m-Cresol - ipcs inchem

OECD SIDS
m- / p-CRESOL
Table 3:
Estimated Capacities and Their Locations
Region m/p-Mixture [1] Pure m-Cresol [2] Pure p-Cresol [2]
WORLD 128,000 t 100 % 28,500 t 100 % 59,500 100 %
SE-ASIA 58,000 t 45 % 14,500 t 51 % 31,000 52 %
W-EUROPE 30,000 t 23 % 8,000 t 28 % 13,000 t 22 %
N-AMERICA 18,000 t 14 % 6,000 t 21 % 12,500 t 21 %
OTHER 20,000 t 16 % 3000 t 5 %
E-EUROPE 2000 t 2 %
(Srour; 1 = stage October 2001, 2 = stage July 2000)
The largest part of cresols is used as intermediates in chemical processes:
Pure m-cresol (total processing in 1999 21,000 t) is mainly used as an intermediate for the
following products: for synthetic vitamin E (39 %), and in the synthesis of pesticides (insecticides,
herbicides, 29 %), fragrances and antioxidants (15 %), disinfectants and preservatives (12 %) and
other chemicals (5 %) (Srour 2000) (e.g. photographic chemicals and explosives, ATSDR 1992;
HSDB 1993).
Pure p-cresol (production and demand in 1999 31,400 t) is used in chemical synthesis for the
antioxidant BHT (49 %), other antioxidants (17 %), anisaldehyde (18 %), and other intermediates
(16 %) which are used for production of pharmaceuticals, plant protection agents and dyestuffs
(Srour 2000).
These figures for m- and p-cresol show that the actual production and demand is much below the
estimated capacities given in Table 3.
m/p-Isomer mix is used to produce antioxidants (e.g. BHT, about 15,000 t/a) and arylphosphates
(approximately 6000 t/a), the latter are used as plasticizers, flame retardants or special catalysts
(Srour 2001).
m/p-Isomer mix is used as a solvent in the wire enamels business (49,000 t) (Srour 2000). In a
closed process the solvent, which evaporates during the drying of the wires, is burned. The burning
heat is used for heating the drying unit. Due to the waterfree process significant releases into the
hydrosphere can be excluded. The emissions of cresols into the atmosphere from the application
wire enamels is controlled by national authorities in the EC (EC 1999).
Furthermore some direct uses of cresols are known (< 1 % of production):
− m-Cresol is used by professionals as bactericide in the biotechnological processing of
pharmaceuticals (Bayer AG 2003)
− m-Cresol is used as a preservative in pharmaceutical articles (injection solutions of insulin,
somatropin) (Rote Liste 2002)
− m-Cresol is used as a pesticide for the treatment of the stems of fruit trees and plants: This is a
registered application and exclusively performed by professionals (HSDB 1993).
− Cresols (all isomers) are used as disinfectants, preservatives or stabilizers in cleaning/washing
agents, surface treatment products, paints, solvents, adhesives, binding agents and fillers
(hardener), corrosion inhibitors, and impregnation materials. (Danish, Swedish, and Swiss
Product Register 2002)
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