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What is Hexane? Is it Safe?

http://www.healthfromthesun.com/HexaneFreePg.htm
Hexane Free Processing Questions and Answers

Q. What is Hexane?
A. Hexane is a highly flammable, gasoline-like solvent commonly used in the extraction of food oils. Oils & Fats International said: "While the oilseed industry worldwide has become accustomed to the use of food grade hexane as an integral part of oil extraction, significant efforts have been made over the years to find alternatives to the use of this potentially hazardous solvent."

Q. What are the hazards of Hexane?
A. Hexane is by definition, a volatile organic compound (VOC) - a general category of pollutants implicated in the harmful build-up of ozone in the atmosphere. It produces ozone and air pollution when vented into the atmosphere during the extraction's "flash-off" cycle. In a recent issue of INFORM, the importance of replacing hexane with less dangerous extraction materials was discussed: Because hexane is a source of VOC emissions, "the oilseed processing industry faces pressure to control emission losses of hexane."

Q. Are there dangers associated with Hexane?
A. Yes. Hexane processing exposes workers to dangerous and harmful fumes. During routine equipment maintenance, hexane polluted waste-water escapes, which can contaminate soil. In addition, the de-oiled seed meal that remains after the oil extraction contains residual hexane and is commonly sold as animal feed.

Q. How does Hexane extraction affect oil quality?
A. After the seeds have been saturated with hexane and the oil extracted, the hexane must be evaporated during the "flash-off" cycle. This is done at temperatures exceeding 200°F. Temperatures this high can damage oil quality.

Q. Why do some companies use Hexane extraction?
A. Simply... money. Hexane extraction may not be as good for the oil, but it is a cheaper and more economical method than cold expeller-pressing. With hexane-extraction, the amount of oil recovered from the seed is higher than with cold-pressing techniques, therefore it is more profitable.

Q. What is Hexane-Free extraction?
A. Health From The Sun Evening Primrose Oil is extracted without the use of chemical solvents like hexane. It is unrefined and extracted using the cold "expeller-press" method: simply squeezing the oil from the seed. The process is conducted at low temperatures and produces the purest, highest quality EFA oils available.


Definitions of Hexane on the Web:

* An alkane having the formula C6H14. Flash point -9°F. Explosive limits of 1.2% to 7.5%.
http://www.fire.org.uk/glossary.htm

* Similar to heptane, but more toxic. Used in rubber cement and rubber cement thinners. Causes permanent nerve damage in sufficient doses (James, 1985).Hexane accumulates in body tissue.
http://www.georgiastrait.org/toxicglossary2.php

* a colorless flammable liquid alkane derived from petroleum and used as a solvent
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

* Hexane is an alkane hydrocarbon with the chemical formula CH3(CH2)4CH3. The "hex" prefix refers to its six carbons, while the "ane" ending indicates that its carbons are connected by single bonds. Hexane isomers are largely unreactive, and are frequently used as an inert solvent in organic reactions. They are also common constituents of gasoline.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hexane

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