A Technical Explanation of Organic Solvents and the Green Terpene

Organic solvents are simply put hydrocarbon liquids that break up and dissolve other hydrocarbon based substances.  Some other elements other than carbon and hydrogen that OS molecules use are oxygen, chlorine, and nitrogen.  The OS molecules will move in and around  surrounding the molecules of the solute (that which is being dissolved) forming a solution. 

Now there are two very basic types of organic solvents;...polar and nonpolar.  OS liquids with a dielectric constant of less than 15 are said to be nonpolar.  Those with a very high dielectric constant are said to be polar.  This is important to us because it helps us to choose the best OS for the job.  Since like dissolves like, deposits that are very polar require very polar solvents to dissolve them.  The opposite is also true.  Most oils and waxes are very nonpolar.  Hence they require very nonpolar liquids such as hexane to dissolve them.  It follows from this that it is important to determine exactly what the polarity of the substance being removed is.  Then match that with the right OS with the same polarity.  A quick search on the net will reveal the dielectric constant, and therefore the polarity of both the substance to be removed and the OS needed to dissolve it. 

There are also protic and aprotic polar solvents.  Protic solvents work well with negatively charged solutes.  While aprotic solvents work well with positively charged solutes.  The solute being the substance in need of being removed/ dissolved.  You can find quick lists of protics and aprotics on the net.  Remember any OS with a dielectric constant in excess of 15 is polar.  Less than 15 is nonpolar. 

Some other properties we might want to look at are melting point, boiling point, autoignition temperature, and water solubility/miscibility.  The melting point is also the temperature at which the OS will become rigid or form a solid.  Which is difficult if not impossible to work with.  So a melting point in excess of 0 Fahrenheit is obviously necessary.  The boiling point is the temperature at which the OS becomes a vapor or gas.  Since there are times we are working on very hot glass it would be good to have an OS with a relatively high boiling point. Next a solvent with a very high autoignition 

temperature will not automatically ignite without notice.  If our OS were soluble or easily emulsified in water it will be easy to remove from the window once it has done its job. 

Lets next take a look at an OS that comes from the rind of the orange.  It is gaining much attention in the cleaning industry because it is relatively nontoxic yet powerful enough to dissolve many hydrocarbon based substances.  It has been called the green terpene and is d-Limonene (a monoterpene).  The chemical formula is C10 H16.  It has a boiling point of 349 Fahrenheit.  A melting point of –140 Fahrenheit.  A flashpoint of 110 degrees.  Autoignition temp of 458.  Although it is not soluble/miscible in water it can be blended with certain synthetic detergents so that it is easily emulsified by water.  The dielectric constant is 2.3 as it is an aprotic nonpolar solvent.  It is used as a paint stripper, and a cleaner.  It is actually possible to add it directly to water if it has been emulsified with the right surfactants, to effect a cleaning solution.  Just a few ounces per gallon of water will work. 

There is a product that is based on  93% dLimonene and a couple of different surfactants for emulsification.  It is easy to remove from glass with any cleaning solution.  And is very effective at dissolving most non polar aprotic organics.  It will soften water based paints making them very easy to remove with a razor.  Just apply the product, wait a few minutes, and blade the paint away.  It also softens fully cured silicone caulk (this is not a hydrocarbon but is rather based on an Si-O repeater backbone chain).  It will soften fully cured oil based paints.  And works on many other hydrocarbons.  It is even possible to add it to your cleaning solution at a concentration of about four ounces to a gallon of water.  Or a one to sixteen ratio.   

There is also a urea plastic media/compositional abrasive with a particle size between 200 to 400 microns.  It has a good sharp cut and is softer than glass.  So it cannot scratch glass but will chew through silicone caulk and paint.  When coupled with the Green Terpene or another very powerful solvent it is much more effective at removing deposits such as cured silicone caulk, paint, or wood stain.

Written by Henry Grover Jr
henrygroverjr@gmail.com

If you would like to recieve these posts directly in your inbox as they are written just type your address in the box at the top right, "Follow by Email".