Toluene
A versatile aromatic solvent and chemical feedstock — used in coatings and adhesives, converted to benzene and TDI, and blended into high-octane gasoline.
Chelora Chemicals supplies toluene to coatings, chemical-intermediate and fuel-blending customers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 108-88-3
- IUPAC name
- Methylbenzene
- Molecular formula
- C₇H₈
- Molecular weight
- 92.14 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 110.6 °C
- Melting point
- -95 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1294
- HS Code
- 2902 30
Note: Toluene is a highly flammable, narcotic-effect solvent handled under standard aromatic-solvent controls. Confirm requirements with your regulatory affairs team.
What Toluene is used for
Toluene is a colourless, flammable liquid with a characteristic sweet, pungent aromatic odour. It is recovered industrially, alongside benzene, from catalytic reforming of naphtha and pyrolysis gasoline from ethylene steam cracking, and is produced in significantly larger volumes than downstream demand consumes — making it an important swing feedstock for benzene production.
Toluene's uses split between solvent applications — in paints, coatings, adhesives, inks and cleaning formulations, valued for its strong solvency and moderate evaporation rate — and chemical feedstock roles: hydrodealkylation or disproportionation to benzene when benzene demand is strong, and nitration/phosgenation to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), the key precursor for flexible polyurethane foam. Toluene is also a valuable high-octane gasoline blending component.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Naphtha reforming / Pyrolysis gasoline the feedstocks and routes toluene is recovered from.
- Toluene (this product) the aromatic solvent and swing feedstock for the chains below.
- Benzene / TDI / Gasoline blending downstream uses and chains built on toluene. See Benzene.
Handling character
Toluene is highly flammable and classified for reproductive toxicity, requiring good ventilation and standard solvent-handling controls. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.5-99.9% min (nitration/industrial grade) |
| Sulphur content | Within producer specification (ppm level) |
| Non-aromatic content | Within producer specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Colourless, flammable liquid |
| Boiling point | 110.6 °C |
| Melting point | -95 °C |
| Density | 0.8669 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Low (~0.52 g/L) |
| Flash point | 4 °C (highly flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 108-88-3 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Toluene to work
The versatile aromatic behind coatings solvents, benzene swing supply and polyurethane TDI.
Coatings, adhesives & inks
A high-performance solvent in paints, coatings, printing inks and adhesive formulations.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Benzene feedstock (dealkylation)
Hydrodealkylated or disproportionated to benzene when benzene demand is strong relative to toluene.
- Nitration-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Toluene diisocyanate (TDI)
Nitrated and phosgenated into TDI, the key precursor for flexible polyurethane foam.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Gasoline octane blending
A high-octane aromatic blendstock in gasoline formulation.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Benzaldehyde & fine chemicals
Oxidised or chlorinated into benzaldehyde, benzoic acid and other fine-chemical intermediates.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Coatings and chemical-intermediate plants running continuous consumption are supported with scheduled bulk delivery.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- Price held across the contract period
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Toluene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity grade (solvent vs. nitration) and consistent aromatic content matter across toluene's many end uses — that shapes how we manage this line.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your required grade, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm your jurisdiction's import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your production problem.
- Purity and sulphur content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters whether your use is solvent, benzene feedstock or TDI chemistry.
- UN 1294 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking.
- Scheduled call-off scheduling. We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
- Export machinery handled in-house. Classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
- Solvent and nitration grade both sourced. Matched precisely to your end-use specification.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Drum, tote or bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and classify to it.
200-210 litre drums
Steel drums for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 litre totes
Returnable or one-way IBC totes sized for mid-volume converter orders.
Large-volume bulk shipment
ISO tank or flexi-tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption solvent and chemical-intermediate plants.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for process trials before a commercial order is placed.
Contracted call-off supply
We hold contracted tonnage and release it against your consumption calendar.
Highly flammable — handle accordingly
Toluene is highly flammable and classified for reproductive toxicity and CNS effects, requiring good ventilation during handling. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H225Highly flammable liquid and vapour.H361dSuspected of damaging the unborn child.H304+H336May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways; may cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Use with adequate ventilation. Toluene vapour has narcotic effects at elevated concentrations; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and avoid exposure during pregnancy per site medical guidance.
Storage
Store in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area, away from heat, sunlight and oxidising agents.
Handling
Use solvent-resistant gloves, eye protection and adequate ventilation (local exhaust where concentrations may build). Avoid inhalation, ingestion and prolonged skin contact.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1294 (Toluene), a highly flammable liquid. We confirm and document exact classification for your specific shipment and destination.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Purity, sulphur content and non-aromatic impurity levels confirmed against your process requirement before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS and transport paperwork checked by our desk before the shipment is booked.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How Toluene is made
Toluene is recovered industrially, alongside benzene and xylenes, from catalytic reforming of naphtha and from pyrolysis gasoline generated by ethylene steam cracking. Because reformers typically produce more toluene than direct chemical demand requires, a significant share is converted onward to benzene (via hydrodealkylation) or to benzene plus xylenes (via disproportionation), balancing the aromatics pool to market demand.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Aromatic hydrocarbon (methylated arene) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Aromatic ring with a methyl substituent |
| Reactivity | Electrophilic aromatic substitution (nitration, chlorination); hydrodealkylation to benzene |
| Related compounds | Benzene, Mixed Xylenes (related arenes), Toluene Diisocyanate (downstream) |
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