Cumene
The feedstock behind nearly all the world's phenol and acetone — the link between benzene/propylene and the polycarbonate, epoxy and nylon chains.
Chelora Chemicals supplies cumene to phenol-acetone producers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 98-82-8
- IUPAC name
- Isopropylbenzene
- Molecular formula
- C₉H₁₂
- Molecular weight
- 120.19 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 152.4 °C
- Melting point
- -96.0 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1918
- HS Code
- 2902 70
Note: Essentially all cumene produced is consumed captively or sold directly for phenol-acetone production via the cumene hydroperoxide process. Confirm classification for your shipment with your regulatory affairs team.
What Cumene is used for
Cumene is a colourless, flammable liquid with a sharp, gasoline-like odour. It is produced industrially by the catalytic alkylation of benzene with propylene, typically over zeolite catalysts, in processes often integrated directly with downstream phenol-acetone production.
Cumene's near-exclusive commercial use is as the feedstock for phenol and acetone, produced together via the cumene hydroperoxide (Hock) process: cumene is oxidised to cumene hydroperoxide, then cleaved under acid catalysis to yield phenol and acetone in a fixed ratio. This single process route accounts for the large majority of the world's phenol supply.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Benzene + Propylene the two feedstocks alkylated to form cumene. See Benzene and Propylene.
- Cumene (this product) the aromatic intermediate oxidised and cleaved to phenol and acetone — its near-exclusive outlet.
- Phenol + Acetone the co-products of the cumene hydroperoxide process. See Phenol and Acetone.
Handling character
Cumene is flammable and a respiratory irritant, requiring standard aromatic-solvent handling controls. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.9% min (phenol feed grade) |
| n-Propylbenzene content | < 300 ppm (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 | 152.4 °C |
| Melting point | -96.0 °C |
| Density | 0.862 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Very low (~0.05 g/L) |
| Flash point | 36 °C (flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 98-82-8 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Cumene to work
Essentially one molecule, one process: phenol and acetone for polycarbonate, epoxy and nylon chains.
Phenol & acetone co-production
Oxidised to cumene hydroperoxide and cleaved into phenol and acetone, cumene's dominant use.
- Phenol feed-grade specification
- Integrated & merchant bulk supply
- Technical desk review on request
Bisphenol A / polycarbonate chain
Downstream phenol and acetone feed bisphenol A production for polycarbonate and epoxy resins.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Phenolic & epoxy resins
Downstream phenol feeds phenolic resins for adhesives, plywood and moulding compounds.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Caprolactam / nylon 6 chain
Downstream phenol feeds caprolactam production for nylon 6 fibre and engineering resin.
- 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
Phenol-acetone 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 Cumene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Purity and trace n-propylbenzene content are critical to phenol-acetone process 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 trace impurity levels confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream phenol-acetone process efficiency.
- UN 1918 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.
- Phenol feed-grade material sourced to your process. Matched precisely to your hydroperoxide process 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 phenol-acetone 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 & irritant — handle accordingly
Cumene is flammable and irritating to the respiratory tract, with aspiration hazard if swallowed. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H226Flammable liquid and vapour.H332Harmful if inhaled.H304+H335May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways; may cause respiratory irritation.
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 (cumene can form peroxides on prolonged air exposure).
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 1918 (Isopropylbenzene), a 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 and trace n-propylbenzene 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 Cumene is made
Cumene is produced industrially by the catalytic alkylation of benzene with propylene, typically over zeolite catalysts in liquid-phase processes, often built directly alongside the downstream cumene hydroperoxide (Hock) plant that converts it to phenol and acetone on the same site.
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 isopropyl substituent |
| Reactivity | Autoxidation to cumene hydroperoxide; acid-catalysed cleavage to phenol and acetone |
| Related compounds | Benzene, Propylene (feedstocks), Phenol, Acetone (co-product outlets) |
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Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.