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Benzene

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Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

Part of the book series: Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology ((RECT,volume 106))

Abstract

Benzene is used as an additive to gasoline to increase the octane and as a chemical intermediate in the synthesis of such compounds as styrene, synthetic rubber, phenol, alkylarnesulfonate detergent, nitrobenzene (aniline), and cyclohexane. The properties of benzene are shown in Table 1.

Benzene is produced at low levels in a number of biologic processes and is a component of petroleum (USEPA 1983a). Benzene is produced in large amounts, e.g., 9 billion lbs (4.08 billion kg) in 1981 (USITC 1984), and is used largely as a feedstock in the production of other chemicals. Small amounts of benzene have been used as a solvent, but this use has been discontinued. Benzene also is produced indirectly in large volumes, such as during the refining of gasoline and other operations. The average benzene content of gasoline is less than 1% (Run-ion 1975).

Based on USEPA (l983b, 1985a), except Section I, which is based on USEPA (1983a).

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  1. College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, 85721, Tuscon, Arizona, USA

    George W. Ware

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  1. College of Agriculture, University of Arizona, 85721, Tuscon, Arizona, USA

    George W. Ware

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© 1988 Springer-Verlag New York Inc.

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Ware, G.W. (1988). Benzene. In: Ware, G.W. (eds) Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology. Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, vol 106. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3922-2_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-3922-2_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

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