Metaxylene

Metaxylene

Metaxylene is one of the three xylene isomers, the others being paraxylene and orthoxylene. The largest use for metaxylene is to produce isophthalic acid, which is used as a comonomer in the production of polyethylene terephthalate (PET). 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.