Toluene
The methyl-substituted aromatic solvent and feedstock supplied by Chelora Chemicals — a high-volume industrial solvent, gasoline-blending component and the starting point for benzene, xylenes and TDI manufacture — exported from Indonesia in drums or ISO tanks with full batch documentation on every shipment.
What Toluene is, and why buyers source it
A working overview of the compound's chemistry, its role as both a finished solvent and an aromatics feedstock, and the grades Chelora Chemicals keeps in regular supply.
Toluene is a benzene ring carrying a single methyl substituent. The ring supplies the solvency power and chemical stability common to aromatic hydrocarbons, while the methyl group gives toluene a lower melting point, lower viscosity and better solvency for many resins and coatings than unsubstituted benzene, along with a convenient reactive handle for downstream chemistry.
At room temperature it is a colourless, highly flammable liquid with a sweet, pungent, instantly recognisable odour, immiscible with water but miscible with most organic solvents. Its low flash point and high vapour pressure mean fire and vapour-exposure precautions dominate how it is stored, handled and transported.
Where it fits in the synthesis chain
Toluene is used directly as a high-performance solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, inks and rubber cement, and as an octane-boosting gasoline-blending component. Industrially it is just as important as a feedstock: toluene disproportionation and hydrodealkylation convert it into benzene and xylenes, and nitration followed by phosgenation gives toluene diisocyanate (TDI), the key building block for flexible polyurethane foam.
Grades we supply
Chelora Chemicals offers Toluene in technical/industrial grade (≈99% assay) for solvent, coating and gasoline-blending use, and nitration grade (99.9%+, low in sulfur and non-aromatic impurities) for TDI-precursor and other aromatics feedstock manufacture. Both grades are supplied with a batch-wise certificate of analysis.
How Toluene 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.
Toluene is recovered from two main refinery and petrochemical streams: catalytic reforming of naphtha, which converts naphthenes and paraffins into aromatics including toluene over a platinum-based catalyst, and pyrolysis gasoline, the aromatic-rich by-product of steam-cracking naphtha or gas oil to make ethylene and propylene. In both cases toluene is separated from the aromatic-rich reformate or pygas by solvent extraction (commonly using sulfolane) followed by fractional distillation.
Why reformate and pygas extraction is standard
Catalytic reforming and steam cracking are both run at very large scale for their primary products (high-octane gasoline blendstock and ethylene/propylene respectively), so recovering toluene as a co-product aromatic stream via solvent extraction is the most cost-effective route, tightly integrated into major refinery and petrochemical complexes.
Industries and processes that use it
Toluene is consumed across solvent applications, gasoline blending and aromatics feedstock chemistry, where its combination of solvency, octane value and reactive ring chemistry is the main draw. The fields below account for most of the demand we see through our export desk.
Industrial Solvent
Used as a high-performance solvent in paints, coatings, adhesives, inks, rubber cement and cleaning formulations.
Gasoline Blending Component
Blended into motor gasoline as a high-octane aromatic component, improving anti-knock performance.
Benzene & Xylene Feedstock
Converted via disproportionation (TDP) or hydrodealkylation (THDA) into benzene and xylenes for downstream petrochemical manufacture.
TDI Precursor (Polyurethane Chain)
Nitrated and reduced to toluenediamine, then phosgenated to toluene diisocyanate (TDI), the key monomer for flexible polyurethane foam.
How the molecule is typically carried forward
The reactive aromatic ring and its methyl substituent govern almost all of this molecule's further reaction chemistry. Reaction classes below account for most of the ways Toluene is converted into a finished product or intermediate.
Electrophilic Aromatic Nitration
The methyl group activates the ring toward electrophilic nitration, the first step toward toluenediamine and ultimately toluene diisocyanate.
Catalytic Disproportionation (TDP)
Two toluene molecules disproportionate over a zeolite catalyst to give one benzene and one mixed-xylene molecule, a key route to on-purpose benzene and xylene.
Hydrodealkylation (THDA)
Reaction with hydrogen over a catalyst strips the methyl group entirely, converting toluene directly to benzene plus methane.
Side-Chain Oxidation
Catalytic oxidation of the methyl group gives benzoic acid, an intermediate for plasticiser, preservative and specialty-chemical manufacture.
Toluene against other amines we supply
Buyers sourcing Toluene for solvent or aromatics-feedstock use often need a related C8 aromatic or alkylbenzene. A quick reference to what else is on our regular supply list.
| Product | CAS Number | Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toluene | 108-88-3 | Mono-substituted aromatic | The product on this page — a solvent, octane booster and benzene/xylene/TDI feedstock. |
| Mixed Xylenes | 1330-20-7 | C8 aromatic cut | A related, co-produced C8 aromatic stream — see its product page. |
| Cumene | 98-82-8 | Alkylbenzene (C9) | A related benzene alkylate, feedstock for phenol/acetone — see its product page. |
| Ethylbenzene | 100-41-4 | Alkylbenzene (C8) | A related alkylbenzene and the feedstock for styrene monomer — 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 Toluene.
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.
Highly flammable liquid and vapour.
May be fatal if swallowed and enters airways.
May cause drowsiness or dizziness.
Suspected of damaging the unborn child.
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 given the very low flash point.
Never siphon by mouth or induce vomiting if swallowed — aspiration into the lungs is a serious hazard.
Danger — GHS02 flammable, GHS07 harmful and GHS08 health-hazard pictograms apply.
This compound is a highly flammable liquid that may be fatal if swallowed and enters the airways, may cause drowsiness or dizziness, and is suspected of damaging the unborn child. It must be handled with chemical-resistant gloves, splash-proof eye protection, suitable respiratory protection and kept well 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 with appropriate vapour-control measures. Ground and bond all equipment during bulk transfer. If a batch is held past its retest date, re-check assay, colour and sulfur content 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 Toluene 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 Toluene 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 Toluene used for?+
02What is the CAS number of Toluene?+
03How is Toluene made?+
04What purity grades does Chelora Chemicals supply?+
05Is Toluene hazardous?+
06What is the difference between toluene disproportionation and hydrodealkylation?+
07What packing options are available?+
08How long does delivery take?+
09Can I get a sample before placing a bulk order?+
10Do you supply other aromatic hydrocarbons as well?+
Need Toluene on spec, on time?
Send us your required purity, quantity, packing preference and destination port. Our desk quotes most enquiries within one working day.