Ethylbenzene
The sole commercial feedstock for styrene monomer — the link between benzene/ethylene and the world's polystyrene, ABS and SBR supply.
Chelora Chemicals supplies ethylbenzene to styrene producers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 100-41-4
- IUPAC name
- Ethylbenzene
- Molecular formula
- C₈H₁₀
- Molecular weight
- 106.17 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 136.2 °C
- Melting point
- -95.0 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1175
- HS Code
- 2902 60
Note: Essentially all ethylbenzene produced is consumed captively or sold directly for styrene monomer production. Confirm classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What Ethylbenzene is used for
Ethylbenzene is a colourless, flammable liquid with a gasoline-like aromatic odour. It is produced almost entirely by the catalytic alkylation of benzene with ethylene, with a small additional quantity recovered from the mixed-xylenes fraction of catalytic reformate.
Ethylbenzene's only significant commercial use is as the feedstock for styrene monomer, produced by catalytic dehydrogenation. The overwhelming majority of ethylbenzene manufactured worldwide is consumed captively within integrated benzene-ethylbenzene-styrene complexes, making it one of the most tightly linked intermediates in the petrochemical value chain.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Benzene + Ethylene the two feedstocks alkylated to form ethylbenzene. See Benzene and Ethylene.
- Ethylbenzene (this product) the aromatic intermediate dehydrogenated to styrene monomer — its sole significant outlet.
- Styrene Monomer the downstream monomer for polystyrene, ABS, SAN and SBR. See that page.
Handling character
Ethylbenzene is flammable and classified as a suspected carcinogen, requiring standard aromatic-solvent handling controls. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.8% min (styrene feed grade) |
| Xylene content | < 0.1% (typical) |
| 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 | 136.2 °C |
| Melting point | -95.0 °C |
| Density | 0.867 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Low (~0.15 g/L) |
| Flash point | 15 °C (flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 100-41-4 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Ethylbenzene to work
Essentially one molecule, one destination: styrene monomer for the world's polystyrene and ABS supply.
Styrene monomer production
Catalytically dehydrogenated into styrene monomer, ethylbenzene's dominant and near-exclusive use.
- Styrene feed-grade specification
- Integrated & merchant bulk supply
- Technical desk review on request
Polystyrene chain
Downstream of styrene, feeds general-purpose and high-impact polystyrene production.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
ABS & SAN resins
Downstream of styrene, feeds ABS and SAN engineering resin production.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
SBR & polyester chain
Downstream of styrene, feeds styrene-butadiene rubber and unsaturated polyester resin crosslinking.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Solvent & research use
Minor use as a specialty solvent and analytical reference standard.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Styrene 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 Ethylbenzene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity and xylene content are critical to styrene dehydrogenation efficiency — 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 xylene content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream styrene dehydrogenation efficiency.
- UN 1175 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.
- Styrene feed-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your dehydrogenation 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 styrene 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.
Flammable & suspected carcinogen — handle accordingly
Ethylbenzene is flammable and classified as a suspected human carcinogen with narcotic vapour effects at elevated concentration. 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.H332Harmful if inhaled.H351+H373Suspected of causing cancer; causes damage to organs (hearing) through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Use with adequate ventilation. Avoid inhalation and prolonged skin contact; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
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 1175 (Ethylbenzene), 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, xylene and non-aromatic content 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 Ethylbenzene is made
Ethylbenzene is produced industrially almost entirely by the catalytic alkylation of benzene with ethylene, typically over zeolite catalysts in liquid- or vapour-phase processes, often integrated directly with downstream styrene dehydrogenation on the same site. A minor quantity is also recovered by superfractionation from the C8 aromatic fraction of catalytic reformate.
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 (alkylbenzene) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Aromatic ring with an ethyl substituent |
| Reactivity | Catalytic dehydrogenation to styrene; electrophilic aromatic substitution |
| Related compounds | Benzene, Ethylene (feedstocks), Styrene Monomer (sole downstream outlet) |
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Ethylbenzene, answered
What is Ethylbenzene used for?
How is Ethylbenzene made?
Is Ethylbenzene hazardous?
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