Mixed Xylenes
The dimethylbenzene isomer blend supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a high-octane solvent and gasoline-blending stream, and the feedstock from which ortho-, meta- and para-xylene are separated — exported from Indonesia in drums or ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Mixed Xylenes is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as the parent C8 aromatic stream, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Mixed Xylenes is a blend of the three dimethylbenzene isomers — ortho-, meta- and para-xylene — typically alongside a small proportion of ethylbenzene, the fourth member of the C8 aromatic family that shares the same boiling range. Each isomer places its two methyl groups on the benzene ring in a different relative position, and this close family resemblance is exactly why the four compounds travel together through refinery and petrochemical processing until they are deliberately separated.
At room temperature it is a colourless, highly flammable liquid with a sweet aromatic odour, immiscible with water but miscible with most organic solvents. Its properties sit between the individual pure isomers and vary slightly with the exact isomer ratio of a given batch.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Mixed Xylenes is used directly as a high-octane solvent and gasoline-blending component, much like toluene, but its larger industrial role is as the feedstock from which the individual xylene isomers are separated: para-xylene for polyester (PET) manufacture, ortho-xylene for phthalic anhydride, and meta-xylene for isophthalic acid, each covered on its own product page.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Mixed Xylenes in standard solvent/blending grade (≥98.5% total xylenes) for coatings, cleaning and gasoline-blending use, and isomer-ratio-specified grades for buyers feeding a specific separation or isomerisation unit. Both are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis including isomer distribution by GC.
How Mixed Xylenes is made
An overview of the production route for orientation purposes. Our manufacturing partners' own process parameters and in-process controls are proprietary and are not disclosed beyond what is needed to interpret the certificate of analysis.
Mixed Xylenes is recovered from the same two refinery and petrochemical streams as toluene: catalytic reforming of naphtha and pyrolysis gasoline from steam cracking. The C8 aromatic cut — xylenes plus ethylbenzene — is separated from the wider aromatic reformate or pygas by fractional distillation, taking advantage of the fact that all four C8 aromatics boil in a narrow range distinct from benzene, toluene and the heavier aromatics.
Why the C8 cut is taken as a single stream
Because all four C8 aromatics boil within a few degrees of one another, ordinary distillation can separate the C8 cut as a group from the rest of the reformate, but cannot economically separate the individual isomers from each other — that separation needs the specialised crystallisation, adsorption and isomerisation steps described on the individual isomer pages.
Industries and processes that use it
Mixed Xylenes is consumed across solvent applications, gasoline blending and — most importantly — as the feedstock for isomer-separation units supplying the polyester, plasticiser and specialty-resin industries. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Industrial Solvent
Used as a high-solvency aromatic solvent in paints, coatings, printing inks and industrial cleaning formulations.
Gasoline Blending Component
Blended into motor gasoline as a high-octane aromatic component, improving anti-knock performance.
Para-Xylene Separation Feedstock
Fed to crystallisation or adsorption separation units (and paired isomerisation units) to recover para-xylene for polyester manufacture.
Ortho- & Meta-Xylene Separation Feedstock
Distilled or extracted to recover ortho-xylene for phthalic anhydride and meta-xylene for isophthalic acid production.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The close boiling points and distinct crystallisation behaviour of the four C8 aromatics govern almost all of the physical separation chemistry used to process Mixed Xylenes. Separation classes below account for most of the ways the stream is converted into finished isomer products.
Fractional Distillation (Ethylbenzene Removal)
Super-fractionation or extractive distillation separates ethylbenzene, whose boiling point is closest to para-xylene, from the three xylene isomers.
Simulated Moving Bed Adsorption / Crystallisation
Para-xylene is recovered from the remaining isomer mixture by selective adsorption or exploiting its distinctly higher melting point in fractional crystallisation.
Catalytic Isomerisation
The ortho- and meta-xylene-rich raffinate left after para-xylene recovery is isomerised back toward equilibrium over a zeolite catalyst, maximising overall para-xylene yield.
Fractional Distillation (Ortho-Xylene Recovery)
Ortho-xylene, the highest-boiling isomer, is recovered from the remaining mixture by straightforward fractional distillation.
Mixed Xylenes against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Mixed Xylenes for solvent use or isomer separation often need one of the individually separated isomers instead. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mixed Xylenes | 1330-20-7 | C8 aromatic isomer blend | The product on this page — the parent stream for all three xylene isomers. |
| Para-Xylene | 106-42-3 | C8 aromatic isomer | The PET/polyester-grade isomer, separated from this stream — see its product page. |
| Ortho-Xylene | 95-47-6 | C8 aromatic isomer | The phthalic-anhydride-grade isomer, separated from this stream — see its product page. |
| Meta-Xylene | 108-38-3 | C8 aromatic isomer | The isophthalic-acid-grade isomer, separated from this stream — see its product page. |
Exact physical constants and purity specifications are confirmed per batch on the certificate of analysis — treat the notes above as a sourcing guide, not a specification sheet, for products other than Mixed Xylenes.
Safety classification at a glance
Based on GHS classification as commonly listed for this substance. This is a summary for orientation only — always work from the current safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch.
Flammable liquid and vapour.
Causes skin irritation.
Causes serious eye irritation.
May cause respiratory irritation.
Chemical-resistant gloves, splash goggles and suitable respiratory protection are the baseline for routine handling.
Keep away from heat, sparks and open flame; ground and bond containers during transfer.
Use only with adequate ventilation or suitable respiratory protection to limit vapour exposure.
Warning — GHS02 flammable and GHS07 harmful pictograms apply.
This compound is a flammable liquid that causes skin and serious eye irritation, and may cause respiratory irritation. It must be handled with chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof eye protection and suitable respiratory protection, and kept away from heat and open flame. Full first-aid, storage, spill and PPE guidance is in the MSDS issued with every shipment, and should be read in full before this material is handled.
Keeping it on spec between delivery and use
General storage guidance for this grade. Site-specific storage rules, segregation requirements and re-test intervals should follow your own EHS procedures and the MSDS issued with your batch.
Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from heat sources, open flame and strong oxidizing agents, in tightly closed original packaging. Ground and bond all equipment during bulk transfer. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, isomer ratio and colour before use.
How it ships from Indonesia
Standard packing and export terms for this product. Confirm exact figures against your order — they vary slightly by destination and quantity.
What travels with every batch
Specification is agreed before the purchase order, not discovered on arrival. Every shipment of Mixed Xylenes leaves with a documented, checkable paper trail.
Certificate of Analysis
Batch-wise assay (by titration/GC), colour and relevant physical constants, issued against the agreed specification so your QC team can check it, not just file it.
Safety Data Sheet
GHS-format SDS in English covering hazard classification, handling, storage, first-aid and spill response for the exact grade of Mixed Xylenes shipped.
Technical Data Sheet
Reference physical and chemical properties, recommended storage and typical applications, for internal circulation to your process or R&D teams.
Certificate of Origin
Confirms Indonesian origin for customs clearance and any preferential-duty claim at your destination port.
Dangerous Goods Declaration
UN packing group, classification and shipper's declaration prepared ahead of loading so documentation never holds up customs.
Third-Party Inspection
Independent pre-shipment inspection and re-sampling can be arranged on request, at your cost, for buyers who require it as a matter of policy.
Frequently asked questions
What buyers most often ask our sales desk about this grade.
01What is Mixed Xylenes used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Mixed Xylenes?+
03How is Mixed Xylenes made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Mixed Xylenes hazardous?+
06Why can't the xylene isomers be separated by simple distillation?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply the individual xylene isomers as well?+
Need Mixed Xylenes on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.