Phenol
The workhorse aromatic alcohol. About half of it becomes bisphenol-A, most of the rest becomes phenolic resins and caprolactam, and almost all of it arrives alongside acetone from the same reactor.
Molecular Structure
What is Phenol?
Phenol is benzene carrying a hydroxyl group, and that single substitution changes the ring completely. The oxygen lone pair delocalises into the aromatic system, which makes phenol far more acidic than an ordinary alcohol — pKa around 10, against roughly 16 for ethanol — and strongly activates the ring towards electrophilic substitution at the ortho and para positions. Every phenol derivative is built on one or other of those two properties.
At room temperature it is a white crystalline solid melting at 40.5 °C, so bulk phenol moves and is stored molten in heated, nitrogen-blanketed tanks. It develops colour on exposure to air and light, going pink and then brown, and once that colour has formed it cannot be removed at the receiving end. That is why colour and the sulphuric acid colour test appear on every certificate of analysis.
Roughly 95% of world phenol comes from the cumene, or Hock, process: benzene alkylated with propylene to cumene, air-oxidised to the hydroperoxide, then cleaved with acid into phenol and acetone. The stoichiometry fixes the ratio at about 0.6 tonnes of acetone per tonne of phenol, which permanently ties the two markets together.
Phenol's defining hazard is systemic, not just corrosive. It is absorbed rapidly through intact skin, and a splash over a modest area can cause systemic poisoning before the burn itself looks serious. Handling procedures should be designed around that fact rather than around the visible burn risk.
Quick Reference
Key Physical & Chemical Properties
Structure & Bonding
A hydroxyl group bonded directly to an aromatic ring. Conjugation between the oxygen lone pair and the ring makes phenol both distinctly acidic and strongly activated towards ortho- and para-substitution — the two behaviours that the entire derivative tree depends on.
Skeletal structure — hydroxyl bonded directly to the aromatic ring
Structural Identity
- IUPAC NamePhenol
- Common namesCarbolic acid, hydroxybenzene
- Molecular FormulaC₆H₆O
- Molecular Weight94.11 g/mol
- Functional groupAromatic hydroxyl
- AciditypKa 9.95 — acidic, unlike alkyl alcohols
- Ring behaviourStrongly activating, ortho/para directing
- Made fromCumene process — ≈95% of world supply
- Fixed co-productAcetone, ≈0.6 t per t of phenol
- CAS Number108-95-2
- InChI KeyISWSIDIOOBJBQZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
Product Specifications
Chelora supplies Phenol in standard and custom grades. Contact us for specification sheets tailored to your process.
| Chemical name | Phenol |
|---|---|
| CAS Number | 108-95-2 |
| Molecular formula | C₆H₆O |
| Molecular weight | 94.11 g/mol |
| Purity (min) | ≥ 99.90 wt% |
| Freezing point (min) | ≥ 40.6 °C |
| Water (max) | ≤ 0.10 wt% (Karl Fischer) |
| Colour, molten (max) | ≤ 10 Pt-Co (Hazen) |
| Sulphuric acid colour test (max) | ≤ 20 |
| Cresols (max) | ≤ 20 ppm wt |
| Mesityl oxide (max) | ≤ 10 ppm wt |
| α-Methylstyrene (max) | ≤ 15 ppm wt |
| Cumene (max) | ≤ 10 ppm wt |
| Acetophenone (max) | ≤ 30 ppm wt |
| Hydroxyacetone (max) | ≤ 30 ppm wt |
| Carbonyls as acetone (max) | ≤ 30 ppm wt |
| Non-volatile residue (max) | ≤ 10 ppm wt |
| Iron (max) | ≤ 0.10 ppm wt |
| Flash point | 79 °C (closed cup) |
| Autoignition temperature | 715 °C |
| Transport classification | UN 2312 molten / UN 1671 solid, Class 6.1, PG II |
Downstream Applications & Derivatives
Key derivative chains and industrial uses of Phenol.
Bisphenol-A
The largest single outlet. Two moles of phenol condense with one of acetone over an acid catalyst to give BPA, which goes on to polycarbonate and epoxy resins. Close to half of global phenol demand sits in this one chain.
Phenolic Resins
Novolac and resole resins from phenol and formaldehyde: plywood and OSB adhesives, foundry binders, decorative and electrical laminates, friction materials and moulding compounds.
Caprolactam & Nylon 6
Ring hydrogenation to cyclohexanone feeds the caprolactam chain and, from there, Nylon 6. A significant phenol outlet in Asia in particular.
Alkylphenols & Additives
Nonylphenol and octylphenol for ethoxylate surfactants, hindered phenolic antioxidants for polymers, and lubricant additives — an outlet under regulatory pressure in several markets.
Pharmaceutical Intermediates
Salicylic acid and aspirin, paracetamol via aminophenol, and phenol itself as a preservative and antiseptic at low concentration in throat preparations and injectables.
Fine Chemicals & Solvents
Aniline routes, xylenols and cresols, chlorophenols and alkyl aryl ethers, plus phenol as a selective extraction solvent in lube oil refining.
Why source Phenol through Chelora Petrochem?
Verified Origin
Full origin certification and asset-backed supply chain documentation — no grey-market supply.
Grade Flexibility
Standard and low-carbonyl grades supplied. Where your process is sensitive to mesityl oxide or hydroxyacetone carryover, we specify against those impurities rather than accepting a headline assay.
Full Documentation
CoA, SDS, UN transport documents, REACH compliance, and destination-market certificates with every shipment.
Logistics Support
Experienced in heated bulk aromatic logistics — insulated and steam-traced ISO tanks and road tankers for molten phenol, plus bagged flake where volumes suit, for Indian and international delivery.
Storage & Handling Guidelines
Always refer to the full SDS before handling. The following is a summary of key requirements.
- Store molten at 45–60 °C in stainless steel or lined tanks under a dry nitrogen pad. Colour development accelerates sharply above about 60 °C.
- Exclude air and light. Phenol oxidises to quinonoid species and turns pink then brown, and colour that has formed cannot be removed at the receiving plant.
- Trace-heat and insulate every line, valve and pump. Phenol freezes at 40.5 °C, and a solid plug in an unheated dead leg is the most common bulk-handling failure.
- Keep carbon steel out of the wetted path where colour and iron limits matter — iron pickup shows up directly as colour on the certificate.
- Treat every transfer as a skin-absorption risk rather than a splash risk. Impervious full body protection, chemical goggles and a face shield at all connections.
- Keep polyethylene glycol 300/400 wash solution and copious running water immediately available at every transfer point, and brief operators on their use before the transfer starts, not after an incident.
- Arrange medical response in advance. Phenol exposure can need treatment for systemic effects as well as burn care, and that is not something to improvise at the time.
- Bund all storage and prevent any release to drains, surface water or groundwater — phenol is toxic to aquatic life and disrupts biological effluent treatment.
- Segregate from strong oxidisers, acid chlorides and strong bases, and label every container clearly.
Hazard Summary
Classification: Acute Tox. 3 by oral, dermal and inhalation routes; Skin Corr. 1B; Eye Dam. 1; Muta. 2; STOT RE 2. Phenol is one of the more hazardous commodity aromatics and should not be handled on the same basis as toluene or xylene.
Skin absorption is the defining risk: phenol passes through intact skin quickly and in quantity. Systemic effects — including cardiac and central nervous system effects — can follow contact over a surprisingly small area, and the local anaesthetic action of phenol means the person may not feel the exposure until damage is done.
Corrosive: causes severe burns to skin and eyes. Burns may initially appear white and painless, which is a known reason exposures get under-reported and under-treated.
Fire: a combustible material with a flash point of 79 °C and autoignition at 715 °C. Molten storage sits below the flash point, but heated handling and hot work should be assessed on that basis. Combustion produces carbon monoxide and irritating fumes.
Environmental: toxic to aquatic organisms and inhibitory to activated sludge at low concentrations. Contain all spills; do not flush to drain.
PPE minimum: chemical goggles and face shield, impervious gloves and suit with no exposed skin at transfer points, and respiratory protection where mist or vapour can be generated.
Consult the full SDS for exposure limits, spill containment, first aid, emergency response and disposal before any use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Technical and commercial questions about Phenol sourcing and specifications.
What is phenol used for?
Bisphenol-A is the largest single outlet, taking close to half of global demand and feeding polycarbonate and epoxy resins. Phenolic resins for wood adhesives, laminates and foundry binders are the next largest. Beyond that, phenol goes into the caprolactam and Nylon 6 chain via cyclohexanone, into alkylphenols for surfactants and antioxidants, into pharmaceutical intermediates such as salicylic acid and paracetamol, and into aniline, cresols and xylenols.
Why are phenol and acetone prices linked?
Because they come out of the same reactor. The cumene process cleaves cumene hydroperoxide into phenol and acetone in fixed stoichiometry — roughly 0.6 tonnes of acetone for every tonne of phenol — and it accounts for about 95% of world phenol. A producer cannot make more phenol without also making more acetone. So when phenol demand is strong, acetone floods the market and softens; when acetone is tight, the swing supply has to come from isopropanol dehydrogenation instead.
Why is phenol shipped molten rather than as flake?
Phenol melts at 40.5 °C, which is inconveniently close to ambient in much of the world. Bulk quantities are handled molten in insulated, trace-heated and nitrogen-blanketed systems at around 45–60 °C, because that avoids the dust exposure and manual handling risk of solid phenol and allows pumped transfer. Flake and drummed material still exist for smaller volumes, but bulk trade is overwhelmingly molten, and the receiving terminal needs heating and nitrogen capability before the first cargo arrives.
What makes phenol more hazardous than other commodity aromatics?
Skin absorption. Benzene, toluene and xylene are handled mainly as inhalation and flammability risks. Phenol is absorbed rapidly through intact skin and can cause systemic poisoning from contact over a relatively small area — and because phenol has a local anaesthetic effect, the person exposed may not feel it happening. That combination is why phenol handling procedures centre on full skin protection, immediately available polyethylene glycol and water wash, and pre-arranged medical response, rather than on ventilation alone.
What do the trace specifications on phenol actually control?
They control downstream colour and yield. Carbonyl impurities such as mesityl oxide, hydroxyacetone and acetophenone carry through into bisphenol-A and phenolic resins, where they show up as colour bodies and off-spec product. Cresols and α-methylstyrene affect resin properties, and iron drives colour formation in storage. This is why two lots that both read 99.9% assay can perform very differently, and why the carbonyl figures matter more than the headline purity for BPA and pharmaceutical chains.
What documentation does Chelora provide?
Every shipment includes a Certificate of Analysis covering purity, freezing point, water, colour, sulphuric acid colour test, cresols, carbonyls, α-methylstyrene, cumene, non-volatile residue and iron; a Safety Data Sheet to GHS and REACH format; UN 2312 or UN 1671 dangerous goods documentation with the correct Class 6.1 packing group declaration; an origin certificate; and any destination-market or end-use certificates required.
Request a quote or specification sheet
Talk to Chelora's sourcing team about Phenol grade, volume, logistics, documentation, and lead times. We respond within one business day.
