Anthraquinone

Anthraquinone (CAS 84-65-1), also referred to as 9,10-quinone, is a polycyclic aromatic ketone that functions as a core intermediate and process catalyst across dye manufacturing and specialty chemical production. Its primary commercial role is as a building block for anthraquinone-based dyes and as a pulping catalyst that accelerates delignification in paper manufacturing, delivering measurable efficiency gains at the mill level.

In the textile and paper industries, this chemical is added to alkaline pulping processes to increase pulp yield and reduce cooking time. It serves as the foundational precursor for a broad range of vat dyes. Reactive dyes and acid dyes used in fabric dyeing and printing also rely on this intermediate. In printing and packaging, derivatives contribute to high-performance pigments where lightfastness and thermal stability are critical.

Cosmetic colorant manufacturers source this material as a starting material for synthetic hair dyes and color additives approved in certain regulated markets. It is supplied as a pale yellow to yellow crystalline powder. Technical grade is the standard commercial form, with purity levels typically ranging from 95% to 99%+. High-purity grades are available for applications requiring tighter specification control for regulated use.