What is Benzine and how is it used?

Benzine is a colorless, highly flammable liquid. It is used as a cleaning agent because it is a solvent for organic substances such as fats, oils, and resins and is also used in the preparation of certain dyes and paints. Benzine is a mixture of hydrocarbons, chiefly alkanes such as pentane and hexane. It is obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum. It is also called petroleum benzin. Benzine is also used as a motor fuel; naphtha. Benzine is a high volume chemical for pesticide use. See more information on benzine below.

Is Benzene the same as Benzine?

No, Benzene is different than Benzine. The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that benzene is a known human carcinogen. The EPA has set the maximum permissible level of benzene in drinking water at 0.005 milligrams per liter (0.005 mg/L). Benzene is a colorless liquid with a sweet odor. It evaporates into the air very quickly and dissolves slightly in water. It is highly flammable and is formed from both natural processes and human activities. Benzene is widely used in the United States; it ranks in the top 20 chemicals for production volume. Some industries use benzene to make other chemicals which are used to make plastics, resins, and nylon and synthetic fibers. Benzene is also used to make some types of rubbers, lubricants, dyes, detergents, drugs, and pesticides. Natural sources of benzene include volcanoes and forest fires. Benzene is also a natural part of crude oil, gasoline, and cigarette smoke. Leakage from underground storage tanks or from hazardous waste sites containing benzene can result in benzene contamination of well water.

How do I remove Benzine from my drinking water?

The recommended treatment method is activated carbon.