Is diesel fuel a solvent?

Answer 1

Yes, it can be used as a solvent

Answer 2

Yes. Any liquid can be a solvent for certain types of other liquids or solids.

Generally, solvents can be put into two categories: polar solvents and non-polar solvents.

Water is a polar solvent, so it's very good at dissolving polar molecules like sugar and salt.

Many hydrocarbons are non-polar, so they're good at dissolving non-polar compounds. Diesel fuel would fall into this category. Diesel fuel would be good at dissolving other hydrocarbons, such as fats and oils.

Answer 3

Yes.
Bad quality (high sulfur) diesel fuel has been used as a palladium extraction agent for the liquid-liquid extraction of this metal from nitric acid mixtures. This has been proposed as a means of separating the fission product palladium from PUREX raffinate which comes from used nuclear fuel. In this solvent extraction system the hydrocarbons of the diesel act as the diluent while the dialkyl sulfides act as the extractant. This extraction operates by a solvation mechanism. So far neither a pilot plant or full scale plant has been constructed to recover palladium, rhodium or ruthenium from nuclear wastes created by the use of nuclear fuel.

Answer 4

All liquids are solvents of something if only themselves. It all depends upon what you are trying to dissolve. Diesel would most likely be a solvent for certain non-polar molecules such as motor oil, kerosene, unadulterated gasoline, possibly hexane and possibly fats, etc.

Answer 5

Automotive diesel is around decane and heavier with some aromatics and napthenics. That would make it rather better than white spirits paint thinner (except for the strong and persistent smell).

Answer 6

Any liquid can be a solvent