If you’re looking to start your own business with production in mind, and you’re aiming to produce anything from epoxies, nylon, detergents or herbicide. Then you’ll surely need phenol. Phenol is an aromatic organic compound, it has the shape of white crystals. Phenol needs careful handling as it can cause chemical burns.
Phenol was made using tar but currently the compound is being produced on a large scale using petroleum feedstock. The amount produced worldwide is about 7 million tons every year. Most industrial uses for phenol are about making plastics or similar material, it can also be used in the medical field.
About 95% of the produced phenol around the world is made using a process called the Cumene process or the hock process. The process is easy and inexpensive compared to other methods.
Phenol was discovered by Friedlieb Ferdinand Runge, back in 1834, by extracting its impure form from tar.
Phenol was also used in Second World War for its toxic effects on the human nervous system, which is why the material should be handled with great care, the vapors of Phenol are corrosive to the eyes, the skin and the respiratory system, and full protection must be used when working with phenol as it can be absorbed by the skin quickly.
Phenol can be used to make multiple types of plastics such as polycarbonates and epoxide resins. And a large collection of drugs, most notably aspirin but also many herbicides and pharmaceutical drugs. Phenol can also be used in making paint removers, epoxy removers and other chemically resistant coatings.
If you are looking into buying phenol for your business, the current market price range for the ton range between $1250 and $1500 for the liquid form of phenol, the price may change according to quality and quantity of each purchase, and this price does not include shipping or customs if you are importing, so you need to look into these costs as well.