Acetone
A high-volume solvent and chemical feedstock — co-produced with phenol, and converted onward into bisphenol A and methyl methacrylate.
Chelora Chemicals supplies acetone to coatings, pharmaceutical and chemical-intermediate customers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 67-64-1
- IUPAC name
- Propan-2-one
- Molecular formula
- C₃H₆O
- Molecular weight
- 58.08 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 56.1 °C
- Melting point
- -94.7 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1090
- HS Code
- 2914 11
Note: Acetone is highly volatile and extremely flammable; confirm transport classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What Acetone is used for
Acetone is a colourless, highly volatile, flammable liquid with a characteristic sweet odour, fully miscible with water and most organic solvents. The large majority is produced as a co-product of the cumene hydroperoxide process, alongside phenol, with a smaller share made by the catalytic dehydrogenation of isopropanol.
Acetone's uses span solvent applications — paints, coatings, adhesives, cleaning formulations and pharmaceutical processing, valued for its fast evaporation and broad solvency — and chemical feedstock roles: condensation with phenol into bisphenol A for polycarbonate and epoxy resins, and conversion (via acetone cyanohydrin or alternative routes) into methyl methacrylate (MMA), the monomer for acrylic sheet and PMMA resin.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Cumene the feedstock oxidised and cleaved into phenol and acetone together. See that page.
- Acetone (this product) the co-product solvent and feedstock for the chains below.
- Bisphenol A / MMA downstream chains built on acetone. See Bisphenol A.
Handling character
Acetone is highly flammable and volatile, with narcotic effects at elevated vapour concentration. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.5-99.9% min (industrial/USP grade) |
| Water content | < 0.3% |
| Colour (APHA) | 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, highly volatile, flammable liquid |
| Boiling point | 56.1 °C |
| Melting point | -94.7 °C |
| Density | 0.791 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Fully miscible |
| Flash point | -20 °C (extremely flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 67-64-1 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Acetone to work
The co-product solvent behind coatings, cleaning formulations, polycarbonate and acrylic sheet.
Industrial & coatings solvent
A fast-evaporating solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives and industrial cleaning formulations.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Condensed with phenol into BPA, the feedstock for polycarbonate and epoxy resins.
- BPA-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Methyl methacrylate (MMA)
Converted via acetone cyanohydrin or alternative routes into MMA for acrylic sheet and PMMA resin.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Pharmaceutical processing
USP/pharma-grade acetone used as a process solvent in pharmaceutical manufacturing.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Cellulose acetate & fibre
Used as a spinning solvent in cellulose acetate fibre and film manufacture.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Solvent 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 Acetone
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity grade and water content matter whether your use is solvent or BPA/MMA feedstock — 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 water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters whether your use is solvent, BPA or MMA feedstock.
- UN 1090 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.
- Industrial and pharma (USP) 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.
Extremely flammable — handle accordingly
Acetone is extremely flammable and highly volatile, 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.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H336May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Use with adequate ventilation. Acetone vapour is heavier than air and can accumulate in low-lying areas; 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 and eye protection for liquid transfer. Provide good ventilation given its volatility; avoid prolonged inhalation and skin contact.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1090 (Acetone), 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, water content and colour grade 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 Acetone is made
Acetone is produced industrially mainly as a co-product of the cumene hydroperoxide process, formed in a fixed ratio alongside phenol when cumene hydroperoxide is cleaved under acid catalysis. A smaller share is produced by the catalytic dehydrogenation of isopropanol, used where acetone demand exceeds what the phenol co-product route supplies.
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 | Aliphatic ketone |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Carbonyl (ketone) group |
| Reactivity | Condensation with phenol (BPA); aldol and cyanohydrin chemistry (MMA route); general solvent |
| Related compounds | Cumene (source process), Phenol (co-product), Bisphenol A, MMA (downstream) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Acetone, answered
What is Acetone used for?
How is Acetone made?
Is Acetone hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Acetone today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.