PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION

H.S. CODE

UN NO.

3295

CLASSIFICATION

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES

AUTOIGNITION

500 C

NFPA RATINGS

REFRACTIVE INDEX

EXTERNAL LINKS & GENERAL DESCRIPTION

Wikipedia Linking

Material Safety Data Sheet

Google Scholar Search

http://www.epa.gov/
A. Production: Production of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene occurs during petroleum refining as a major component of the C9 aromatic hydrocarbon fraction (or simply the C9 fraction). It typically constitutes around forty percent of the C9 fraction with other trimethyl- benzenes and ethyltoluenes making up the remainder of this fraction. Nearly 200 refineries in the United States produce the C9 fraction at an estimated annual volume of 80 billion pounds (U.S. EPA 1991). Only one company (Koch Refining) in the United States currently isolates 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. In 1981, production was estimated to be greater than 4,540 kilograms. Proprietary sources and Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) data indicate 1992 production volume to be much higher. EPA estimates in excess of 10 million pounds of 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene to be isolated annually. Imports reached approximately 5.41 million kilograms in 1981. No export data are available (HSDB 1994; U.S. International Trade Commission 1994).
B. Use: The primary use of the C9 fraction, approximately 99% of its production volume, is as a gasoline additive. Uses of the remaining C9 fraction (approximately 350 million pounds) include those as a solvent in coatings; cleaners; pesticides; and printing and inks. Information on 80% of the domestic production of C9 fraction solvents indicate the median ethyltoluene and trimethyl- benzene content is 80% with a range of 75%-90% (U.S. EPA 1991). Isolated 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene is used in a number of industrial applications. It is used chiefly as the raw material for production of trimellitic anhydride. It is also used in the manu- facture of pharmaceuticals and dyes (Sax and Lewis 1987).
C. Trends: Though no production forecasts have been made for 1,2,4-trimethyl- benzene, TRI data indicate releases to have been stable for the three-year period 1990-1992.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
There are three isomeric compounds of trimethyl benzene, which all have trivial names respectively. The 1,2,3- isomer is called Hemellitol (or Hemimellitene) ; 1,2,4- isomer is called Pseudocumene; 1,3,5- isomer is called Mesitylene (or Mesitelene).  They are prepared from petroleum and coal tar and used as solvents for resins, gums, and nitrocellulose. and used as intermediates for the manufacturing other chemical compounds.

APPEARANCE

CONTENT

99.0% min

TRANSPORTATION

ALKYL SUBSTITUTED BENZENE DERIVATIVES