: any of several isomeric volatile liquid alkanes C6H14 found in petroleum
Examples of hexane in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The seeds are crushed twice under high heat and pressure then exposed to hexane, a colorless liquid hydrocarbon and solvent, experts said.
—
Kristen Rogers, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Decker adds that more studies are needed, though there’s most likely very little hexane in the actual products.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Edible oil processing commonly relies on hexane, a solvent used to extract oil from seeds after they’re crushed.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
Chemical extraction involves using a solvent, like hexane, to extract the oil from the seeds.1
After extraction, most vegetable oils undergo a refining process, including bleaching and deodorizing.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 22 Jan. 2025
But the good news is, the use of heat in later stages of processing evaporates the hexane, so the final oil contains only a tiny amount, if any—too low to have a negative effect, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Jan. 2025
The unauthorized installations, which began in 2017, caused a considerable increase in emissions, including a net annual increase of 40 tons of a volatile organic compound called hexane, according to MDE’s complaint.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2024
This process uses heat and chemical solvents such as hexane, which has been shown to be neurotoxic to humans.
—Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 10 July 2024
They are committed to routine testing of their ingredients and products for metals like arsenic, lead and mercury, and have made other efforts like finding a separation method that does not require harsh chemical solvents like hexane.
—Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Cdn, Nasm-Cpt, Good Housekeeping, 24 May 2022
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Kristen Rogers, CNN, 25 Mar. 2025
Decker adds that more studies are needed, though there’s most likely very little hexane in the actual products.
—Matt Fuchs, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025
Edible oil processing commonly relies on hexane, a solvent used to extract oil from seeds after they’re crushed.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 20 Mar. 2025
Chemical extraction involves using a solvent, like hexane, to extract the oil from the seeds.1
After extraction, most vegetable oils undergo a refining process, including bleaching and deodorizing.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 22 Jan. 2025
But the good news is, the use of heat in later stages of processing evaporates the hexane, so the final oil contains only a tiny amount, if any—too low to have a negative effect, according to the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 13 Jan. 2025
The unauthorized installations, which began in 2017, caused a considerable increase in emissions, including a net annual increase of 40 tons of a volatile organic compound called hexane, according to MDE’s complaint.
—Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 31 July 2024
This process uses heat and chemical solvents such as hexane, which has been shown to be neurotoxic to humans.
—Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 10 July 2024
They are committed to routine testing of their ingredients and products for metals like arsenic, lead and mercury, and have made other efforts like finding a separation method that does not require harsh chemical solvents like hexane.
—Stefani Sassos, Ms, Rdn, Cso, Cdn, Nasm-Cpt, Good Housekeeping, 24 May 2022
Cite this Entry
“Hexane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hexane. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
hexane
noun
hex·ane
ˈhek-ˌsān 
: any of several isomeric volatile liquid alkanes C6H14 found in petroleum
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