Product Name: O-Xylene
Chemical Formula: C8H10
Common Uses: Solvent in the coating, rubber, and printing sectors; raw material for phthalic anhydride and other chemical synthesis
Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid with aromatic odor
Synonyms: 1,2-Dimethylbenzene
CAS Number: 95-47-6
Understanding exactly what comes out of our reactors means clear identification details. Workers in our plants see condensed o-xylene running from the distillation, checking for that aromatic odor and clarity before tanks move out. Field staff and downstream industrial users need this clear labeling to catch mix-ups before downstream processes get ruined or people get hurt.
Main Hazards: Flammable liquid and vapor; can form explosive mixtures with air
Health Risks: Inhalation may cause dizziness, headache, and respiratory irritation; skin or eye contact can result in irritation
Environmental Impact: Toxic to aquatic life
Our operators smell o-xylene before they see the vapor cloud alarms blink, so routine ventilation and flammable vapor monitoring are always running on site. Training sessions always include stories about burnt eyebrows and rashes from splashes—reminders why hazard identification must never just sit in a binder.
Main Component: O-Xylene (typically >97%)
Possible Impurities: Mixed xylene isomers, ethylbenzene (<2%)
The distillation columns don’t always yield a single cut, especially after turnaround maintenance. Our QC labs regularly scan for ethylbenzene since upstream crude feed swings can creep it past spec. Process analysis drives the purity reported on the bill of lading so customers know what they receive.
Inhalation: Move person to fresh air quickly; give oxygen if breathing is difficult
Skin Contact: Wash with soap and water; remove contaminated clothing
Eye Contact: Rinse with plenty of water for several minutes
Ingestion: Do not induce vomiting; seek immediate medical attention
Our teams remember drills where speed of response protected a colleague from long recovery. Even small leaks in pump seals result in situations demanding quick thinking and basic first aid—stories spread throughout the plant floor encourage real safety instead of just paper compliance.
Suitable Media: Foam, dry chemical, carbon dioxide
Unsuitable Media: Direct water streams
Specific Hazards: Vapors can travel to ignition sources; combustion produces toxic gases including carbon monoxide
Protective Equipment: Full protective gear and self-contained breathing apparatus
Fire response is treated with respect—vapor clouds don’t politely stay put, so spill events prompt quick communication between control room and emergency crews. Crews remember not to reach for water on smaller scale fires, leaning instead on trained foam deployment.
Personal Protection: Evacuate area; use full PPE including chemical splash goggles and gloves
Environmental Protection: Prevent runoff to water systems; use absorbent barriers
Clean-up Methods: Contain and recover with inert absorbent materials; ventilate area
Years of loading and unloading from trucks mean spills aren’t a hypothetical—they’re a maintenance and logistics concern. Early containment, fast reporting, and regular refresher drills protect both people on the floor and the river outside our boundaries.
Storage Conditions: Cool, well-ventilated spaces away from ignition sources and incompatible materials
Handling Guidelines: Ground and bond containers during transfer; avoid skin and eye contact
Leaking flanges or static discharge cause real problems, so piping routes and grounding procedures developed from practical lessons. Overfilled tanks from overnight shifts drove upgrades in level monitoring to avoid overflows and protect the warehouse crew.
Engineering Controls: Local exhaust ventilation; gas detection systems
Personal Protective Equipment: Chemical-resistant gloves, goggles, face shields, flame-resistant clothing
Exposure Limits: Keep below documented occupational exposure levels
Operations teams rely on exhaust fans and active area gas monitoring tied into our site DCS. Fit-testing for respirators and consistent glove use have prevented more than one accident from turning into an incident. Seasonal training reminds workers about heat stress and the importance of regular safety checks.
Physical State: Liquid
Odor: Strong, sweet, aromatic
Boiling Point: Around 144°C
Melting Point: -25°C
Flash Point: Around 32°C (closed cup)
Specific Gravity: 0.88-0.89
Vapor Pressure: Moderate at ambient
Shift leaders care about these numbers since fluctuating tank temperatures affect vapor losses and loading safety in both summer and winter. Chemistry details, like boiling and flash points, guide both the design of distillation columns and the flare system capacity at our site.
Chemical Stability: Stable under normal industrial conditions
Incompatible Materials: Strong oxidizing agents, acids
Hazardous Decomposition Products: Carbon oxides on combustion
Old tanks at the edge of the site sometimes sit for months, so understanding what happens on long-term storage or after line flushes drives inspection schedules. Mixing with leftover oxidizer from previous campaigns would be a disaster—operations teams don’t take shortcuts.
Acute Effects: Respiratory irritation, CNS depression, nausea, headache
Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact
Repeated Exposure: May affect liver, kidneys, and nervous system
The medical team on-site tracks annual physicals for all operators, looking for shifts in health linked to chemicals like o-xylene. Incidents of dizziness or nausea are always logged, compared against daily exposure levels, and factored into substance use reviews.
Aquatic Toxicity: Harmful to fish and aquatic organisms
Biodegradability: Moderate
Bioaccumulation Potential: Low to moderate
Our wastewater engineers work closely with environmental teams monitoring run-off and discharge. Even trace leaks from old pipes draw attention—a lesson from past regulatory audits. Constant reviews look for improvements so that factory output doesn’t become an environmental news story.
Disposal Methods: Incinerate under controlled conditions; follow local regulations for hazardous waste
Packaging Disposal: Triple rinse before recycling or disposal
We don’t let waste linger—dedicated waste management crews separate out process residues with documented records. Old drums and tankage get triple-rinsed and certified before leaving site so we don’t create future liabilities for our local community. We partner with approved incineration facilities, keeping all documents on file for regulatory review.
UN Number: 1307
Hazard Class: 3 (Flammable liquid)
Packing Group: III
Labeling: Flammable liquid label required
Every shipment out the gate is weighed, sealed, and double-checked—traceability supports both our logistics and emergency response drills. Continuous training for drivers and loaders covers manual handling, correct placarding, and what to do if things go wrong en route.
Global Regulations: Subject to controls as a hazardous chemical under occupational safety, environmental, and transport laws
Labeling: Hazard pictograms and signal words in compliance with chemical safety standards
Staying compliant means regular reading of new government bulletins and changes in labeling, safety records, and handling protocols. Site compliance officers visit storage areas and shipping bays, ensuring every drum meeting current standards, and that every revision in the rules gets passed to the shop floor with practical examples.
