# Paracetamol: Production route

Three ways to make the same simple molecule

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/paracetamol/routes/

What this tab covers How it is made: the main production routes or, for product families, the main product types and technologies, compared on share of supply, inputs per tonne, plant scale, yield, co-products and unit cost.

All commercial paracetamol is made by acetylating PAP; routes differ in how PAP is made. The dominant PAP route hydrogenates nitrobenzene in sulphuric acid. An older route nitrates phenol and reduces p-nitrophenol. A third route, developed by Hoechst Celanese, acylates phenol to 4-hydroxyacetophenone and converts its oxime to paracetamol by Beckmann rearrangement, avoiding PAP. Cost is set by benzene, acetic anhydride, hydrogen and energy.

#### Routes compared

| Route | Share of supply | Inputs per tonne | Typical scale | Yield | Co-products | Unit cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Nitrobenzene hydrogenation to PAP, then acetylation** | main route (indicative) | about 0.8 t nitrobenzene per t paracetamol, 0.68 t acetic anhydride (stoichiometric 0.81 and 0.68; indicative) | PAP plants 5,000-15,000 t/yr; Meghmani 13,500 t/yr | not published | aniline, ammonium sulphate, acetic acid (recycled) | India API price about $2,958/t (Q2 2025, IMARC) |
| **Phenol nitration and reduction** | minority (indicative) | about 0.62 t phenol per t at 100% yield (stoichiometric) | not published | lower because of isomer split | o-nitrophenol, iron sludge if iron reduction used | not published |
| **Hoechst Celanese route (4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime)** | small (indicative) | not published | not published | high selectivity | fewer salts | not published |

#### How each route works
**Nitrobenzene hydrogenation to PAP, then acetylation**

Nitrobenzene is hydrogenated over platinum in dilute sulphuric acid; the phenylhydroxylamine formed rearranges to PAP (Bamberger). PAP is purified and acetylated with acetic anhydride.

cheapest route; acid effluent
 PSU Watch (2026); IMARC (2025); stoichiometry **Phenol nitration and reduction**

Phenol is nitrated to a mix of ortho and para nitrophenol; the para isomer is reduced (iron-acid or catalytic hydrogen) to PAP, then acetylated.

simple chemistry; more waste
 stoichiometry **Hoechst Celanese route (4-hydroxyacetophenone oxime)**

Phenol is acylated with acetic anhydride in HF to 4-hydroxyacetophenone, converted to its oxime with hydroxylamine and rearranged to paracetamol.

atom-efficient but uses HF
 qualitative Unit economics are indicative ranges from the sources named; costs move with feedstock and energy prices, plant size and region.

## Other sections

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