m-Xylene Supply for Industrial Applications
Aure Chemical works with qualified Chinese producers and supply partners to evaluate m-Xylene requirements for international industrial buyers. m-Xylene, also known as meta-Xylene or 1,3-dimethylbenzene, is a single xylene isomer primarily used as an upstream feedstock for isophthalic acid production.
Product suitability should be evaluated according to the required assay, residual o-Xylene and p-Xylene, ethylbenzene, water, color, nonvolatile residue and other process-specific parameters. The applicable source, specification, analytical basis, batch documentation, packaging and current availability should be confirmed for each inquiry.
Buyers comparing m-Xylene with other xylene isomers should identify the exact product and CAS number. m-Xylene CAS 108-38-3 is not interchangeable with o-Xylene, p-Xylene or mixed xylenes without process-specific technical review.
Basic Information of m-Xylene
m-Xylene is the meta isomer of dimethylbenzene, with two methyl groups located at the 1,3-positions of the benzene ring. It is generally supplied as a clear, colorless liquid with a characteristic aromatic odor. The physical-property values below are reference information; the specification, SDS and batch documentation for the applicable source should be reviewed before purchase, storage or handling.
| Product Name: | m-Xylene |
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| Chemical Name: | 1,3-Dimethylbenzene |
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| Alternative Names: | Meta-Xylene; m-Xylol |
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| CAS No.: | 108-38-3 |
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| EC No.: | 203-576-3 |
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| Molecular Formula: | C8H10 |
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| Molecular Weight: | Approximately 106.17 g/mol |
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| Appearance: | Clear, colorless liquid |
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| Melting Point: | Approximately -48°C |
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| Boiling Point: | Approximately 139°C |
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| Density: | Approximately 0.86–0.87 g/mL under commonly referenced ambient conditions |
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| Transport Information: | Commonly transported under UN 1307, Class 3, Packing Group III. The applicable classification must be confirmed against the current SDS and shipment documentation. |
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| Chemical Structure: |  |
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m-Xylene Specification and Quality Review
A professional m-Xylene inquiry should include more than a general purity request. The relevant quality parameters depend on the buyer’s oxidation process, purification system, approved feedstock profile and downstream product requirements.
Parameters that may be reviewed include:
m-Xylene assay: The required single-isomer content should be stated together with the analytical and reporting basis where necessary.
Residual o-Xylene and p-Xylene: The remaining xylene-isomer profile may be important for isophthalic acid production and source qualification.
Ethylbenzene and other aromatic components: These may affect oxidation, separation, purification or buyer-specific process control.
Water, color and appearance: Moisture, visual condition and color requirements should be agreed before order placement.
Nonvolatile residue and process-sensitive traces: Additional parameters may require review according to the catalyst, process design and final intermediate specification.
Analytical methods: Gas-chromatographic area percentage, mass percentage and other reporting bases should not be assumed to be directly equivalent.
Source and batch consistency: Buyers may require an approved manufacturer, production site or feedstock profile for recurring supply.
A representative or sample COA can support preliminary technical review, but it does not report results for the future shipment batch. The batch COA should correspond to an identified lot and should be reviewed against the specification agreed in the quotation, contract or purchase order.
Where qualification is manufacturer- or site-specific, a change in production source may require advance notification, updated documentation, a new sample or requalification.
Principal Applications of m-Xylene
The principal industrial use of m-Xylene is the production of isophthalic acid. Isophthalic acid then enters selected resin, coating, copolyester and polymer-modification value chains.
Isophthalic Acid Feedstock: m-Xylene is oxidized to produce isophthalic acid for use in selected unsaturated polyester resins, coatings, alkyd systems, copolyesters and other qualified formulations.
Unsaturated Polyester Resins: Isophthalic acid derived from m-Xylene may be used in resin systems requiring an isophthalic backbone and application-specific chemical or performance characteristics.
Coatings and Alkyd Systems: Isophthalic acid may be incorporated into selected coating resins and alkyd formulations according to the required polymer structure and performance.
Copolyesters and Modified Polyester Systems: Isophthalic acid can be used as a comonomer in selected polyester and copolyester formulations, including some modified PET systems.
Selected Chemical Processing: m-Xylene may also be evaluated as an aromatic raw material or process solvent where its exact identity and properties meet the application requirements.
m-Xylene for Isophthalic Acid Production
Isophthalic acid production is the principal industrial pathway for m-Xylene. Feedstock evaluation may include m-Xylene assay, residual o-Xylene and p-Xylene, ethylbenzene, water, color, nonvolatile residue and other process-sensitive components.
The importance of each parameter depends on the oxidation technology, catalyst system, separation and purification design, production-site controls and buyer qualification requirements. A high headline assay does not by itself establish suitability for a particular process.
Buyers evaluating this application may review m-Xylene for isophthalic acid production for additional information about the feedstock pathway, quality considerations and industrial procurement.
m-Xylene in Unsaturated Polyester Resins and Coatings
m-Xylene is not normally added directly to an unsaturated polyester resin or finished coating formulation as the defining source of the isophthalic structure. It first enters the value chain through conversion to isophthalic acid.
Isophthalic acid may then be used in selected unsaturated polyester resins, alkyd resins, coating polymers, copolyesters and modified polyester systems. Final resin or coating performance depends on the complete formulation, monomer selection, polymerization control, additives and downstream processing rather than on m-Xylene alone.
The downstream relationship is explained in m-Xylene in unsaturated polyester resins and coatings.
Packaging and Bulk Supply Options
Packaging and transportation should be evaluated according to the required quantity, source capability, destination, transport route, applicable regulations and receiving-site infrastructure.
Possible arrangements may include:
Approved drums: May be considered for smaller, trial or qualification quantities where the source and carrier permit.
Approved IBCs: May be evaluated where package approval, chemical compatibility, regulations, carrier acceptance and consignee capability allow their use.
Road tanker: May be considered for domestic, regional or port-transfer movements subject to tank approval and local requirements.
ISO tank container: May be evaluated for international bulk-liquid transportation according to tank compatibility, cleanliness, previous cargo, carrier acceptance and receiving-site capability.
No universal package size or ISO tank loading quantity applies to every shipment. Tank design, permitted filling conditions, product density, route restrictions, gross-weight limits and operator approval must be reviewed for the individual project.
Buyers may provide their own ISO tank or request evaluation of a supplier-arranged tank. Tank leasing, local movement, cleaning, international freight, destination handling, detention, demurrage and return responsibilities should be stated separately from the Incoterm.
Further information is available in bulk xylene packaging and ISO tank transportation.
Tank Compatibility and Previous Cargo
Tank compatibility should cover the vessel material, lining where present, valves, seals, gaskets, hoses, fittings and discharge system. The selected tank must also be accepted by the source, loading facility, tank operator, carrier and receiving site.
Previous cargo may create contamination, odor, analytical or compatibility concerns. Cleaning documentation and previous-cargo information may therefore be required before the tank is approved.
A tank that appears visually clean is not automatically acceptable. Approval criteria depend on the required m-Xylene specification, loading-site procedures, customer quality system and applicable transport requirements.
Storage, Handling and Safety
m-Xylene is a volatile and flammable aromatic liquid. Storage and handling should follow the current SDS, applicable regulations, approved equipment design and site-specific EHS procedures.
Ignition Control: Keep the material away from heat, sparks, flames and other ignition sources according to approved facility controls.
Static Electricity: Bonding, grounding and suitable transfer equipment may be required during loading, unloading and internal transfer.
Ventilation and Vapor Management: Suitable ventilation and closed-transfer arrangements should be evaluated according to the equipment and operation.
Compatible Equipment: Tanks, pumps, hoses, seals, gaskets and fittings should be reviewed for chemical and operational compatibility.
Personal Protection: PPE requirements should be determined from the current SDS, exposure assessment and approved site procedure.
Spill and Emergency Planning: Facilities should maintain approved response arrangements and trained personnel appropriate to the quantity and operation.
Hazard statements, pictograms and transport details may vary according to the applicable regulatory framework, source and SDS revision. The current SDS provided for the proposed material should take precedence over generalized website summaries.
Documents Available for Technical Evaluation
Depending on the source and project, Aure Chemical may coordinate or provide available documents for preliminary technical and commercial evaluation, such as:
Standard product specification.
Representative or sample COA.
Batch COA for the identified shipment lot.
Current SDS.
TDS where available and applicable.
Packaging or tank information.
Tank-cleaning and previous-cargo information where required and available.
Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document and certificate of origin where applicable.
A specification defines the controlled quality parameters and limits, while a COA reports analytical results. An SDS communicates hazard and safe-handling information and should not be treated as a batch-quality certificate.
Information Required for an m-Xylene RFQ
To evaluate technical, commercial and logistics feasibility, buyers should provide:
Exact product name and CAS number 108-38-3.
Required assay and complete impurity specification.
Intended use.
Trial quantity, regular order quantity and estimated annual demand.
Required analytical methods or reporting basis where relevant.
Preferred packaging or bulk-tank arrangement.
Buyer-provided or supplier-arranged ISO tank requirement.
Tank data, cleaning documentation and previous-cargo requirements where applicable.
Destination country, port or delivery point.
Required Incoterm and named place or port.
Receiving-site storage and unloading capability.
Required COA, SDS, TDS and shipping documents.
Sample, qualification or production-source approval requirements.
Source-change notification requirements.
Target shipment schedule.
Proposed payment method.
Importer and end-user information where required.
Buyers preparing a formal inquiry may use the xylene specifications and procurement checklist to align technical, quality, packaging, document and commercial requirements before requesting a quotation.
Evaluating m-Xylene Supply with Aure Chemical
Aure Chemical is a China-based chemical supplier, distributor and international sourcing partner. We work with qualified Chinese producers and supply-chain partners to evaluate m-Xylene requirements according to specification, quantity, intended use, production source, packaging, destination and current availability.
Aure Chemical may assist with product-identity confirmation, source evaluation, representative COA and specification review, SDS and TDS coordination, sample or qualification discussions, packaging or tank-option review, export-document coordination and dangerous-goods logistics evaluation.
FCA, CPT, CIP, FOB, CFR or CIF arrangements may be discussed where operationally appropriate to the transport mode, carrier handover point and named destination. Packaging, tank availability, carrier acceptance, freight space, destination unloading and final shipment timing remain subject to project-specific confirmation.
Final technical approval remains with the buyer. Available specifications, documents, samples and packaging arrangements vary by source, and any manufacturer or production-site change should be reviewed against the buyer’s qualification requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is m-Xylene the same as mixed xylenes?
No. m-Xylene is the single 1,3-dimethylbenzene isomer, CAS 108-38-3. Mixed xylenes contain varying proportions of o-Xylene, m-Xylene, p-Xylene and ethylbenzene. They should not be treated as interchangeable without process review.
What is the principal industrial use of m-Xylene?
Its principal industrial use is as a feedstock for isophthalic acid production. Isophthalic acid is then used in selected unsaturated polyester resins, coatings, alkyds, copolyesters and modified polyester systems.
Is purity the only important m-Xylene specification?
No. Residual o-Xylene and p-Xylene, ethylbenzene, water, color, nonvolatile residue, process-sensitive traces, analytical methods and source consistency may also affect qualification.
Is m-Xylene added directly to polyester resins?
It normally enters these value chains through conversion to isophthalic acid. Final resin performance depends on the full formulation, polymerization process, additives and downstream processing rather than on m-Xylene alone.
Can Aure Chemical provide a COA and SDS?
A representative COA, current SDS and other available documents may be coordinated for technical review. The batch COA for the actual shipment should be compared with the agreed specification.
Can m-Xylene be supplied in drums?
Drum packaging may be evaluated for smaller quantities where the source, package approval, carrier and destination requirements permit. Exact package availability should be confirmed before quotation.
Can m-Xylene be shipped in an ISO tank?
ISO tank transportation may be evaluated for bulk requirements. Tank material, cleanliness, previous cargo, fittings, route, carrier acceptance and receiving-site capability should be confirmed.
What information is required for a quotation?
Buyers should provide the required specification, intended use, quantity, annual demand, packaging or tank preference, destination, Incoterm, unloading capability, required documents, qualification requirements and shipment schedule.
Industrial buyers evaluating m-Xylene supply may submit the required specification, quantity, intended use, packaging or tank arrangement, destination, Incoterm, qualification requirements and shipment schedule to Aure Chemical for a technical, commercial and logistics feasibility review.
