I cannot see a simple test for hexane. You will need a gas chromatograph or the like. I cannot imagine that small residual amounts of hexane have any neurotoxic effect. You really should look up the maximum concentrations permissible. The hexane will probably be used to extract the Shea Butter as it is a good solvent for lipids, and is then evaporated, as far as possible without damaging the end product. There is a simple principle in chemistry: you can find almost everything almost anywhere, if your methods are sensitive enough (think of nitrosamine in beer a couple of years ago). But it is the concentration that matters. Best regards - H.Oe.
Viator schrieb in im Newsbeitrag: snipped-for-privacy@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
Hi all,
>
> I recently purchased some raw Shea Butter, which is a
> tree-derived butter that is supposed to be good
> for the skin. However I want to test it, and subsequent
> purchases of it, to make sure it is really, truly raw.
> In the case of Shea Butter, it is typical that manufacturers
> will treat it with hexane in order to (as far as I know)
> whiten and deodorize it. Unfortunately the hexane
> remains in the butter, and hexane is of course a neurotoxin.
>
> So I want to test it, and I could swear I've seen simple
> disposable kits that people in labs use to detect
> various chemicals, including hexane.
>
> Can anyone tell me where to get such testers?
>
> Thanks.
>