It is not always apparent to the wider public that solvents have numerous uses in common objects and processes around us; however, very many industrial products, from plastics to dyes and rubber, are dependent on such solvents.
Petroleum solvents are made up of liquid hydrocarbon derived from petroleum and petroleum by-products, used either for various commercial products or in laboratories for research purposes. They are used industrially because of their effectiveness, low cost and ready availability.
Gasoline, benzene, toluene, propane, octane, xylene and other petroleum products can be used as solvents in numerous processes, among which:
Petroleum solvents are low in toxicity (compared to other types). However, they do have negative health effects if accumulated over time or inhaled/ingested in large quantities: