[Chemical Knowledge]：The nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods of cyclohexanol, is cyclohexanol stable?

Cyclohexanol properties

Cyclohexanol (Cyclohexanol) is an important organic compound with the formula C6H11OH. It is a colorless viscous liquid or crystal with a slight camphor odor. Cyclohexanol has a melting point of 25.93°C, a boiling point of 161.1°C, a solubility in water of 4.3g/100ml, and is miscible with most organic solvents. It has two major isomers: cis and trans, but exists industrially mainly as a mixture of cyclohexanols.

Cyclohexanol use

Cyclohexanol has a wide range of uses in the chemical industry, one of the most important uses being as an intermediate for the production of caprolactam (used in the manufacture of nylon 6) and adipic acid. Cyclohexanol is also used in the manufacture of plasticizers, rubber antioxidants, paint and ink solvents, detergents, emulsifiers and fungicides. Due to its good solubility, cyclohexanol is also used as a laboratory solvent and an intermediate in organic synthesis.

Upstream raw materials

There are two main methods for the production of cyclohexanol: one is to generate cyclohexane through the hydrogenation reaction of benzene, and then to obtain cyclohexanol through oxidation; the other is to directly generate cyclohexanol through the hydrogenation reaction of cyclohexanone. For the former, benzene and hydrogen are the main upstream feedstocks, while for the latter, cyclohexanone and hydrogen are the main feedstocks. Catalysts such as cobalt, copper or nickel also play a key role in these reactions.

Downstream Products

The main downstream products of cyclohexanol include caprolactam and adipic acid, both of which are important in the production of nylon 6 and nylon 66. Caprolactam is prepared by a Beckmann rearrangement reaction from cyclohexanone oxime, which is an intermediate obtained from the reaction of cyclohexanone and hydroxylamine. Adipic acid is produced by the oxidation of cyclohexane or cyclohexanone. These downstream products are widely used in textile, plastics, rubber, coatings and other industries.

Cyclohexanol production process

The production process of cyclohexanol mainly includes two methods: benzene hydrogenation and cyclohexanone hydrogenation. The process flow of the benzene hydrogenation method includes hydrogenation of benzene to generate cyclohexane, followed by oxidation to generate cyclohexanol and by-product cyclohexanone; the cyclohexanone hydrogenation method is to directly generate cyclohexanol by catalytic hydrogenation. These processes need to be carried out at high temperatures and pressures, using appropriate catalysts and reaction conditions to improve yield and selectivity.

Cyclohexanol storage method

Cyclohexanol needs to be stored in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, avoid direct sunlight and high temperature environment. Due to the flammability of cyclohexanol, it should be stored away from fire, heat and oxidant. Cyclohexanol should be stored in a sealed container to prevent volatilization and moisture absorption. The storage area shall be equipped with appropriate fire extinguishing equipment, such as dry powder fire extinguishers and carbon dioxide fire extinguishers.

Safety and environmental protection

Cyclohexanol has a certain toxicity, irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory tract, inhalation of high concentrations of steam may lead to headache, nausea and other symptoms. During the production and use of cyclohexanol, appropriate protective measures should be taken, such as wearing protective gloves, goggles and protective clothing, and ensuring that the workplace is well ventilated. The waste cyclohexanol should be treated in accordance with hazardous waste treatment specifications to avoid environmental pollution.

market and prospect

The market demand for cyclohexanol is mainly driven by the demand for downstream products. With the development of the global economy and the growth of textile, plastics and other industries, the market prospect of cyclohexanol is more optimistic. Market prices are also affected by fluctuations in raw material prices and production process costs. In the future, with the improvement of environmental protection requirements and technological progress, the production process of cyclohexanol may be more environmentally friendly and efficient, thereby further enhancing its market competitiveness.

Cyclohexanol substitutes

Although cyclohexanol plays an important role in many fields, some alternatives also exist. For example, in certain solvent applications, alcohols such as ethanol and isopropanol may be substituted for cyclohexanol. In the production of plasticizers, phthalate plasticizers can also partially replace cyclohexanol derivatives. Due to the unique properties of cyclohexanol in specific chemical reactions, its complete replacement is still difficult.

Summary

As an important chemical raw material, cyclohexanol has a wide range of applications and good market prospects. Understanding its nature, use, upstream and downstream raw materials, storage methods and safety and environmental protection requirements is of great significance to industry practitioners. In the future, with the improvement of technological progress and environmental protection requirements, the production and application of cyclohexanol will be further optimized and expanded to provide strong support for the development of related industries.