Naphtha

Naphtha, term applied to several volatile, flammable liquids, obtained by distillation of various organic materials and used as a solvent for fats, gums, and resins, particularly in the manufacture of varnishes and waxes and in the dry cleaning of textiles. Petroleum naphtha, or mineral naphtha, is obtained from petroleum as a crude distillate that is lighter than kerosene and has a lower boiling point. It contains a mixture of methane-type hydrocarbons. The distillates with lower boiling points than petroleum naphtha are called ligroin. Other forms of naphtha are crude naphtha, obtained from coal tar; shale naphtha, obtained from shale; and wood naphtha, obtained from wood. Solvent naphtha, used for dissolving rubber, is a high-boiling-point fraction distilled from coal tar.