The disclosure is directed to a processing fluid including at least 50 wt % of an aliphatic hydrocarbon having an average chain length of 8 to 16 carbons, 0.005 wt % to 10.0 wt % of Lewis active components, and not greater than 1.0 wt % water. The Lewis active components includes a Lewis acid and a Lewis base. The processing fluid has a conductivity of at least 10 nS/m and a Cannon viscosity of about 0.5 cp to about 5 cp at 25° C.