Para Cresol: Uses, Grades and Buying Guide for India
Para cresol (p-cresol, 4-methylphenol, CAS 106-44-5) is a phenolic intermediate consumed mainly to make the antioxidant BHT. It is also the starting point for anisaldehyde-based fragrance chemicals, sunscreen UV absorbers, the antibiotic trimethoprim, dye intermediates and resins. Buyers choose between technical, perfumery and ultra-high-purity grades depending on the end use.
Below, we cover where para cresol goes, how the grades differ, and the impurity limits that decide whether a lot works in your process.
What is para cresol?
Para cresol is one of three cresol isomers. In the para form, the methyl and hydroxyl groups sit on opposite ends of the benzene ring. It is a colourless solid that is widely used as an intermediate for other chemicals.
| Property | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Chemical name | 4-methylphenol |
| CAS number | 106-44-5 |
| Melting point | 32°C to 34°C |
| Boiling point | 201°C to 202°C |
| Flash point | 89°C |
| Solubility | Soluble in ethanol, ether and acetone; slightly soluble in water |
Data from the Thermo Scientific p-cresol product listing, which also notes that the material is air and light sensitive and hygroscopic.
Main uses of para cresol
BHT and other antioxidants
The biggest outlet by far. P-cresol is consumed mainly in the production of antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). BHT is made by alkylating para cresol with isobutylene. A USDA technical review lists BHT’s uses as an antioxidant in food, animal feed, petroleum products, synthetic rubbers, plastics, and animal and vegetable oils. Every one of those markets pulls on para cresol supply.
Fragrance intermediates
Para cresol opens a chain of floral and sweet aroma chemicals. Methylating it gives para cresyl methyl ether (p-methylanisole), which oxidises to para anisic aldehyde (hawthorn, mimosa notes). Reducing anisaldehyde gives para anisyl alcohol, and acetylating that gives para anisyl acetate. Neshiel supplies each step of this chain in perfumery grade, which lets fragrance houses source the family from one partner. Para cresol itself, in perfumery grade, adds a narcissus-like animalic floral note at low dosage.
Pharmaceuticals
Atul lists trimethoprim (TMP) and specialty APIs among para cresol’s applications, with an ultra-high-purity grade made for this work. Thermo Scientific notes that p-cresol is a starting material for bupranolol, a beta blocker.
Sunscreens and UV absorbers
Para cresol derivatives, including para anisic aldehyde, feed into UV absorbers used in sunscreen and personal care products. Atul names sunscreens and UV absorbers as distinct applications.
Dyes, resins and disinfectants
Para cresol is also an intermediate for dyes, pigments, polymers, resins, surfactants and disinfectants, in line with the application list on Neshiel’s specification sheet.
How para cresol is made
Para cresol reaches the market by three main routes, and the route affects the impurity profile.
- Toluene sulphonation. Toluene is sulphonated to para toluene sulphonic acid (PTSA), which is fused with caustic soda and acidified to give para cresol. This synthetic route gives a high para share and is the basis of most Indian production.
- Chlorotoluene hydrolysis and the cymene-cresol process. Wikipedia lists both as other industrial methods. The cymene route alkylates toluene with propylene and oxidises the product, yielding a mix of meta and para cresol along with acetone.
- Coal tar and cresylic acid. Natural cresols recovered from coal tar and refinery streams come as isomer mixtures that must be separated, which is why meta cresol content varies so much between sources.
When you change suppliers, ask which route the producer uses. A switch from a synthetic to a separated-mixture source can change the m-cresol and phenol levels even when total purity looks the same. Neshiel also supplies PTSA, both as monohydrate crystals and as a 65% solution, for buyers in foundry resins, esterification and electroplating.
Para cresol grades
| Grade | What sets it apart | Typical buyers |
|---|---|---|
| Technical (99% min) | General-purpose purity with defined isomer limits | BHT and antioxidant makers, resins, dyes, disinfectants |
| Perfumery grade (PG) | Odour-controlled, low colour, clean profile | Fragrance houses, aroma chemical manufacturers |
| Ultra-high purity (UHP) | Tighter impurity ceilings for regulated synthesis | Pharmaceutical API and agro-intermediate makers |
Match the grade to the end product rather than buying the highest grade by default. UHP costs more, and a BHT plant gains little from it.
Specifications that decide whether a lot works
| Parameter | Neshiel specification |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Colourless to pale-yellow solid |
| Purity (GC) | 99% minimum |
| Moisture (KF) | 0.05% maximum |
| m-Cresol (GC) | 0.8% maximum |
| o-Cresol (GC) | 0.1% maximum |
| Phenol (GC) | 0.02% maximum |
| Colour (APHA) | 40 maximum |
Meta cresol is the impurity to watch. Para and meta cresol boil within about a degree of each other, which makes them hard to separate by distillation, so m-cresol is the limit most likely to drift between producers. In antioxidant synthesis, m-cresol alkylates differently and can lower the purity of the final BHT. Ask for GC data on every batch, and set the m-cresol ceiling your process can tolerate in the contract.
Moisture is held very low at 0.05% because para cresol picks up water from air. Keep drums sealed until use.
Packaging and storage
Neshiel supplies para cresol in 200 kg GI or MS drums, MS-HDPE composite drums, road tankers and ISO tanks. Like ortho cresol, it melts in the low 30s °C, so plan for drum heating or heated bulk storage. Because it is air and light sensitive, store it away from sunlight and oxidising agents, and use nitrogen blanketing on bulk tanks if colour matters downstream.
Cresols are toxic and corrosive. Follow the SDS, use gloves and eye protection, and transfer under ventilation.
Buying para cresol: a short checklist
- Confirm the grade (technical, PG or UHP) against your end use.
- Specify the m-cresol, o-cresol and phenol limits, not just total purity.
- Ask for APHA colour on the COA if you make light-coloured resins or fragrances.
- Choose drum, tanker or ISO tank based on your melting and unloading set-up.
- If you also buy anisaldehyde, anisyl alcohol or p-cresyl methyl ether, source them together to keep quality consistent across the chain.
Sourcing para cresol or its fragrance derivatives? Neshiel supplies technical and perfumery-grade para cresol along with the full anisic family. Request a quote or browse our flavours and fragrances range.
Frequently asked questions
What is para cresol used for?
Mostly for making the antioxidant BHT. It is also used for fragrance intermediates such as anisaldehyde, sunscreens, the antibiotic trimethoprim, dyes, resins and disinfectants.
Is para cresol the same as 4-methylphenol?
Yes. Para cresol, p-cresol and 4-methylphenol are names for the same compound, CAS 106-44-5.
What is perfumery-grade para cresol?
A grade with controlled odour and colour, used directly in fragrance compositions and as a starting material for anisic aroma chemicals.
How should para cresol be stored?
In sealed drums or nitrogen-blanketed tanks, away from light, heat and oxidising agents. It melts at 32°C to 34°C, so plan for drum heating in cooler months.
Why does the meta cresol limit matter?
Meta cresol is hard to remove from para cresol by distillation and reacts differently in synthesis, so a high level can reduce the purity of products such as BHT.
