Ortho-Xylene
The key feedstock for phthalic anhydride — behind PVC plasticisers, unsaturated polyester resins and alkyd coatings worldwide.
Chelora Chemicals supplies ortho-xylene to phthalic anhydride and solvent customers worldwide, with full documentation on every consignment.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 95-47-6
- IUPAC name
- 1,2-Dimethylbenzene
- Molecular formula
- C₈H₁₀
- Molecular weight
- 106.16 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 144.4 °C
- Melting point
- -25.2 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1307
- HS Code
- 2902 41
Note: Ortho-xylene is shipped at a defined isomer purity separated from the mixed-xylenes stream. Confirm requirements with your regulatory affairs team.
What Ortho-Xylene is used for
Ortho-Xylene (o-xylene) is a colourless, flammable liquid with a sweet, aromatic odour, one of the three xylene isomers. It is separated from the mixed-xylenes stream recovered from catalytic reforming and pyrolysis gasoline by fractional distillation, exploiting its higher boiling point relative to the meta- and para-isomers.
Ortho-xylene's dominant industrial use is as the feedstock for phthalic anhydride, produced by catalytic air oxidation. Phthalic anhydride in turn is the building block for phthalate ester plasticisers used to soften PVC, and for unsaturated polyester resins and alkyd coatings. A smaller share of ortho-xylene is used directly as a high-boiling industrial solvent.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Mixed Xylenes the aromatic C8 stream ortho-xylene is fractionated from. See that page.
- Ortho-Xylene (this product) the isomer feedstock for the phthalic anhydride chain.
- Phthalic Anhydride the downstream intermediate for plasticisers, unsaturated polyester and alkyd resins.
Handling character
Ortho-xylene is flammable and an irritant to skin, eyes and the respiratory tract, requiring standard aromatic-solvent handling controls. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless liquid |
| Purity | 99.0% min (phthalic anhydride feed grade) |
| Meta-/para-xylene content | Within producer specification |
| 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 | 144.4 °C |
| Melting point | -25.2 °C |
| Density | 0.8802 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Low (~0.17 g/L) |
| Flash point | 32 °C (flammable) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 95-47-6 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Ortho-Xylene to work
The isomer-pure feedstock behind PVC plasticisers, polyester resins and alkyd coatings.
Phthalic anhydride production
Catalytically air-oxidised into phthalic anhydride, the dominant downstream use of ortho-xylene.
- Feed-grade specification
- Bulk & drum supply
- Technical desk review on request
PVC plasticisers
Phthalic anhydride esterified into DOP, DINP and other phthalate esters that soften PVC compounds.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Unsaturated polyester resins
Phthalic anhydride reacted into UPR for fibreglass-reinforced composites and gel coats.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Alkyd resins & coatings
Phthalic anhydride esterified into alkyd resins for architectural and industrial paints.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
High-boiling solvent
Used directly as a slow-evaporating solvent in specialty coating and cleaning formulations.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
Phthalic anhydride 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 Ortho-Xylene
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Isomer purity against meta- and para-xylene is critical to phthalic anhydride yield and quality — 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.
- Isomer purity confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream phthalic anhydride yield and quality.
- UN 1307 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.
- Feed-grade and solvent-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 phthalic anhydride 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
Ortho-xylene is flammable and irritating to skin, eyes and 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.H332+H312Harmful if inhaled or in contact with skin.H315+H319+H304Causes skin and eye irritation; may be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
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 1307 (Xylenes), 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
Isomer purity 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 Ortho-Xylene is made
Ortho-xylene is separated industrially from the mixed-xylenes stream recovered from catalytic reforming of naphtha and pyrolysis gasoline, by fractional distillation that exploits its higher boiling point relative to meta- and para-xylene. The isomer-pure stream is then supplied directly to phthalic anhydride producers.
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 (ortho-disubstituted arene) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Aromatic ring with two adjacent methyl substituents |
| Reactivity | Catalytic air oxidation to phthalic anhydride; electrophilic aromatic substitution |
| Related compounds | Mixed Xylenes (source stream), Benzene, Toluene (related arenes), Phthalic Anhydride (downstream) |
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Ortho-Xylene, answered
What is Ortho-Xylene used for?
How is Ortho-Xylene made?
Is Ortho-Xylene hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
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