Cumene

Cumene

Cumene, or isopropylbenzene, is a flammable, colorless, organic liquid with a sharp odor. Essentially, all cumene produced is used in the manufacture of phenol and its coproduct acetone. Cumene technology was first developed in the early 1930s and was used to convert the large amounts of light olefinic gases from thermal cracking operations into useful products. The process involves alkylation of benzene and propylene. This process saw widespread use during World War II, when cumene was used in aviation fuels. After the war, the development of phenol and phenol derivative technology significantly increased cumene demand.