Paracetamol: Feedstocks
From benzene to tablet: the paracetamol raw materials
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.Paracetamol is a benzene derivative with an acetyl group. Benzene enters via nitrobenzene or phenol, and acetic anhydride comes from acetic acid (methanol plus carbon monoxide) via ketene. Integrated producers with captive acetic anhydride, such as IOL Chemicals, and cheap PAP have the lowest cost.
Inputs per tonne
| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Crude oil | about 0.8 t nitrobenzene or 0.62 t phenol per t at 100% yield | aromatic ring | not published | stoichiometry |
| Acetic anhydride | about 0.68 t per t at 100% yield | acetyl group | not published; tight acetic anhydride supply in China raised prices in Aug 2023 | Angel One (2023) |
| Gas Natural gas | about 0.027 t per t (stoichiometric for nitrobenzene route: 2 mol H2 per mol) | reduction | not published | stoichiometry |
| S Sulfur | not published | Bamberger rearrangement medium | not published | qualitative |
Who is low-cost, and why
Producers integrated from benzene or acetic acid in India and China are lowest cost. Europe and the US cannot compete without subsidy.