Xylene is commonly used for concrete sealing applications. When used in solvent-based acrylic sealers, the solution can be used in concert with re-melting an existing surface, after which the xylene evaporates and leaves a smooth, shiny surface.
This is an effective method for treating scratches or for new decorative purposes. Xylol paint thinner can be used for oil-based paints or stains, lacquers, polyurethanes, epoxies, oil finishes, enamels, varnishes and alkyd resins — but only when the coating manufacturer recommends it as an approved thinner. Removing paint.
Xylene thinner is frequently used for removing paint. When handled safely and in a well-ventilated area, xylene can be a very effective paint remover.
For metal and concrete surfaces, degreasing can be especially challenging. The nature of xylene is such that degreasing can be done both safely and effectively.
Chemical Packaging Products. Recent Blog Posts. What Is Isopropyl Alcohol? These tissues can then be used in microscopy. This aids histopathology technicians who look at tissues to determine the presence of disease. In tissue processing, tissue has to be embedded in a medium such as paraffin to support it and allow it to be cut without damaging the tissue.
Fixed tissue is then dehydrated, removing water from the tissue by escalating grades of alcohol. Alcohol, however, is not miscible with paraffin something that is miscible can mix well with another substance.
As it happens, xylene is highly miscible with paraffin. The reason xylene works so well for tissue processing is that it makes tissues transparent so that paraffin can fully envelop the tissue. And when preparing slides for microscopy, xylene can remove any remaining wax from slides. In this case it is used as clearing agent. This helps with slide staining so that features of the tissue are more easily viewed under a microscope.
While there are proposed alternatives to xylene in tissue processing, it is still considered the best chemical for tissue processing and staining purposes. One of the chief uses of xylene is as a lubricant, and it is so used in motor oil or brake fluid. Xylene is a component of lubricants in motor oil, paints and paint thinners, polishes, waxes, antifreeze, sealants, adhesives, and even gasoline and cigarettes.
Xylene is used in some glue. Xylene is also used as a cleaner. Paraxylene is one of the three isomers of xylene. It can be made by crystallization and adsorption. Paraxylene uses include precursor raw material for other substances. One of the chief paraxylene uses is in polymer synthesis. This makes paraxylene absolutely essential in the production of polyethylene terephthalate, or PET. These three chemicals are then used to make PET. The PET in turn is a chief ingredient in various plastic fibers and films.
It is known for being a major component of plastic soda bottles, detergent bottles, bottles for various household cleaners and makeup. It is used in orographic film and x-rays.
Food packaging also may contain PET, and it also serves as a polyester fiber component for such things as clothing and household fabrics. The great attraction of PET is its versatility, its relative affordability, lack of shattering and its ability to be recycled. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
This article has been cited by other articles in PMC. Abstract Xylene is an aromatic hydrocarbon known for its wide usage in tissue processing, staining and cover slipping in the histology laboratory. Keywords: Toxicity of xylene, xylene substitutes, xylene. Table 1 Effect of xylene on the nervous system.
Open in a separate window. LUNGS Exposure to xylene at levels of ppm or greater can irritate the lungs, causing chest pain and shortness of breath. The chemical components are one of the following:[ 15 ] Limonene reagents Aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures Aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures Mineral oil mixtures Limonene reagents Mainly composed of d-limonene, which is a hydrocarbon. Table 2 Advantages and disadvantages of limonene reagents. Advantages Disadvantages Biodegradable, noncorrosive, nonflammable combustible Expensive Contains no benzene and no toluene Claims to be less toxic but the hazards are not well documented Low toxicity levels Offensive odor Minimal tissue shrinkage Very oily Soluble in alcohol and mounting media Incompatible with some of the mounting media Reasonably fast drying and leaves no residue Cannot be distilled Reduced fire risk Samples take more time to dry thoroughly Has a high vapor pressure, and thus does not evaporate fast.
Degreasing effect on skin Hence, cover slipping multiple slides is easy. Table 3 Advantages and disadvantages of aliphatic hydrocarbon mixtures. Advantages Disadvantages Most of them are odorless Classified as hazardous waste due to flammability Can be recovered by distillation Not easily biodegradable Less expensive than limonene reagents More expensive than xylene Nongreasy some of them Less irritating to the skin than xylene and d-limonene-based clearants Less tolerant of contamination than xylene Less toxic because they are catalytically hydrogenated to destroy the double bonds.
Aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures Some high-boiling aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures having lower volatility than xylenes have been manufactured. Mineral oil mixtures Mineral paraffin oil mixtures look promising in eliminating xylene from most of the procedures.
Local exhaust ventilation The workplace can be modified to reduce the inhalational hazards by installing local exhaust ventilation with a proper hood. Figure 1. Get medical attention as soon as possible Skin exposure: The contaminated skin should be washed with soap and water for at least 15 min. If irritation persists, get medical attention Inhalation: If xylene vapors are inhaled, move the victim at once to fresh air and get medical care as soon as possible.
Keep the victim warm and quiet until medical help arrives Ingestion: If xylene or a solution containing xylene is ingested, give the victim several glasses of water to drink. Toxicological profile for xylene, U. S Department of Health and Human Services, public health service, Agency for toxic substance and disease registry. Sedivec V, Flek J.
Exposure test for xylenes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. Urinary excretion of hippuric acid and m- or p-methylhippuric acid in the urine of persons exposed to vapours of toluene and m- or p- xylene as a test of exposure.
Br J Ind Med. Savoleinen H, Pfaffli P. Dose-dependent neurochemical changes during short-term inhalation exposure to m-xylene. Arch Toxicol. Significant changes in the amounts of neurotransmitter and related substances in rat brain induced by subacute exposure to low levels of toluene and xylene.
Ind Health. Production of discrete changes in dopamine and noradrenaline levels and turnover in various parts of the rat brain following exposure to ortho-, meta- and para-xylenes, and ethylbenzene.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. Symptoms and signs in workers exposed predominantly to xylene. Hipolito RN. Xylene poisoning in laboratory workers: Case reports and discussion. Lab Med. Riihimaki V. Percutaneous absorption of m-xylene from a mixture of m-xylene and isobutyl alcohol in man. Scand J Work Environ Health. Percutaneous absorption of m-xylene in man. Testicular atrophy and loss of nerve growth factor-immunoreactive germ cell line in rats exposed to n-hexane and a protective effect of simultaneous exposure to toluene or xylene.
Arch Toxicll. Spontaneous abortions and congenital malformations among the wives of men occupationally exposed to organic solvents.
In: Pollution prevention and waste minimization in laboratories. Florida: CRC pressLewis publishers; But these solvents still retain some levels of toxicity, their odors may become overpowering during prolonged exposure and they can be incompatible with some of the mounting media. D-limonene solvents also dry very slowly compared to xylene and they often leave an oily residue. The poorest-performing substitutes for xylene are the paraffinic and isoparaffinic hydrocarbons and the mixtures of paraffinic hydrocarbons with glycol ethers.
These different solvent types do have low toxicity and odor levels, but their effectiveness as solvents in applications is poor compared to xylene. Naphthenic solvents are clearly the best choices for replacing xylene and other aromatic solvents. When combined with solvent recycling , they can help ensure your lab is both safe and running cost-effectively.
Today, histology, pathology, cytology, research, veterinary, parasitology and dermatopathology labs should work to provide a safe environment for personnel by helping them avoid the toxic and dangerous effects of xylene. There are many safer options available. But only one option is as good as or better than xylene itself.
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