Mono Chlorobenzene
One chlorine on a benzene ring, and almost every chlorinated aromatic in the industry starts here. Nitrate it and you get the nitrochlorobenzenes. Use it as a solvent and it dissolves what water-based systems cannot, at a boiling point high enough to run a reaction in. The catch is the one number that separates it from everything else on this site: it flashes at about 28 °C.
Chelora Chemicals supplies MCB to nitration plants, isocyanate producers, agrochemical manufacturers and solvent users worldwide, in drums, IBC, ISO tank or flexitank, with a batch COA and GHS safety data sheet on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 108-90-7
- IUPAC name
- Chlorobenzene
- Molecular formula
- C6H5Cl
- Molecular weight
- 112.56 g/mol
- EC / EINECS
- 203-628-5
- UN Number
- 1134 · Class 3 · PG III
- SMILES
- Clc1ccccc1
- HS Code
- 2903 91*
* Confirm the exact HS heading with your customs broker — chlorinated benzene derivatives sit across several subheadings and the correct one depends on the destination tariff schedule.
What Mono Chlorobenzene is used for
Mono chlorobenzene is a clear, colourless, mobile liquid with a faint almond-like odour, boiling around 132 °C and practically insoluble in water. It is made by chlorinating benzene, and it sits at the head of two quite different value chains — one where the molecule is consumed, and one where it is recovered.
As a feedstock, nitration gives ortho and para nitrochlorobenzene in one operation, which the plant then separates. Those two go on to become nitroanilines, nitroanisoles, nitrophenols, rubber chemicals and agrochemicals — see the ONCB page for where that chain leads. MCB also converts to diphenyl oxide, to chloronitrobenzene derivatives and into a number of pesticide intermediates.
As a solvent, it is used where a reaction needs an aprotic medium that boils high, dissolves aromatics and isocyanates readily, and can be distilled off and recycled. MDI and other isocyanate processes are the largest single user in this role, with degreasing, adhesives, pesticide formulation and heat-transfer duty behind them.
Where it sits in the chlorobenzene family
- Mono chlorobenzene (CAS 108-90-7) — this product. One chlorine. Flammable, Class 3, and the feedstock for the rest.
- Ortho dichlorobenzene (CAS 95-50-1) — two chlorines adjacent. A high-boiling solvent and the route to 3,4-dichloroaniline. See that page.
- Meta dichlorobenzene (CAS 541-73-1) — the scarce isomer, made by isomerisation rather than directly. See that page.
- Para dichlorobenzene — the solid isomer, familiar as a deodorant block and as a polymer intermediate.
Chlorinating benzene gives mono first, then the dichloro isomers as the reaction is pushed further — which is why the whole family's economics are linked. Always state the CAS number on your purchase order — see the full intermediate range.
Appearance and handling character
The material ships as a water-white mobile liquid, denser than water and immiscible with it, with a vapour heavier than air. The dominant hazard is flammability, not systemic toxicity: at normal summer warehouse temperatures the headspace of a part-used drum can sit inside the flammable range. The safety section below should be read before any handling is planned.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Clear, water-white liquid |
| Assay | 99.5% min |
| Benzene content | Reported per batch |
| Dichlorobenzenes | Reported per batch |
| Moisture | 0.05% max |
| Acidity as HCl | Reported per batch |
| Colour, APHA | 15 max |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial grade material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document. On this product the benzene and moisture figures are what decide whether a lot is usable in a regulated or water-sensitive application — tell us your ceilings and we will quote against them rather than against a generic grade.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Liquid at ambient |
| Boiling point | ≈ 131 – 132 °C |
| Melting point | ≈ −45 °C |
| Flash point, closed cup | ≈ 28 – 29 °C |
| Autoignition temperature | ≈ 590 °C |
| Relative density | ≈ 1.106 at 20 °C |
| Vapour density, air = 1 | ≈ 3.9 — vapour sinks |
| Water solubility | Practically insoluble |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 108-90-7 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put this molecule to work
Two roles, and they buy differently. Feedstock users care about the impurity profile; solvent users care about moisture, colour and recovery behaviour.
Nitrochlorobenzene manufacture
Mixed-acid nitration gives ortho and para nitrochlorobenzene together, separated afterwards by crystallisation and distillation — the single largest consuming route for this product.
- Dry grade required for nitration
- See Ortho Nitrochlorobenzene
- Also chloronitrobenzene range
Isocyanate & MDI processing
Used as a reaction and recovery solvent in isocyanate manufacture, where its boiling point, aprotic character and ease of distillation make it recoverable rather than consumed. Moisture specification is critical here.
- Low-moisture grade specified
- Bulk ISO tank and flexitank supply
- Contracted call-off available
Diphenyl oxide & derivatives
High-temperature reaction with phenoxide gives diphenyl oxide, used in heat-transfer fluids and as a fragrance and polymer intermediate — a smaller but steady outlet.
- Consistent assay required
- Low dichlorobenzene residue
- Technical desk review of your route
Agrochemical synthesis
Several pesticide and herbicide routes run through chlorobenzene, either as the aromatic building block or as the reaction medium in which the active is assembled.
- End-use declaration required
- Custom quantities available
- Full impurity profile on request
Degreasing & industrial cleaning
A strong solvent for oils, waxes, resins and tars, used in specialised degreasing duty where its flammability can be properly controlled and its recovery justifies the cost.
- Flammable-liquid controls essential
- Colour and residue specified
- Drum and IBC supply
Contract & bulk supply
Bulk solvent users run continuously and cannot afford a gap. Most buyers want tonnage released against a production plan rather than in one shipment. We hold inventory and release it to your schedule.
- Annual contracts with scheduled call-off
- ISO tank and flexitank programmes
- Second source held in reserve
How we supply Mono Chlorobenzene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On a bulk solvent where the pack format moves the landed cost as much as the molecule does, owning no plant means we can route your order through whichever producer and whichever equipment arrangement actually lands cheapest at your gate.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, your benzene and moisture ceilings, your price point and your delivery window.
We keep a second qualified source on this line. When a chlorination unit goes down for maintenance, your solvent inventory switches source rather than running out.
- Flammability raised at enquiry stage. Class 3 at 28 °C changes your storage, earthing and area classification — we say so before you order, not on the delivery note.
- Benzene residue reported, not averaged. It appears as its own figure on the COA, because in several jurisdictions it carries obligations of its own however small the number.
- Batch COA shared before dispatch. You approve assay, moisture, benzene and colour against your own spec while the material is still in our warehouse.
- Pack format costed properly. Drum, IBC, ISO tank and flexitank are not interchangeable on price or on lane availability — we quote the options side by side.
- Pre-shipment samples for qualification. New account or new source, your laboratory runs a trial before the full quantity ever moves.
- Export machinery handled in-house. UN 1134 classification, approved packing, labelling, freight booking and customs paperwork are ours to manage.
Packed the way your plant receives it
Pack format drives your landed cost and your handling effort. Tell us how the material will be charged at your end and we will quote the format that suits your operation.
UN steel drums
Approved Class 3 drums with the correct closures — the standard commercial format and the easiest for plants without bulk receipt facilities.
IBC
Flammable-rated IBC where you pump directly to the vessel or the day tank — fewer handling operations and less open transfer.
ISO tank
Dedicated ISO tank movement for continuous solvent users — the lowest cost per tonne where your site can receive bulk and your volume supports it.
Flexitank
Where the lane and the carrier permit it for a Class 3 liquid, flexitank can undercut drums significantly. We confirm acceptability before quoting it.
Samples & trial packs
Laboratory and pilot quantities dispatched so your R&D team can qualify the grade first — subject to flammable-liquid rules for your destination and courier.
Incoterms & scheduling
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with DG documentation filed before the booking is made and tonnage released against your production calendar.
Flammability is the controlling hazard
This is the product on our range where the fire risk, not the toxicity, drives the design. With a flash point near 28 °C and a vapour almost four times the density of air, a part-used drum in a warm store can hold an ignitable headspace and a leak can travel at floor level to an ignition source some distance away. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your consignment is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H226Flammable liquid and vapour.H332Harmful if inhaled.H315Causes skin irritation.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H336May cause drowsiness or dizziness.H411Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
Hazard statements reflect classifications commonly published for CAS 108-90-7. The signal word is Warning rather than Danger, which is exactly why this product gets under-controlled — the flammability deserves the same seriousness as a Danger label. Always read the SDS issued with your specific batch.
Fire, spill & emergency orientation
Plan your response before the drum arrives. Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the SDS are the authoritative instructions and should be posted at the point of use.
- Bond and earth every transfer. A flowing, non-conductive liquid generates static. This is the single most important control on this product and the one most often skipped on a quick decant.
- The vapour sinks and travels. Flashback to a distant ignition source along a floor or into a pit is a realistic scenario — ventilate at low level, not only at head height.
- Foam, dry chemical or CO2 on a fire. A water jet will spread burning liquid; water spray is for cooling containers, not for extinguishing the pool.
- Combustion produces hydrogen chloride. Fire gases from this material are corrosive and acidic — a point for your emergency plan and for anyone re-entering afterwards.
- Contain, do not flush to drain. H411 applies, and it is denser than water, so it will sit at the bottom of a sump rather than float. Collect and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
Storage
- Flammable-liquids store, bunded and ventilated, away from direct sunlight and from any heat source. Ambient temperature in many destinations exceeds the flash point for much of the year.
- Eliminate ignition sources. Classified electrical equipment, no hot work without a permit, no smoking, and antistatic footwear and flooring where drums are handled.
- Keep containers tightly closed and stored upright. The vapour from an open or damaged container is the exposure and the fire risk at once.
- Segregate from strong oxidisers and from reactive metals such as powdered aluminium.
- Shelf life is typically 24 months or more in sealed original packing. Re-check moisture and colour before use after long storage, particularly for a solvent duty.
Handling & PPE
- Closed transfer with bonding and earthing, at a controlled fill rate. Splash filling into a drum is both a static risk and a vapour release.
- Chemical-resistant gloves, goggles and protective clothing. Check the glove material against the SDS — several common elastomers swell in chlorinated solvent.
- Local exhaust ventilation at the point of transfer, with monitoring where your exposure assessment calls for it. Vapour accumulates low down.
- No hot work on empty drums. An emptied container still holds flammable vapour and has caused more incidents than full ones.
- Never discharge to drain or watercourse. H411 applies — contain and dispose of as regulated chemical waste.
Transport
Mono chlorobenzene moves as regulated cargo under UN 1134, Class 3 flammable liquid, packing group III. We classify each consignment, apply UN-approved packaging and labelling, and file the dangerous-goods declaration before the booking is made. Flexitank and IBC acceptance for Class 3 varies by lane and carrier — ask us for the current DG paperwork and the pack formats available to your destination when you plan the shipment.
What travels with every consignment
A chemical shipment is only as good as the file that travels with it. Verifying what the source plant sends is precisely the work you are buying from a supplier.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-specific assay, benzene content, dichlorobenzenes, moisture, acidity and colour — checked against your purchase specification before release.
GHS Safety Data Sheet
Full 16-section SDS in GHS format covering flammability data, exposure controls, handling, storage, fire and spill response, toxicology and disposal — in the language your destination requires.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN 1134, Class 3, packing group III and the IMDG or IATA declaration prepared and filed before the container is booked, with correctly marked and labelled packaging.
Certificate of Origin
Chamber-attested where required, plus preferential-origin forms where a trade agreement gives your import duty relief at the destination.
Third-party inspection
SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas sampling, tank inspection and quantity verification arranged on request before loading, giving you independent confirmation of what ships.
Retained & pre-shipment samples
Pre-shipment samples carry the same COA as the commercial lot, so what your laboratory qualifies is exactly what arrives. Retention samples held against the batch.
One chlorine, and it directs everything after it
Chlorine is an ortho-para director. That single fact explains why nitrating MCB gives the ortho and para nitrochlorobenzenes and almost no meta, and why the meta isomers in this family have to be made by other routes entirely. The routes below are the general industrial pattern, not a process disclosure.
Chlorinate benzene
Benzene is chlorinated over a Lewis acid catalyst. Stop early and you get mono; push further and the dichloro isomers build up alongside it.
Separate and dry
Distillation removes unreacted benzene and the dichloro fraction. Drying sets the moisture figure that water-sensitive downstream users depend on.
Nitrate or dissolve
Either the molecule is consumed — mixed-acid nitration to ONCB and PNCB — or it is used as a recoverable solvent and distilled back out at the end.
Carry the chlorine forward
In the nitro products the chlorine becomes displaceable, opening the route to nitroanilines, nitroanisoles, nitrophenols and the rubber and agro chains.
Why feed quality carries through the whole route
In both roles — feedstock and solvent — the impurities matter for different reasons than you might expect:
- Benzene residue is a regulatory figure, not just a purity one. It attracts occupational exposure and labelling obligations in several jurisdictions however small the number is, so buyers specify it tightly and check it on arrival.
- Dichlorobenzenes nitrate alongside the mono product and give dichloronitrobenzenes that follow through separation into your product stream.
- Moisture dilutes mixed acid in nitration and consumes NCO groups in isocyanate work. The 0.05% figure is not conservatism; it is what the chemistry needs.
- Acidity indicates residual HCl from chlorination and will corrode mild steel storage and lines over time.
That is why we quote against your written benzene and moisture limits rather than a generic "technical" grade, and why the batch COA is shared for approval before dispatch rather than sent with the invoice.
| Product | Role & transport class |
|---|---|
| Mono Chlorobenzene CAS 108-90-7 — this product | Feedstock & solvent UN 1134 · Class 3 |
| Ortho Dichlorobenzene CAS 95-50-1 | High-boiling solvent UN 1591 · Class 6.1 |
| Meta Dichlorobenzene CAS 541-73-1 | Agro intermediate UN 1591 · Class 6.1 |
We supply across the chlorinated aromatic family — see the full intermediate range. Send the CAS number and we will confirm the correct material before quoting.
What actually moves the price of this solvent
Knowing what drives the quote helps you time a purchase and read whether an offer is realistic.
Benzene and chlorine
Both feedstocks are commodity-priced and both move independently. Benzene follows the aromatics cycle; chlorine follows chlor-alkali economics, which are driven as much by caustic soda demand as by chlorine demand.
- Benzene sets most of the raw cost
- Chlorine moves with the caustic cycle
- We flag feedstock-driven moves in the quote
Co-product economics
A chlorination line makes mono and the dichloro isomers together. If the dichloro market weakens, the plant pushes toward mono and the balance shifts — this family's prices move as a set, not individually.
- Mono and di prices are linked
- Ask us what the sister market is doing
- Contracted call-off smooths the exposure
Pack format and freight
On a bulk solvent the pack is a larger share of landed cost than on any speciality. Drums, IBC, ISO tank and flexitank can differ by a wide margin for exactly the same molecule.
- Compare on landed cost, not ex-works
- Class 3 space books out early
- We quote FOB, CIF, CFR or DDP as you prefer
Solvent recovery changes demand
Solvent users recycle. A plant that improves its recovery rate buys materially less, and when several do it at once the demand curve moves without any change in production volume.
- Make-up volumes, not gross consumption
- Recovery efficiency shifts the market
- Ask us about make-up supply contracts
Regulatory pressure on solvents
Chlorinated solvents face tightening emissions and workplace rules in several regions, which pushes some users to substitute and keeps capacity concentrated in fewer plants.
- Emissions rules shape plant economics
- Benzene limits vary by jurisdiction
- We check destination rules before quoting
Source availability
A plant turnaround, a chlor-alkali outage or an environmental inspection can take capacity offline at short notice. Single-sourced bulk buyers feel this hardest.
- We hold a second qualified source on this line
- Qualify the alternate before you need it
- Ask us about dual-source contracts
| If your end use is… | Specify |
|---|---|
| Nitration to ONCB / PNCB | Low moisture; low dichlorobenzene; consistent assay |
| Isocyanate / MDI solvent | Very low moisture; low acidity; bulk supply |
| Diphenyl oxide route | High assay; low dichloro residue |
| Agrochemical synthesis | Full impurity profile; end-use declaration |
| Degreasing & cleaning | Colour and residue on evaporation |
| Regulated workplace | Tight benzene ceiling, stated on the COA |
Not sure which row you are in? Describe what you make from it and our technical desk will recommend the grade — including telling you when a cheaper specification would do the job just as well.
Support that goes beyond shipping the drum
What our technical desk will do
- Confirm your site can receive Class 3. Earthing, bunding, electrical area classification and a flammable-liquids store are prerequisites, not refinements, and we raise them in the first reply.
- Set the benzene ceiling with you. It is the number most likely to create a compliance problem at your end, and the one most often left off a purchase order.
- Cost the pack formats side by side. Drum against IBC against ISO tank against flexitank, for your actual lane — this is where real money moves on a bulk solvent.
- Review your specification before it goes into a contract, so you are not locked into a limit that no plant can consistently hit.
Regulatory & compliance notes
- Flammable storage obligations are jurisdiction-specific. Quantity thresholds, separation distances and electrical classification differ widely. Confirm what applies at your site before the first delivery.
- Benzene content attracts its own rules. Several regimes treat residual benzene as a separate regulated substance regardless of the host product.
- Chemical inventory listings differ between regions — we will supply the identity data you need for that filing.
- Effluent and emissions rules matter because of the H411 classification and the volatility. Check your discharge and air consents before introducing it.
None of the above is legal advice — your own regulatory affairs team owns the final compliance position for your import and your workplace. What we commit to is accurate product identity data, an honest statement of the hazard classification and complete documentation to work from.
From enquiry to delivered tank
Send the specification
Product name or CAS 108-90-7, your assay, benzene and moisture limits, quantity, pack preference and destination port.
Receive a firm quote
Pricing, lead time, packing options and Incoterm confirmed in writing within 24 hours — our sourcing desk is staffed around the clock.
Qualify and approve
Sample dispatched if you are qualifying a new source. Batch COA shared for your approval before the material is released.
Ship and track
UN 1134 classification filed, Class 3 freight booked, export documents issued, and the consignment tracked through transit and clearance to your plant.
Others in the Chelora range
What buyers ask us about Mono Chlorobenzene
How does it differ from the dichlorobenzenes to handle?
What purity do you normally supply?
Why does moisture matter in a solvent grade?
Can we use it to make both ONCB and PNCB?
What is the minimum order quantity?
How long does delivery take?
How should we store it, and what is the shelf life?
Is this a dangerous good? What paperwork comes with it?
- Batch certificate of analysis
- GHS-format safety data sheet
- Dangerous-goods declaration with UN number, class and packing group
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading or airway bill
- Certificate of origin and any destination-specific forms
Do you supply to my country?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Request pricing on Mono Chlorobenzene
Send your required assay, benzene and moisture ceilings, quantity, pack format and destination port. Our sourcing desk is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and comes back with pricing, lead time and packing options — whether that is a single trial drum or a contracted ISO tank programme for the year.