Dichloromethane price index

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Dichloromethane price index

This post is a summary of the Dichloromethane price developments since 2018. The price developments are expressed as a price index in US$ prices converted at current FX rates, which are the FX rates applicable at the time the price was valid. Dichloromethane price index developments are calculated from multiple separate sources of data to ensure statistical accuracy.

Further information on the Dichloromethane price index

What is dichloromethane

Dichloromethane, also known as methylene chloride, is an organic compound..It is a colorless, volatile liquid with a slightly sweet odor and is widely used as a solvent in various industrial and chemical processes.

Functions

• Used in the pharmaceutical industry for drug formulation.
• Employed in the manufacturing of electronics for cleaning and degreasing.
• Utilized in the production of polyurethane foams and as a solvent in paint removers and varnish strippers.
• Chemical Processing:
• Commonly used in chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses due to its ability to dissolve a wide range of chemical compounds.
• Used in the decaffeination of coffee and tea.
• Employed in the extraction of various flavors and fragrances.

How is dichloromethane produced

Dichloromethane is primarily produced by the chlorination of methane. Methane reacts with chlorine gas under heat or UV light, forming methyl chloride, which is further chlorinated to produce dichloromethane. The resulting mixture is then separated by distillation to isolate dichloromethane.

What is dichloromethane used for

Dichloromethane (DCM), also known as methylene chloride, has a wide range of applications across various industries due to its excellent solvent properties, volatility, and relatively low toxicity compared to other chlorinated solvents. Here are some of its main uses:

Industrial and Chemical Applications
Solvent:

Paint Strippers and Varnish Removers

DCM is widely used in formulations for removing paint, varnish, and coatings due to its ability to dissolve a variety of resins and polymers.

Degreasing Agent

Employed for cleaning and degreasing metal parts in the aerospace and automotive industries.

Adhesive Formulations

Used in adhesives, particularly for plastic bonding, due to its ability to dissolve a variety of plastics and resins.

Chemical Processing

Chemical Synthesis

Utilized as a reaction medium in the production of pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals due to its ability to dissolve many organic compounds.

Polymer Processing

Used in the production and processing of polymers and plastics, including as a blowing agent in the manufacture of polyurethane foams.

Laboratory Uses

Extraction Solvent

Frequently used in liquid-liquid extraction processes to separate organic compounds from aqueous solutions.

Commonly used in chromatographic techniques for the purification and analysis of chemical compounds.

Recrystallization Solvent

Employed to purify chemicals by recrystallization due to its ability to dissolve many organic compounds at different temperatures.

Food and Beverage Industry

Decaffeination

Used in the decaffeination process for coffee and tea, where it helps remove caffeine from the beans and leaves.

Flavor and Fragrance Extraction:

Utilized in the extraction of various flavors and fragrances from natural products.
Pharmaceuticals

Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs)

Used in the synthesis and purification of APIs due to its solvency and ability to facilitate reactions.

Drug Formulation

Employed in the formulation of certain pharmaceuticals, where it acts as a solvent for active ingredients.

Other Uses

Aerosols:

Used as a propellant and solvent in aerosol products, such as spray paints, adhesives, and cleaning products.

Foam Blowing Agent

Used in the production of polyurethane foams, where it helps to create the foam structure.

Specialized Cleaning

Applied in specialized cleaning processes, such as removing coatings or contaminants from delicate surfaces.

What are different types of dichloromethane

Dichloromethane (DCM), also known as methylene chloride, is a single chemical however, it can be categorized based on its grade or purity, which determines its suitability for various applications. Here are the different types of dichloromethane based on these criteria:

Technical Grade

Purity: Typically around 98-99%.
Uses: Suitable for industrial applications such as paint stripping, degreasing, and adhesives where ultra-high purity is not critical.

Reagent Grade

Purity: Higher than technical grade, often above 99%.
Uses: Used in laboratory settings for analytical and synthetic purposes where higher purity is necessary.

HPLC Grade

Purity: Very high, typically above 99.9%.
Uses: Specifically formulated for use in High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and other sensitive analytical techniques where contaminants could interfere with results.

ACS Grade

Purity: Meets or exceeds the standards set by the American Chemical Society (ACS) for laboratory reagents.
Uses: Suitable for general laboratory use and chemical synthesis where reliable purity is required.

Spectroscopic Grade

Purity: Exceptionally high, designed to be free of impurities that could affect spectroscopic analyses.
Uses: Used in spectroscopic methods such as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Infrared (IR) spectroscopy.

Anhydrous Grade

Purity: Specifically processed to remove water, usually has a very low moisture content.
Uses: Critical for reactions sensitive to moisture, such as Grignard reactions and other moisture-sensitive chemical syntheses.

Pesticide Grade

Purity: May contain specific stabilizers and additives; purity tailored to meet regulatory standards for use in pesticide formulations.
Uses: Utilized in the formulation of pesticides and related agricultural chemicals.

USP/NF Grade

Purity: Meets the standards of the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) and the National Formulary (NF) for pharmaceutical use.
Uses: Used in the production of pharmaceuticals where high purity and consistency are essential.

Food Grade

Purity: Meets the regulatory standards for use in food processing.
Uses: Utilized in the food and beverage industry, for example, in the decaffeination of coffee and tea.

Special Forms

Stabilized Dichloromethane

Often contains stabilizers to prevent degradation or reaction with moisture and other impurities.

Inhibited Dichloromethane

Includes inhibitors to prevent unwanted chemical reactions during storage and use.

Each type of dichloromethane is tailored for specific applications, with varying levels of purity and specific additives or stabilizers to suit its intended use.

Market size

According to oec.world:

In 2022 Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) were the world’s 3196th most traded product (out of 4,648).

In 2022, the top exporters of Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) were China ($123M), Germany ($66M), France ($39M), United States ($32.9M), and Netherlands ($16.2M).

In 2022, the top importers of Dichloromethane (methylene chloride) were Turkey ($25M), India ($24.3M), Brazil ($19M), Italy ($15.8M), and Mexico ($15.1M).