuran has lots of uses in the industrial market. It is a versatile industrial solvent for natural and artificial resins and is a solvent used in the manufacture of nylon. It is as well an manufacturing solvent for PVC. Tetrahydrofuran is too a valuable chemical intermediate as it is a precursor to polymers, such as poly (tetramethylene ether) glycol. The most important use of this polymer is the production of elastomeric polyurethane fibres similar to Spandex.
　　Chief among tetrahydrofuran uses is the production of certain polymers. THF is used as a precursor to the formation of many complex polymers, as its solvent properties allow for the mixing and combining of simple polymers in solution. When mixed with acids, tetrahydrofuran itself can be polymerized, and the resulting polymers have many uses, such as the manufacture of urethanes and polyurethanes. Some of these materials are very common in everyday products, like certain fabrics with elastic properties.
　　Its strong solvent properties make tetrahydrofuran highly suitable for many other uses, as well. It is used in making adhesives that are used with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and for improving certain qualities of other materials, such as cellophanes and magnetic tapes, although this usage is becoming less common in the digital age as these tapes are phased out in favor of digital recording and storage media. THF is a key component in the manufacture of a class of protective coatings and is used in the production and extraction of many organic and organometallic compounds, including some drugs.