# Reagents and high-purity lab chemicals: Feedstocks

Why a by-product shortage like acetonitrile can still bite

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/feedstocks/

What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

Reagents start from ordinary commodity chemicals; feedstock is a small part of the price. What decides competitiveness is purification know-how, quality systems, certification, packaging and access to lab customers. Shortages of a by-product, such as acetonitrile, can still disrupt the business.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Technical acids and bases (sulphuric, hydrochloric, nitric acid; caustic soda)** | about 1.1-1.5 t per t reagent (indicative) | starting material for analytical grades | under 10% of reagent price (indicative) | indicative |
| **Technical solvents (methanol, acetonitrile, hexane)** | about 1.1-1.3 t per t (indicative) | HPLC and LC-MS solvents | about 10-30% for solvents (indicative) | indicative |
| [Oil Crude oil](https://www.materialinsights.org/energy/crude_oil/) | indirect | solvent feed | small | indicative |
| [Qz Silica sand](https://www.materialinsights.org/commodities/industrial_sand/) | packaging | glass packaging | packaging can be a large share for small packs (indicative) | indicative |
| **Biological feedstocks (sugars, media, cell lines)** | not meaningful | enzymes and biochemicals | small | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Global leaders win on catalogue breadth, quality systems and distribution, not on cost. Indian and Chinese makers are cheaper in standard laboratory and analytical grades.

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/lab_reagents/links/index.md)