Bisphenol-A CAS 80-05-7
Chelora Chemicals supplies polycarbonate-grade and epoxy-grade bisphenol-A to engineering plastics and resin producers worldwide. Every consignment leaves with a batch-specific COA covering purity, colour, free phenol and iron, the current SDS and full export documentation.
Also known as: BPA · 2,2-Bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane · 4,4′-Isopropylidenediphenol · Dian
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Price, lead time and a sample COA for Bisphenol-A, usually within one working day. We ship worldwide.
Request a Quote Email the DeskDocumentation
- Batch-specific COA (purity, colour, free phenol, iron)
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)
- Transport and export documents
- Third-party inspection on request
- Certificate of origin
What is Bisphenol-A?
Bisphenol-A is a diphenol, C₁₅H₁₆O₂, a white crystalline solid supplied as prills or flakes. It is made by condensing two moles of phenol with one of acetone over an acid catalyst.
The two phenolic hydroxyls at opposite ends of a rigid isopropylidene bridge are what make it valuable: they polymerise into polycarbonate and epoxy backbones that are both stiff and tough.
Polycarbonate takes the larger share, with epoxy resins close behind. Smaller volumes go to flame retardants, unsaturated polyester resins and specialty polymers.
BPA is classified as a reproductive toxicant in the EU and is restricted in some food-contact and consumer applications, which has driven substitution in receipt paper and infant products but not in engineering plastics.
Why Bisphenol-A specifically
- A rigid bisphenol. The isopropylidene bridge gives polycarbonate its stiffness, clarity and impact resistance.
- Two reactive hydroxyls. Allows polymerisation with phosgene to polycarbonate or with epichlorohydrin to epoxy.
- Colour critical. Optical polycarbonate demands very low colour, which starts with BPA purity.
- Produced at scale. Large, integrated plants keep the engineering plastics chain economical.
How Bisphenol-A is Manufactured
BPA is made by condensing phenol with acetone, and the purification route determines whether the product suits polycarbonate or epoxy.
- Phenol and acetone feed. Excess phenol is condensed with acetone, with carbonyl impurities in the phenol controlling the colour outcome.
- Acid-catalysed condensation. An acidic ion-exchange resin, often promoted with a mercaptan, catalyses the reaction at about 70 °C.
- Isomer control. The promoter raises selectivity to the desired para,para isomer over the ortho,para by-product.
- Crystallisation. BPA is crystallised as a phenol adduct, which is the key purification step for polycarbonate grade.
- Phenol removal. The adduct is desorbed and residual phenol stripped to low ppm levels.
- Prilling or flaking. The melt is prilled or flaked under controlled conditions to give a free-flowing solid.
Typical Commercial Specification
Figures below are representative of commercial polycarbonate-grade BPA. Epoxy grade carries wider colour and isomer limits — tell us the use and we will send the matching sheet.
| Parameter | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White prills or flakes, free flowing |
| BPA purity | 99.8% min by weight (99.5% epoxy grade) |
| Colour (APHA, molten) | 10 max polycarbonate grade; 30 max epoxy grade |
| Free phenol | To grade, typically 50 ppm max |
| ortho,para isomer | To grade, typically 0.1% max |
| Water | To grade, typically 0.1% max |
| Iron | To grade, typically 0.5 ppm max |
| Ash | To grade, typically 50 ppm max |
| Melting range | 156 to 158 °C |
| Sulphur | To grade, typically 2 ppm max |
Physical & Chemical Properties
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Chemical formula | C₁₅H₁₆O₂ |
| Molecular weight | 228.29 g/mol |
| Appearance | White crystalline prills or flakes, mild phenolic odour |
| Melting point | 156 to 158 °C |
| Boiling point | About 220 °C at 4 mmHg |
| Flash point | About 207 °C |
| Bulk density | About 0.6 to 0.7 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Low, about 0.3 g/L at 25 °C |
| Solubility in organics | Soluble in alcohols, acetone, alkaline solutions |
| pKa | About 9.6 and 10.2 |
| Thermal stability | Stable to about 200 °C; discolours on prolonged heating in air |
| Incompatibilities | Strong oxidisers, strong bases, acid chlorides |
Behaviour in the process
BPA is a stable solid, and the handling issues are mostly about colour and dust:
- Discolours on heating in air. Molten BPA oxidises and yellows, which is why melting is done under nitrogen.
- Dusty when handled dry. Prills generate fines on repeated transfer; dust control protects both product and people.
- Caking under pressure. Bagged product can cake in warm storage under stack load.
- Iron sensitive. Even sub-ppm iron accelerates colour development in polycarbonate.
BPA Grades and Alternatives
BPA is bought by grade, and the difference between polycarbonate and epoxy grade is colour and isomer purity.
| Material | Origin / type | When it is the right choice |
|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate-grade BPA | 99.8%+, APHA 10 max | Optical, sheet and moulding polycarbonate |
| Epoxy-grade BPA | 99.5%+, wider colour limits | Epoxy resins for coatings, composites and electronics |
| Bisphenol-F | Lower viscosity bisphenol | Epoxy systems requiring lower viscosity |
| Bisphenol-S | Sulphone bridge analogue, CAS 80-09-1 | Where BPA is restricted, notably thermal paper |
| Bio-based and BPA-free alternatives | Isosorbide and other diols | Food-contact and consumer applications facing BPA restriction |
Stated plainly: in engineering polycarbonate and epoxy there is still no commercial substitute that matches BPA on performance and cost. The substitution pressure is real but concentrated in food contact and consumer articles rather than in industrial resins.
Industries We Supply Bisphenol-A To
BPA goes to a small number of large polymer producers, with the colour specification doing most of the differentiating.
Where Bisphenol-A is Used
Polycarbonate and epoxy resins together account for the overwhelming majority of BPA demand.
In polycarbonate manufacture
BPA reacts with phosgene at an interface, or with diphenyl carbonate in the melt process, to build the polycarbonate chain. Colour is the critical variable throughout: optical grades are judged on yellowness index, and since colour in the BPA carries forward into the resin, the polymer producer's quality starts with the monomer certificate.
In epoxy resin manufacture
BPA reacts with epichlorohydrin under alkali to form the diglycidyl ether, the backbone of standard epoxy resins. Epoxy grades tolerate more colour and isomer content than polycarbonate grades, so the specification — and the price — are correspondingly lower.
Need a specific grade, purity and packing format?
Tell us the grade, the colour specification your resin grade requires, the packing format you can receive and the annual quantity. We will come back with a price, a lead time, a sample COA and the full documentation set.
Quality Control & Testing
Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, with colour and iron reported alongside purity because both determine polymer appearance.
- BPA purity and isomer content — by HPLC, confirming para,para content and ortho,para by-product.
- Colour in the molten state — by APHA, the defining specification for polycarbonate grade.
- Free phenol — reported because residual phenol affects polymerisation and odour.
- Iron and ash — measured in ppm because they accelerate colour development.
- Water content — relevant to polymerisation stoichiometry and handling.
- Melting range — confirming identity and crystalline purity.
Common Process Problems & Likely Causes
When BPA causes trouble, it is usually colour, iron, free phenol or moisture. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.
| Symptom | Likely cause | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Polycarbonate yellow or hazy | Colour or iron in the BPA | APHA colour and iron figures on the COA |
| Molecular weight off target | Free phenol or water affecting stoichiometry | Free phenol and water results |
| Epoxy resin colour poor | Grade mismatch — epoxy grade used where low colour needed | Grade specification against your resin requirement |
| Product caking in bags | Warm storage under stack load | Warehouse temperature and stacking practice |
| Dust during handling | Prill attrition through repeated transfer | Transfer points and conveying design |
| Discolouration during melting | Oxidation of molten BPA in air | Nitrogen blanketing of the melt system |
Packaging, Storage & Shipping
- Standard packing. 25 kg bags, 500 to 1000 kg jumbo bags and bulk containers, nitrogen purged where colour is critical.
- Storage. Cool, dry, covered warehousing away from direct sunlight and heat sources.
- Nitrogen protection. Melt systems should be nitrogen blanketed; molten BPA oxidises and yellows in air.
- Material compatibility. Stainless steel for melt systems; iron pick-up from carbon steel causes colour.
- Dust control. Use enclosed conveying and dust extraction; BPA dust is both a housekeeping and an exposure issue.
- Segregation. Keep apart from strong oxidisers, bases and acid chlorides.
- Shelf life. Typically 12 to 24 months in sealed bags in dry storage. Colour is the practical check.
- Transport classification. Not classified as dangerous goods for transport.
Hazards & Safe Handling
BPA is a solid with low acute toxicity but is classified as a reproductive toxicant and a skin sensitiser. Dust control and skin protection are the main workplace measures.
- Reproductive toxicity. Classified Category 1B for reproductive toxicity in the EU. Exposure should be minimised, particularly for workers of reproductive age.
- Endocrine activity. Identified as an endocrine disruptor under EU criteria, which has driven restrictions in food contact and consumer articles.
- Skin and respiratory sensitisation. Repeated exposure can cause allergic skin and respiratory reactions.
- Eye damage. Causes serious eye damage on contact; use goggles and avoid dust exposure.
- Dust control. Handle with enclosed transfer and extraction; dust is the main exposure route.
- Hot melt. Molten BPA above 160 °C presents a thermal burn risk.
- PPE. Gloves, goggles, dust mask or respiratory protection for bag handling and transfer operations.
- Environment. Toxic to aquatic life; prevent entry to drains and watercourses.
Regulatory & Compliance Notes
BPA is one of the most closely regulated polymer intermediates, with restrictions concentrated in food contact and consumer products. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.
- GHS classification. Reproductive toxicity Category 1B, serious eye damage Category 1, skin and respiratory sensitisation and STOT SE Category 3.
- EU restrictions. Identified as a substance of very high concern, restricted in thermal paper and in certain food-contact materials, with ongoing regulatory review.
- Food contact. BPA migration limits in food contact plastics are set in the EU, US and many other markets, and have tightened significantly.
- Consumer products. Banned or restricted in infant feeding bottles and some childcare articles in several jurisdictions.
- Transport. Not classified as dangerous goods. Standard packaged and bulk cargo documentation applies.
- REACH and inventories. Registered under EU REACH with harmonised classification; listed on the major chemical inventories.
We Supply Bisphenol-A Worldwide
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Bisphenol-A from India and from partner sources to customers across Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and North and South America, handling the export documentation, transport paperwork and freight so the material arrives ready to use.
- Incoterms. EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR and DAP quoted to suit your purchasing terms and freight arrangements.
- Ports. Regular shipments through Nhava Sheva (JNPT) and Mundra, with other ports arranged where routing and cargo rules allow.
- Documentation. Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, COA, SDS and the transport declaration issued as a complete set.
- Flexible volumes. From a pallet of bagged product up to repeat bulk shipments on a supply contract.
- Supply continuity. Because we are independent of any one producer, a plant turnaround or a shipping disruption at one source does not have to become your stock-out.
Buying Bisphenol-A from Chelora
We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For BPA that means settling three things at enquiry: whether you need polycarbonate or epoxy grade, the colour specification your resin must meet, and the packing and nitrogen protection your handling system requires.
- Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (purity, colour, free phenol, iron), plus SDS and the full transport paperwork.
- Analysis before commitment. Representative analysis shared ahead of a commercial order so your lab can qualify the material.
- Quantities. From a pallet of bagged product through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
- Grade matching. Polycarbonate or epoxy grade, to the colour, isomer and free phenol limits your resin requires.
- Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
- Related products. Phenol, Acetone, Polycarbonate and other feedstocks alongside Bisphenol-A from one supplier.
How ordering works
- Send the enquiry. Product, grade or purity, quantity, destination port and the Incoterm you buy on. If you have a spec sheet, attach it — it saves a round trip.
- We quote. Price, lead time, packing format and a sample COA, normally within one working day.
- Qualify the supply. For first orders or critical applications, we share the analysis and handling documentation so your technical and safety teams can sign off before you commit.
- Confirm the order. Proforma invoice issued; payment terms agreed against the volume and the relationship.
- Allocation and QC. Material allocated and released against a batch-specific COA, with an independent inspection where the contract calls for it.
- Ship and document. Filled, labelled and loaded with the full export document set, and tracked through to arrival.
Bisphenol-A — Common Questions
The questions our technical desk is asked most often about Bisphenol-A. If yours isn't here, call or email and you will reach someone who knows the chemistry.
What is the CAS number of bisphenol-A?
The CAS number for BPA is 80-05-7, and its EC number is 201-245-8. Its molecular formula is C₁₅H₁₆O₂ with a molecular weight of 228.29 g/mol, and it is classified under HS code 2907.23.
What is BPA used for?
Mainly for polycarbonate resin and epoxy resins. Polycarbonate goes to optical media, glazing, electronics and automotive parts; epoxy goes to coatings, composites, adhesives and printed circuit board laminates.
Do you supply BPA worldwide?
Yes. Chelora Chemicals supplies and exports BPA worldwide — across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas, as well as throughout India, in bags, jumbo bags and bulk containers.
What is the difference between polycarbonate grade and epoxy grade?
Colour and isomer purity. Polycarbonate grade is 99.8% minimum with APHA colour of 10 or less because optical resin must be water-white; epoxy grade allows more colour and ortho,para isomer and costs less.
How is BPA manufactured?
By condensing two moles of phenol with one of acetone over an acidic ion-exchange resin promoted with a mercaptan, then purifying by crystallisation as a phenol adduct and stripping residual phenol.
Why does BPA colour matter so much?
Because colour in the monomer carries straight through into the polymer, and optical polycarbonate is judged on yellowness index. It cannot be corrected downstream, which is why the molten colour result defines the grade.
Is BPA hazardous?
It has low acute toxicity but is classified as a Category 1B reproductive toxicant in the EU, causes serious eye damage, and is a skin and respiratory sensitiser. It is also identified as an endocrine disruptor.
Is BPA banned?
Not in industrial resin applications. Restrictions are concentrated in food contact materials, thermal paper and infant products, and they vary by jurisdiction. Engineering polycarbonate and epoxy uses continue, though regulatory review is ongoing.
Is BPA classified as dangerous goods?
No. BPA is not regulated for transport, though its health classification means proper labelling, dust control and worker protection are still required.
How should BPA be stored?
In cool, dry, covered warehousing away from sunlight and heat, with dust control during handling. Melt systems should be nitrogen blanketed because molten BPA oxidises and yellows in air.
What packing sizes and order quantities are available?
25 kg bags, 500 to 1000 kg jumbo bags and bulk containers, nitrogen purged where colour is critical. Orders run from a pallet of bagged product up to full container and bulk shipments.
What is the typical shelf life?
12 to 24 months in sealed bags in dry storage. Colour is the practical check, and caking under warm storage with stack load is the usual physical problem.
Ready to source Bisphenol-A?
Send us your specification, grade and annual volume. You will get a price, a realistic lead time and a sample COA from someone who understands what the material has to do in your process — delivered anywhere in the world.