Knowledge of Dioxane

 1,4-Dioxane, often called  dioxane as the other isomers of dioxane are rare, is a heterocyclic organic compound. It is a colorless liquid which is classified as an ether with a faint sweet odor similar to that of diethyl ether. It is commomly used as a stabilizer for the solvent trichloroethane. And it is an sometimes used solvent for a variety of practical applications as well as in the laboratory.
Dioxane is generated by the acid-catalysed dehydration of diethylene glycol, which in turn arises from the hydrolysis of ethylene oxide. The molecule is centrosymmetric, meaning that it adopts a chair conformation, typical of relatives of cyclohexane. The molecule is conformationally flexible, and the boat conformation is easily adopted, as required for chelation to metal cations. In 1985, the global production capacity for dioxane was between 11,000 and 14,000 tons. In 1990, the total U.S. production volume of dioxane was between 10,500,000 and 18,300,000 pounds.
Dioxane has three isomers: except 1,4-dioxane, 1,2-dioxane and 1,3-dioxane are also known.
Dioxane is ofen used as a stabilizer for 1,1,1-trichloroethane for storage and transport in aluminium containers. Normally aluminium is protected by a passivating oxide layer, however, when these layers are disturbed, highly reactive metallic aluminium is exposed to the chlorocarbon. This aluminium reacts with 1,1,1-trichloroethane to give aluminium trichloride, which in turn catalyses the dehydrohalogenation of the remaining 1,1,1-trichloroethane to vinylidene chloride and hydrogen chloride. Reflecting its properties as a ligand, it "poisons" the aluminum trichloride catalyst, by formation of an adduct. Apart from its use as a stabilizer, it is used in a variety of applications as a solvent, e.g. in inks and adhesives.

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