Hexane from Electronic Contact Cleaner

OTC Hexane From Electronics Cleaning Fluid
Hexane is a volatile, flammable liquid that is commonly used as a non-polar solvent in laboratories for extractions. It has the chemical formula C6H14 meaning it is a 6 carbon alkane. Its volatility and its solvency properties makes it ideal for cleaning off grease from electronic contacts to improve conductivity. This makes contact cleaner a convenient source of hexane for home chemists.

Theory:
The label on the contact cleaner states it contains the following compounds:
Ethanol 1-5%
n-Hexane 1-1%
Isohexane 80-90%
Carbon dioxide 2-5%
Petroleum distillates 1-10%

The best course of action to separate these components would be distillation. The boiling points of the components:
Ethanol 78.4˚C
n-Hexane 68.7˚C
Isohexane 60.3˚C
Carbon dixoide -56.6˚C
Petroleum distillates >80˚C

Since there is a difference of more than 20˚C between the desired product and the other compounds, simple distillations should be enough to separate out the hexane. Just to be sure, the mixture will be washed with water prior to distillations to remove the majority of the ethanol.

Equipment: 

• Hotplate 
• Stir-bar 
• 500ml 3-Neck round bottom flask
• Thermometer adapter 
• 300mm Liebig condensor 
• Vacuum take-off adaptor 
• Receiving flask 
• Thermometer 
• 2 Glass stoppers 
• 100ml Graduated cylinder
• 250ml Separatory funnel 

Chemicals: 

• 6 Cans contact cleaner
• 20g Magnesium sulfate (anhydrous) 
• Distilled water 

Procedure:

1. Half a can of contact cleaner is emptied into the separatory funnel. 
2. The contact cleaner is washed with 100ml of distilled water. 
3. The washed contact cleaner is emptied into the distillation setup. 
4. Heating is turned on and the contact cleaner began to distill over at 40˚C. 

5. The first fraction was collected between 40-60˚C, the second fraction between 60-70˚C, and the final fraction which was anything above 70˚C. 
6. The second fraction was kept as it contains our desired hexane. 
7. Steps 1-6 was repeated with the remaining cans of hexane. 
8. The combined fractions was dried with 20g of anhydrous magnesium sulfate. 
9. After drying, the combined fractions was redistilled and again the fraction between 60-70˚C was collected.