This section provides an overview for xylene as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 xylene manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked xylene companies as of November, 2024: 1.SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp, 2.TRInternational, Inc., 3.JFE Chemical Corporation.
Table of Contents
Xylene is an organic compound in which two hydrogen atoms of benzene are replaced by methyl groups.
It is also known as xylol, dimethylbenzene, and methyltoluene.
Xylene has three isomers: p-Xylene, o-Xylene, and m-Xylene, which differ in the location where the methyl group is substituted. Mixed xylene, which is a mixture of these isomers before separation, is also used in industry. In addition to the three xylene isomers, mixed xylene contains a large amount of ethylbenzene.
Mixed xylene is used as a raw material for p-xylene, o-xylene, m-xylene, and ethylbenzene by isomer separation, and is also used as a solvent for paints, agricultural chemicals, and pharmaceuticals, as well as a solvent for cleaning fats and oils. Each isomer is also used as a raw material for synthesizing various chemicals, such as the following:
Also known as 1,4-dimethylbenzene, p-Xylene is mainly used as a raw material for terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalic acid. Terephthalic acid and dimethyl terephthalate are raw materials for polyethylene terephthalate (PET). It is also used as a raw material for p-toluic acid.
Also known as 1,2-dimethylbenzene, o-Xylene is mainly used as a raw material for phthalic anhydride. Phthalic anhydride is used as a raw material for plasticizers such as dioctyl phthalate and dibutyl phthalate, as well as for diallyl phthalate (DAP) and alkyd resins. It is also used as a raw material for o-phthalodinitrile, xylenol, and xylidine.
Also known as 1,3-dimethylbenzene, m-Xylene is mainly used as a raw material for isophthalic acid. It is used as a raw material for polyester. It is also used as a raw material for meta-xylenediamine and Xylene resin.
Like toluene, which is structurally similar to xylene, xylene is a clear, colorless liquid with a distinctive ink-like aroma.
When mass-produced industrially, it is extracted from modified petroleum oil, and has the characteristic of being highly flammable.
Xylene is also highly volatile and inhalation of its gaseous form has been reported to affect the nervous system. Thus, care must be taken when using it.
The three isomers p-Xylene, o-Xylene, and m-Xylene do not differ in appearance, odor, or hazardousness, but they have different physical properties due to differences in molecular structure. In particular, there is a significant difference in melting point, with p-Xylene at 13.3°C, o-Xylene at -25.2°C, and m-Xylene at -47.9°C. The boiling point of o-Xylene is 144.4°C, slightly higher than that of p-Xylene (138.4°C) and m-Xylene (139.1°C), although not as high as the melting point, so they can be separated and purified through distillation.
The following methods are used to separate the three isomers p-Xylene, o-Xylene, and m-Xylene, and ethylbenzene from the industrial mixture of xylenes.
1. O-Xylene
o-Xylene is recovered from mixed xylene by distillation. o-Xylene is present in 20% of the mixed xylene, but can be separated by precision distillation due to the large difference in boiling points between o-Xylene and the other isomers. Ethylbenzene, a mixture of p-Xylene and m-Xylene, and o-Xylene can be separated by precision distillation.
2. P-Xylene
A mixture of p-Xylene and m-Xylene after separation of ethylbenzene and o-Xylene from mixed Xylene is separated by a deep cold separation method. Since the difference in boiling points is within 1°C, separation by distillation is difficult, but the difference in melting points is approximately 60°C. Therefore, separation by deep cooling is possible. Therefore, separation is possible by deep cooling. However, the need to cool to ultra-low temperatures makes it energy inefficient, and p-Xylene has the disadvantage of low yield.
3. M-Xylene
After removing ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and p-xylene from the xylene mixture, m-Xylene is left over. However, the low yield of p-xylene by the deep cold separation method results in low purity. Therefore, an adduct that reacts selectively only with m-Xylene is formed and recovered. The recovered adduct is then decomposed with hydrogen to recover high-purity m-Xylene.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Based in Bayville, NY, SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp. is an ISO-certified supplier and manufacturer of industrial equipment, chemicals, components, ordinance, electronics, and systems for industries ranging from aerospace to high tech to law enforcement. Examples of product offerings include raw materials, chemicals, and lubricants for industrial purposes to finished products such as security helmets for law enforcement, and military ordnances. SAE also provides research and development as well as technical support for other companies in similar industries.
TRInternational Inc., founded in 1994 and headquartered in Edmonds, Washington, is a supplier of ingredients, raw materials, and services in North America. Its diversified product portfolio includes chemicals, rubber, and paints used in industries like metalworking, water treatment, and industrial cleaning. It has over 20 stocking and import points across the United States and offers additional services like custom manufacturing, contract packaging, and proprietary formulation. The company is SBA, WOSB, and LGBTBE certified, and in 2018, it was ranked number 70 in the Top 100 Chemical Distributors in North America.
G.J. Chemical is a family-owned company based in Newark, New Jersey. G.J. Chemical serves chemical distributors, laboratories, and a variety of end users with high purity chemical products and custom services. G.J. Chemical capabilities include testing, bulk storage, custom blending, liquid bulk handling, and purifying. G.J. Chemical’s chemical products include reagents, acrylate monomers, hand sanitizers, and isopropyl alcohol. These are made to USP, FCC, Reagent ACS, military grade, and other standards.
Coolants Plus, Inc., founded in 1987 and headquartered in Anaheim, California, is a wholesale supplier of industrial coolants, lubricants, and specialty chemicals. Their product range includes metalworking fluids for cooling and lubricating metalworking tools, cutting fluids for cutting tool maintenance, lubricants to minimize friction and wear, and specialty chemicals for cleaning, degreasing, and rust prevention. They provide conventional, synthetic blend, full-synthetic, Dexos1TM, heavy-duty diesel, non-detergent, 2-cycle/4-cycle, or marine Starfire lubricants.
ChemCeed, founded in 2009 and headquartered in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, is a worldwide chemical supplier that is ISO 9001 certified. It provides chemicals like base oils, corrosion inhibitors, and specialty esters used in several industries, including construction, paper manufacturing, and water treatment. It also provides a broad selection of support services, including labeling, repackaging, and logistical support. The company stocks its products in several locations around the United States, including Chicago (IL), Philadelphia (PA, and Piscataway (NJ). In 2016, it received WBE certification and was NACD verified in 2023.
KeenBolden LLC, established in 2021 with headquarters in the USA, is a distributor of various intermediate chemical products used in the manufacturing of numerous consumer and industrial products to commercial and industrial clients worldwide. The company's products include pharmaceuticals for the healthcare industry, cosmetics for the beauty industry, lubricants, resins, paints, and fluids for the automotive industry, among many others. KeenBolden LLC also offers comprehensive supply chain solutions for the specialty, commodity, and intermediate chemical markets.
Sankyo Chemical Co. LTD., established in 1957 and headquartered in Nagoya, Japan, is a manufacturer of several intermediate materials, including paints, industrial cleaning agents, thinners, organic industrial chemicals, and adhesives. The products can be used in several areas, including silk screen printing, wiping off resin, washing agents for flux, metal processing, and mold forming. The company accepts contract manufacturing and provides several environmentally friendly products that comply with ISO 14001, the Industrial Safety and Health Law, and the PRTR (Pollutant Release and Transfer Register) Law.
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company Inc., established in 1918 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a chemical manufacturer that makes basic and fine chemicals and functional materials. The company has two business divisions, namely basic chemicals and functional chemicals, and its product portfolio includes electronic industry cleaning agents, MMA derivatives, hydrogen peroxide, xylene separation products, and laminated materials for printed circuit boards. In 1981, the company took the first step towards geothermal power development, and today, it is involved in geothermal power projects in five locations, including the 50,000-kilowatt Sumikawa Geothermal Power Plant, where it commenced operations in 1995.
Merck, started in 1668 and based in Darmstadt, Germany, is a supplier of solutions and services for research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical and biotechnological drug therapies. The company serves the life science industry and has a broad portfolio of 300,000 products, including biopharmaceutical manufacturing, industrial microbiology, reagent, life science research, and water purification products. It is available in 66 countries, brings together six brands, and has several ISO certifications, including ISO 13485, ISO 14001, ISO 13485, and ISO 50001.
Hibrett Puratex, based in Pennsauken, New Jersey, is a distributor of commodity chemicals and a custom manufacturer of specialty chemicals. Its product portfolio comprises industrial commodity chemicals, industrial cleaning compounds, and wastewater treatment chemicals. The company serves the private labeling, auto detailing, and wastewater industries and also provides several chemical processing services, including compounding, blending, and packaging for industrial applications. The company has a temperature-controlled 20,000 sq ft warehouse and can make bulk deliveries of up to 1500 gallons. It complies with regulatory agencies like OSHA, DHS, and EPA and offers dry and liquid blending.
Nacalai Tesque Inc., founded in 1846 and headquartered in Kyoto, Japan, is a manufacturer of research chemicals, fine chemicals, diagnostics, and the related instruments. Some of its products include cytokines, nucleic acid electrophoresis, cell dissociation reagents, and sialic acid-related products, and it also offers custom and bulk service for bulk reagents and cell culture media. The company has more than 50 domestic distributors and several worldwide, including Asia, the Middle East, Oceania, Europe, and Africa. It is ISO 9001 and ISO 9002 certified, while the Kyoto South brand and Tesque factory are ISO 14001 certified.
Reagents, established in 1997 and headquartered in New York, USA, is a manufacturer and distributor of laboratory chemicals and reagents. Serving academic institutions, research laboratories, pharmaceutical companies, and other industries, the company offers a diverse range of products that encompass organic and inorganic chemicals used in pharmaceuticals, plastics, water treatment, and more. They provide biological stains and indicators for laboratory applications like cell culture and DNA analysis, along with culture media ingredients for microbial growth. Their product portfolio also caters to applications in batteries, pigments, and catalysts. Reagents' comprehensive offerings support education, research, and manufacturing processes across various sectors.
Noah Chemicals Corporation was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. The company is a distributor of advanced materials and specialty chemicals for industries such as aerospace, agriculture, nuclear, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. The company’s product categories include inorganic, evaporate materials, intermediates, rare earths, and ceramics. The company’s services include trial burns to help customers protect the environment, custom fertilizer development to produce more environmentally efficient fertilizers, and custom clean in place chemicals for equipment sanitization.
CJ Chemicals is headquartered in Howell, Michigan. The company is a distributor and import supplier of the chemicals industry, storing a broach repository of more than 350 different chemicals. The company operates in four segments: warehousing & storage, shipping, import/export, and lab capabilities. Warehousing is done in the company’s warehouse in Toledo, Ohio at its 50,000 square foot facility. Shipping services include LTL and full truckload shipping nationwide. Import/export services serve global customers and suppliers. Lab capabilities including reverse engineering, formulating custom tailored products, technical support, and manufacturing of custom blends.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | SAE Manufacturing Specialties Corp |
17.3%
|
2 | TRInternational, Inc. |
9.8%
|
3 | SANKYO CHEMICAL CO.,LTD. |
8.9%
|
4 | Merck |
8.9%
|
5 | JFE Chemical Corporation |
8.4%
|
6 | GJ Chemical |
6.6%
|
7 | Hibrett Puratex |
6.1%
|
8 | MITSUBISHI GAS CHEMICAL COMPANY, INC. |
5.8%
|
9 | nacalai |
5.8%
|
10 | ChemCeed LLC |
4.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the xylene page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 6 | 60.0% |
Japan | 4 | 40.0% |