Paraxylene

Paraxylene

Paraxylene is one of the three xylene isomers, the others being orthoxylene and metaxylene. Paraxylene is converted to terephthalic acid, which is a critical aromatics feedstock used in the downstream production of polyester, which is used extensively for the manufacture of fibers, films, and food/beverage packaging. All three xylene isomers are produced on a commercial scale by various refining processes including catalytic reforming of naphtha, toluene disproportionation, toluene transalkylation, and as a byproduct of ethylene steam crackers.