1,4-Dioxane

1,4-Dioxane () is a heterocyclic organic compound, classified as an ether. It is a colorless liquid with a faint sweet odor similar to that of diethyl ether. The compound is often called simply dioxane because the other dioxane isomers (1,2- and 1,3-) are rarely encountered. 1,4-Dioxane is miscible in water, essentially nonvolatile when dissolved in water, not well adsorbed by activated carbon, and not readily oxidized by common oxidants. Dioxane is used as a solvent in manufacturing applications, and as a stabilizer for the transport of chlorinated hydrocarbons in aluminium containers. It is a highly flammable substance that produces toxic vapors when heated. Although it is a trace material in commonly used products, such as cosmetics, dioxane is considered a hazardous contaminant and potential carcinogen in many countries, requiring government monitoring of amounts used in manufacturing and its presence in air, drinking water, and ecosystems.