Name: China Supplier High Quality Best Price Anthraquinone CAS 84-65-1
Brand: Wuhan Fortuna Chemical Co., Ltd.

Anthraquinone is an organic compound and the simplest member of the anthraquinone family. Its chemical structure consists of a central quinone unit (a six-membered ring with two carbonyl groups) fused between two benzene rings.

It is a naturally occurring substance but is also produced synthetically on a large scale for industrial purposes. It is characterized as a yellow, crystalline solid with a slight odor.

Key Characteristics and Sources

Natural Sources: It is found in several plants, such as aloe, rhubarb, and senna, where it often exists as a glycoside (bound to a sugar molecule). In these plants, anthraquinone derivatives are responsible for the laxative effects.
Synthetic Production: Most anthraquinone used industrially is synthesized from anthracene or phthalic anhydride. It serves as a crucial precursor or building block for manufacturing many other chemicals.

Primary Uses and Applications

Anthraquinone has diverse applications, but its most significant use is in the dye industry.

Dye and Pigment Manufacturing (Most Important Use):

Anthraquinone is the fundamental backbone for a vast class of dyes known as anthraquinone dyes.
These dyes are valued for their brilliant colors, ranging from yellow to blue and violet, and their excellent colorfastness (resistance to fading from light and washing).
They are used to dye textiles (especially cotton, wool, and silk), and also in paints, inks, and plastics.

Pulp and Paper Industry:

It is used as a digestion additive in the production of wood pulp for paper. It acts as a catalyst, increasing the efficiency of the pulping process and improving the yield of cellulose fibers without weakening them. This is often referred to as Anthraquinone pulping.

Bird Repellent:

A specialized use of anthraquinone is as a non-lethal avicide (bird repellent). It is registered for this use with the EPA.
It is applied to seeds (e.g., rice, sunflower) that birds would otherwise eat. When birds consume the treated seeds, anthraquinone causes temporary digestive discomfort, conditioning them to avoid that food source in the future.

Precursor to Hydrogen Peroxide:

The anthraquinone process is the primary industrial method for producing vast quantities of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂). In this automated process, an alkylanthraquinone is repeatedly hydrogenated and oxidized, producing hydrogen peroxide in a cycle.

Laxatives:

Certain derivatives of anthraquinone (e.g., found in senna, cascara, aloe latex) are known as stimulant laxatives. They work by stimulating the nerves in the large intestine, increasing muscle contractions and promoting bowel movements. Long-term use is generally not recommended due to potential side effects.

Safety and Handling

Toxicity: Anthraquinone is considered to have low to moderate acute toxicity. However, it can be a skin and eye irritant.
Dust: The primary hazard is from dust inhalation, which can cause respiratory irritation.
Environmental Impact: It is moderately persistent in the environment but has low toxicity to birds and mammals, which is why it is approved for use as a repellent.

Summary

Aspect	Description
What it is	An organic compound, the parent molecule of the anthraquinone family.
Physical Form	Yellow, crystalline solid.
Primary Role	Key precursor chemical for manufacturing dyes, hydrogen peroxide, and other products.
Major Uses	1. Dye Production, 2. Paper Pulping, 3. Hydrogen Peroxide Synthesis, 4. Bird Repellent.
Natural Role	Found in plants as derivatives that act as stimulant laxatives.

In essence, anthraquinone is a workhorse of industrial chemistry, most renowned for giving us a massive palette of stable, vibrant dyes and for its role in producing essential chemicals like hydrogen peroxide.