Benzoyl peroxide, also known as dibenzoyl peroxide, benzoyl peroxide, and BPO, has a molecular formula of C14H10O4. It appears as a white crystalline powder at room temperature, with a slight bitter almond odor, toxic, and easy to burn. Benzoyl peroxide is very slightly soluble in water, slightly soluble in alcohols, soluble in ether, acetone, benzene, chloroform, etc. It is a strong oxidant, and its properties are extremely unstable. It will encounter friction, impact, high temperature and reducing agents, etc. There is a danger of explosion, and it is a hazardous chemical.
Benzoyl peroxide can be used as initiator, crosslinking agent, vulcanizing agent, bleaching agent, oxidizing agent, etc. Initiator is one of the main uses of benzoyl peroxide. It is the most widely used initiator product in the polymerization of vinyl chloride resin, polyacrylate, unsaturated polyester and other monomers; crosslinking agent and vulcanizing agent are peroxide Another main use of benzoyl is mainly used in the manufacturing of silicone rubber and fluororubber. Benzoyl peroxide can also be used as an oxidant in the cosmetics field. It has antibacterial, anti-infective, acne-dissolving and astringent effects. To treat acne; Benzoyl peroxide can also be used as a bleaching agent for oil and wax refining and decolorization.
The preparation of benzoyl peroxide takes benzoyl chloride, hydrogen peroxide, and sodium hydroxide as raw materials. First, hydrogen peroxide is added to the sodium hydroxide solution. After the reaction produces sodium peroxide, it is reacted by adding benzoyl chloride at low temperature. The crude product is obtained, and the crude product is recrystallized using benzene or acetone to obtain the finished product.
According to the 2020 Global Benzoyl Peroxide Industry Market Status Survey Report, benefiting from the continuous development and growth of downstream industries such as resins, rubber, and adhesives, the demand for benzoyl peroxide in the Chinese market continues to grow. From 2016 to 2019, the average annual compound growth rate of China's benzoyl peroxide market was 10.9%, and the market size in 2019 was approximately 19.6 billion yuan, maintaining a continuous upward trend.
Benzoyl peroxide is a hazardous chemical, and its emissions during the production process will pollute the environment, which is concerned by the national security and environmental protection departments. In addition, there are fewer domestic suppliers of raw materials required for the production of benzoyl peroxide, which also limits the development of the industry to a large extent. In March 2019, an explosion accident occurred in Jiangsu Yancheng Tianjiayi Chemical Co., Ltd., and national safety inspections have become stricter. This has caused many companies in the benzoyl peroxide industry itself and the upstream raw material industry to stop production and limit production. In 2009, the supply of benzoyl peroxide in my country was tight.
Industry analysts said that the downstream applications of benzoyl peroxide are relatively extensive, involving industries such as resins and rubber, and the market demand continues to grow. In the case of increasingly stringent safety and environmental supervision, the production of non-compliant enterprises in the upstream raw material industry of benzoyl peroxide has been restricted, resulting in insufficient supply of raw materials for the benzoyl peroxide industry. At the same time, benzoyl peroxide itself is also a dangerous chemical, which has attracted the attention of the safety department. When the market is in short supply, in the future, benzoyl peroxide companies that meet national requirements in terms of safety and environmental protection and can obtain sufficient raw materials have broad prospects for development.