Phenol
The feedstock behind bisphenol A, phenolic resins and the nylon 6 chain — a core building block for polycarbonate, epoxy and engineering plastics.
Chelora Chemicals supplies phenol to BPA, resin and caprolactam producers worldwide, with molten or solid handling and full documentation.
Product identity
- CAS Number
- 108-95-2
- IUPAC name
- Phenol
- Molecular formula
- C₆H₆O
- Molecular weight
- 94.11 g/mol
- Boiling point
- 181.7 °C
- Melting point
- 40.5 °C
- UN Number
- UN 1671 / UN 2312*
- HS Code
- 2907 11
* UN 1671 applies to solid phenol, UN 2312 to molten phenol; confirm the exact classification for your shipment mode with your regulatory affairs team.
What Phenol is used for
Phenol is a colourless to light pink crystalline solid with a distinctive sweet, tarry odour, melting just above room temperature and often handled molten in bulk logistics. It is produced overwhelmingly by the cumene hydroperoxide process, co-produced with acetone from cumene.
Phenol's largest use is as a feedstock for bisphenol A (BPA), condensed with acetone, which in turn is polymerised into polycarbonate (optical media, glazing, electronics) and reacted into epoxy resins (coatings, composites, adhesives). Phenol is also formaldehyde-condensed into phenolic (phenol-formaldehyde) resins for plywood adhesives, moulding compounds and insulation, and hydrogenated onward through cyclohexanone to caprolactam, the monomer for nylon 6.
Where it sits in the petrochemical value chain
- Cumene the feedstock, oxidised and cleaved to phenol and acetone. See that page.
- Phenol (this product) the aromatic intermediate for the resin and nylon chains below.
- Bisphenol A / Phenolic Resins / Caprolactam downstream chains built on phenol. See Bisphenol A.
Handling character
Phenol is corrosive, toxic, and causes organ damage through prolonged exposure, requiring careful handling whether solid or molten. Full hazard detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | White to light pink crystalline solid (or molten liquid) |
| Assay | 99.9% min (BPA/resin grade) |
| Water content | < 0.1% |
| 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 | Crystalline solid, often handled molten above 41 °C |
| Melting point | 40.5 °C |
| Boiling point | 181.7 °C |
| Density | 1.07 g/cm³ |
| Water solubility | Moderately soluble (~83 g/L) |
| Flash point | 79 °C (combustible) |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 108-95-2 and rounded for readability. Treat them as orientation, not as a specification.
Where our customers put Phenol to work
The building block behind polycarbonate, epoxy resins, adhesives and nylon 6.
Bisphenol A (BPA)
Condensed with acetone into BPA, the feedstock for polycarbonate and epoxy resins.
- BPA-grade specification
- Molten & solid bulk supply
- Technical desk review on request
Phenolic resins
Condensed with formaldehyde into phenol-formaldehyde resins for plywood, adhesives and moulding compounds.
- Industrial-grade specification
- Documented batch traceability
- Contract & spot supply
Caprolactam / nylon 6 chain
Hydrogenated via cyclohexanone to caprolactam, the monomer for nylon 6 fibre and resin.
- Full analytical documentation available
- Retained sample held against the lot
Alkylphenols & surfactants
Alkylated into nonylphenol and other alkylphenols for surfactant and antioxidant manufacture.
- Documented batch traceability
- Technical desk review on request
Pharmaceutical & fine chemicals
Feedstock for aspirin, herbicides and a range of fine-chemical intermediate syntheses.
- Research & process-scale quantities
- Full documentation supplied
Contract & scheduled supply
BPA, resin and nylon-chain 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 Phenol
Chelora Chemicals is a supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. Colour grade and water content are critical to BPA and resin quality, and molten-vs-solid logistics require careful planning — 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.
- Colour grade and water content confirmed before we quote. Consistency matters to downstream BPA, resin and caprolactam quality.
- UN 1671 / UN 2312 documentation managed end to end. Classification, labelling and carrier compliance confirmed before booking, whether solid or molten.
- 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.
- BPA-grade and resin-grade both sourced. Matched precisely to your end-use specification.
Solid or molten, packed to your process
Flaked solid drums, heated totes or molten bulk tank — tell us your preferred format and we will quote and arrange it.
200-220 kg drums
Steel drums of flaked or solid phenol for smaller-volume orders and trial quantities.
~1,000 kg totes
Heated or insulated IBC totes for mid-volume orders requiring molten handling.
Temperature-controlled bulk shipment
Heated ISO tank bulk shipment for continuous-consumption BPA, resin and caprolactam 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.
Corrosive & toxic — handle accordingly
Phenol is corrosive to skin and eyes, toxic by all routes of exposure, and causes organ damage through prolonged or repeated exposure. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H301+H311+H331Toxic if swallowed, in contact with skin or if inhaled.H314Causes severe skin burns and eye damage.H341+H373Suspected of causing genetic defects; causes damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure.
Avoid any skin contact. Phenol is rapidly absorbed through skin and can cause systemic toxicity even from modest contact; always read the SDS issued with your specific batch and follow emergency decontamination procedures.
Storage
Store solid phenol in tightly closed containers in a cool, dry area; store molten phenol in heated, temperature-controlled, corrosion-resistant tanks away from oxidisers.
Handling
Use chemical-resistant gloves (not natural rubber), face shield and full body protection for any transfer. Avoid skin and eye contact and inhalation; have emergency decontamination (PEG wash) available where molten phenol is handled.
Transport
Shipped as UN 1671 (Phenol, solid) or UN 2312 (Phenol, molten), both toxic, corrosive materials. 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
Assay, 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 Phenol is made
Phenol is produced industrially almost entirely via the cumene hydroperoxide (Hock) process: cumene is air-oxidised to cumene hydroperoxide, then cleaved under acid catalysis into phenol and acetone in a fixed stoichiometric ratio. This single route accounts for the large majority of global phenol capacity.
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 hydroxyl compound (phenolic) |
|---|---|
| Functional groups | Hydroxyl group bonded directly to an aromatic ring |
| Reactivity | Electrophilic aromatic substitution; condensation with ketones (BPA) and aldehydes (phenolic resins) |
| Related compounds | Cumene (feedstock), Acetone (co-product), Bisphenol A, Caprolactam (downstream) |
Explore the wider petrochemical range
Phenol, answered
What is Phenol used for?
How is Phenol made?
Is Phenol hazardous?
What grade do you supply?
What packing do you offer?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on Phenol today
Send us your required grade, pack size and delivery window. We will come back with a firm quote, lead time and full documentation.