Phenol CAS 108-95-2

What is Phenol?

Phenol is the simplest aromatic alcohol, C₆H₆O, a white crystalline solid at ambient that melts at 40.9 °C and is usually traded molten in heated tanks. It has a sharp, characteristic medicinal odour.

It is made almost entirely through the cumene process, where cumene hydroperoxide is cleaved with acid to give phenol and acetone together in fixed ratio.

Bisphenol-A is the largest outlet, feeding polycarbonate and epoxy resins. Phenolic resins, caprolactam, alkylphenols and aniline take most of the remainder.

Phenol is corrosive, acutely toxic and absorbed rapidly through intact skin, where a relatively small contact area can produce systemic poisoning. That skin absorption is the hazard that defines its handling.

Why Phenol specifically

• An activated aromatic ring. The hydroxyl group strongly activates the ring, so phenol reacts readily with aldehydes, olefins and nitrating agents.
• The BPA route. Condensation with acetone gives bisphenol-A for polycarbonate and epoxy resins.
• Phenolic resin chemistry. Reaction with formaldehyde produces the oldest and still widely used thermosetting resins.
• Cheap and abundant. Produced in very large volume as a co-product with acetone, which keeps the derivatives economical.

How Phenol is Manufactured

Phenol is made by the cumene process, with small volumes from toluene oxidation and other routes.

• Cumene feed. Benzene alkylated with propylene over a zeolite catalyst supplies the feedstock.
• Oxidation. Cumene is oxidised with air at about 100 °C to cumene hydroperoxide at 20 to 30% concentration.
• Concentration. The hydroperoxide is concentrated under vacuum before cleavage.
• Acid cleavage. Sulphuric acid cleaves the hydroperoxide to phenol and acetone in a strongly exothermic reaction requiring careful control.
• Neutralisation and separation. The cleavage mixture is neutralised and separated by distillation into phenol, acetone and heavy ends.
• Purification. Final distillation and treatment remove hydroxyacetone, mesityl oxide and other carbonyls that affect colour and BPA quality.

Typical Commercial Specification

Figures below are representative of commercial high-purity phenol. Tell us whether the material goes to BPA, resins or caprolactam and we will advise on the carbonyl limits you should specify.

Physical & Chemical Properties

Behaviour in the process

Phenol's melting point and skin absorption together drive almost every handling decision:

• Solidifies at 41 °C. Heated storage and traced lines are mandatory for molten handling; a cooled line becomes a solid plug.
• Absorbs rapidly through skin. Systemic poisoning can follow contact with a modest skin area, and the burn may be painless at first because phenol is a local anaesthetic.
• Weakly acidic. Forms phenolates with bases, which affects both chemistry and spill neutralisation.
• Oxidises to pink and brown. Air and light exposure cause colour development, which matters for BPA and resin grades.

Phenol Grades and Alternatives

Phenol is sold to one high-purity commercial grade, with the carbonyl limits tightened for BPA service.

Stated plainly: for BPA, phenolic resins and caprolactam there is no substitute. The real grade question is carbonyl content, because that is what decides whether the downstream polymer is water-white or yellow.

Industries We Supply Phenol To

Phenol reaches plastics, composites, fibres and specialty chemistry, with colour specification tightening up the chain.

Where Phenol is Used

Bisphenol-A takes the largest share of phenol, followed by phenolic resins and caprolactam.

In bisphenol-A manufacture

Two moles of phenol condense with one of acetone over an acid ion-exchange resin, with excess phenol driving the reaction and recycled afterwards. Carbonyl impurities in the phenol react alongside and generate coloured by-products, which is why polycarbonate producers specify hydroxyacetone and mesityl oxide so tightly.

Handling molten phenol

Phenol is normally pumped and stored above 50 °C in heated, traced systems under nitrogen to prevent colour development. The combination of hot liquid and rapid skin absorption makes transfer operations the critical risk point, and sites running molten phenol typically require full face and body protection plus immediate access to polyethylene glycol washing solution.

Quality Control & Testing

Every lot is released against a batch-specific Certificate of Analysis, with carbonyls and colour reported alongside purity because they decide downstream polymer quality.

• Phenol purity and freezing point — by gas chromatography and freezing point determination.
• Hydroxyacetone and mesityl oxide — reported in ppm because they generate colour in BPA.
• Cumene and alpha-methylstyrene — measured as the characteristic process residues.
• Water content — relevant to BPA condensation and to freezing behaviour.
• Organic chlorides and iron — tested for catalyst and corrosion reasons.
• Colour in the molten state — confirming freedom from oxidation and contamination.

Common Process Problems & Likely Causes

When phenol causes trouble, it is usually carbonyls, colour, solidification or water. This table is the shortcut our technical desk works through before anyone opens a complaint file.

Packaging, Storage & Shipping

• Standard packing. Heated ISO tank containers and road tankers for molten phenol; drums and bags for solid product.
• Temperature control. Hold molten phenol above 50 °C. Below 41 °C it solidifies and plugs lines and pumps.
• Nitrogen blanketing. Standard, because air exposure causes pink and brown colour development.
• Material compatibility. Stainless steel preferred; carbon steel is used but contributes iron and colour. Avoid aluminium and magnesium.
• Emergency washing. Polyethylene glycol 300 or 400 solution should be immediately available wherever phenol is handled — it is far more effective than water for skin contact.
• Segregation. Keep apart from strong oxidisers, acid chlorides and bases.
• Shelf life. Indefinite in sealed, blanketed, heated storage. Colour and water are the practical checks.
• Transport classification. UN 2312 for molten phenol and UN 1671 for solid, Class 6.1 toxic, packing group II.

Hazards & Safe Handling

Phenol is acutely toxic, corrosive and absorbed rapidly through intact skin. A relatively small skin contact area can cause systemic poisoning, and the local anaesthetic effect means the victim may not feel the burn.

• Skin absorption. Rapidly absorbed through intact skin in toxicologically significant amounts. Contact with a modest area can cause systemic poisoning, collapse and death.
• Anaesthetic effect. Phenol numbs the skin on contact, so a serious burn may be painless at first and go unnoticed. Treat every contact as significant.
• Emergency treatment. Flood with polyethylene glycol 300 or 400 where available, otherwise copious water, remove contaminated clothing and seek immediate medical attention.
• Corrosivity. Causes severe skin burns and serious eye damage.
• Occupational exposure. Typical limits are around 5 ppm as an 8-hour average with a skin notation; confirm the limit in your jurisdiction.
• Hot liquid. Molten phenol above 50 °C adds a thermal burn risk to the chemical one.
• PPE. Full chemical suit, face shield, chemical-resistant gloves and boots for all transfer work; no exposed skin.
• Environment. Toxic to aquatic life; prevent entry to drains and watercourses.

Regulatory & Compliance Notes

Phenol is regulated as an acutely toxic and corrosive substance with a specific skin notation. The notes below are orientation rather than legal advice.

• GHS classification. Acute toxicity Category 3 by all routes, skin corrosion Category 1B, germ cell mutagenicity Category 2 and STOT RE Category 2.
• Skin notation. Occupational exposure limits carry a skin notation in most jurisdictions because dermal absorption can exceed inhalation exposure.
• Dangerous goods transport. UN 2312 molten and UN 1671 solid, Class 6.1, PG II. ADR, IMDG, IATA and DOT rules apply, with heating noted on the transport document.
• REACH and inventories. Registered under EU REACH and listed on the major chemical inventories.
• Downstream BPA regulation. Bisphenol-A is restricted in food contact and consumer articles in several jurisdictions, which affects your customers rather than the phenol itself.
• Quality agreements. BPA producers commonly expect documented carbonyl, water and colour limits with change control.

We Supply Phenol Worldwide

Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and export partner, not a single-plant trader. We ship Phenol 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 single heated ISO tank 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 Phenol from Chelora

We are an independent sourcing and supply partner. For phenol that means settling three things at enquiry: the carbonyl limits your downstream chemistry needs, whether you receive molten or solid product, and the emergency arrangements your site has for a substance that is absorbed through skin.

• Documentation on every lot. Batch-specific COA (purity, freezing point, water, colour), 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 single heated ISO tank through to full bulk shipments on contract supply.
• Grade matching. High-purity or technical grade to the hydroxyacetone, mesityl oxide and water limits your process requires.
• Inspection. Independent third-party inspection available at loading when the contract requires it.
• Related products. Acetone, Bisphenol-A, Cumene and other feedstocks alongside Phenol 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.

Related Products

Buyers of phenol often source the rest of the chain alongside it — BPA producers typically buy acetone, and resin makers need formaldehyde on the same programme.