Benzophenone (CAS 119-61-9, molecular formula C₁₃H₁₀O) is a white crystalline aromatic ketone used as a UV absorber and photoinitiator across a wide range of industrial and cosmetic applications. It is a standard ingredient in UV-curable inks, protective coatings, adhesives, plastics, and sun care products. In Pakistan, it is sourced through specialist importers and chemical distributors who serve the printing, packaging, and personal care sectors.
If your business sits anywhere in the manufacturing chain cosmetics, printing inks, coatings, adhesives, or plastics, benzophenone is likely already part of your supply ecosystem. Yet most procurement teams underestimate its regulatory complexity and sourcing sensitivity until a supplier disruption or a regulatory change forces the issue.
This guide gives you a factual, practical understanding of what benzophenone is, how it works, where it is used, what safety and regulatory considerations apply, and how to procure it reliably within Pakistan’s B2B chemicals market.
Benzophenone is the simplest diaryl ketone, formed by two benzene rings joined through a central carbonyl group (C=O). Its IUPAC name is diphenylmethanone. Although it occurs naturally in trace amounts in some fruits, plants, and fungi, its commercial form is synthetically produced through either catalytic air oxidation of diphenylmethane or Friedel-Crafts acylation of benzene with benzoyl chloride.
These properties make benzophenone a chemically stable, easy-to-handle material that integrates cleanly into industrial and cosmetic formulations alike.
Benzophenone performs two commercially distinct functions depending on how it is applied. Understanding the difference is critical for formulators and procurement teams sourcing it for specific applications.
As a benzophenone UV absorber, the compound uses its conjugated aromatic-carbonyl structure to absorb ultraviolet radiation in the 260 to 350 nm wavelength range. When UV light strikes the molecule, electrons are promoted through a pi-pi* transition. The absorbed energy is then converted into harmless heat through non-radiative energy dissipation, protecting underlying materials from photodegradation.
In practical terms, this means less color fading, less yellowing, less brittleness, and longer product life for polymers, pigments, packaged goods, and treated surfaces exposed to sunlight or UV lamp sources.
When used as a benzophenone as a photoinitiator, the mechanism is different. On UV exposure, benzophenone reaches its triplet excited state with near-100% efficiency. In the presence of a tertiary amine co-initiator, it abstracts a hydrogen atom from the amine, generating free radicals. These radicals initiate rapid crosslinking of acrylate or methacrylate monomers, curing the ink, coating, or adhesive layer within fractions of a second.
This is a Type II photoinitiator mechanism. It is the scientific foundation of UV-curing technology, and benzophenone is one of the most widely used molecules in this category globally.
Benzophenone uses and applications span multiple sectors. Each use case leverages a distinct combination of its UV-absorbing and radical-generating capabilities.
Benzophenone in UV-curable inks is one of its highest-volume industrial applications. It is a core photoinitiator in three major commercial printing formats:
Benzophenone in printing inks also contributes to color stability, scratch resistance, and gloss, while significantly reducing volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions compared to solvent-based ink systems. This is both a performance and a sustainability advantage.
Benzophenone in UV coatings functions as both a photoinitiator and a UV stabilizer. It is used in clear topcoats, protective varnishes, wood finishes, optical coatings, and metal surface treatments where fast cure and long-term UV durability are both required.
Benzophenone in UV adhesives enables precision, on-demand bonding in electronics assembly, optical device manufacturing, medical device production, and structural bonding applications. UV trigger activation allows positioning and alignment before instant cure, which is a critical process control advantage.
Benzophenone in plastics is used as an additive UV stabilizer that protects polyolefins, PET, polycarbonate, and acrylic resins from photodegradation caused by prolonged UV exposure.
Benzophenone in polymer stabilization is especially relevant in clear and transparent packaging, where opaque or colored UV-blocking materials are not an option. It allows manufacturers to retain optical clarity in PET bottles, blister packs, and transparent films while protecting both the polymer structure and the packaged product from UV damage. This directly extends shelf life and protects product integrity.
Benzophenone and its derivatives serve as UV filters in sunscreens, moisturizers, lip balms, nail care products, hair care formulations, and fragrance products. The parent compound also functions as a fragrance fixative, contributing a rose-geranium note and stabilizing scent and color in perfumes and personal care products.
The benzophenone family includes multiple derivatives used across sun care, personal care, and industrial applications. Their functional and regulatory profiles differ significantly.
| Derivative | CAS Number | Primary Function | Key Use Case | Current Regulatory Status |
| Benzophenone (Base) | 119-61-9 | UV absorber / Type II photoinitiator | UV inks, coatings, adhesives, plastics | IARC Group 2B; Prop 65 listed |
| Benzophenone-1 (BP-1) | 131-56-6 | UV filter / UV stabilizer | Sunscreens, colorant protection | EU SCCS: NOT safe for cosmetics (March 2025) |
| Benzophenone-3 (Oxybenzone) | 131-57-7 | Broad-spectrum UVA/UVB filter | Sunscreens, lotions, plastics | EU/UK restricted; ECHA endocrine disruptor (Aug 2025) |
| Benzophenone-4 (Sulisobenzone) | 4065-45-6 | Water-soluble UVA filter | Sun care, color protection | Under SCCS review |
| Benzophenone-5 | 6628-37-1 | UVA filter (sodium salt of BP-4) | Sun care, shelf-life extension | EU SCCS: safe up to 5% (June 2025) |
The base compound drives industrial performance. Derivatives like benzophenone-3 (oxybenzone) dominate global sun care formulation but face accelerating restrictions. Any cosmetic formulator working with EU or UK export markets must track derivative-level regulatory status separately from the base compound.
Benzophenone sits in a nuanced regulatory position. It is not universally prohibited, but it carries real regulatory obligations that vary by market and application.
Oxybenzone (benzophenone-3) has been linked to coral bleaching and developmental harm in marine organisms at low environmental concentrations. Stanford University research found that oxybenzone can be converted into a phototoxin inside coral and anemone cells under sunlight exposure.
Hawaii enacted the first US statewide ban on oxybenzone-containing sunscreens in 2018, effective January 1, 2021. Key West, Palau, Bonaire, and Aruba implemented similar restrictions.
The base benzophenone compound itself carries the H411 aquatic hazard classification: toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects. Industrial operations handling benzophenone in volume should implement wastewater controls accordingly.
For cosmetic manufacturers targeting export, reef-tourism, or eco-conscious consumer markets, transitioning to mineral sunscreen actives or next-generation organic UV filters is both a regulatory and commercial strategy.
Benzophenone in Pakistan is entirely import-dependent. There is no known domestic production. Primary supply comes from manufacturers in China and India, imported under HS code 2914.39. Cosmetic-grade derivatives such as oxybenzone may also be classified under HS 2914.50 depending on form and specification.
Demand is driven by two sectors. Pakistan’s printing and packaging industry is estimated at approximately USD 5.4 billion, growing 4 to 10% annually, and is the second-largest packaging sector in South Asia. UV-curable printing operations across this sector require benzophenone photoinitiator Pakistan as a standard production input. The personal care and cosmetics market is estimated at USD 5.10 billion in 2025, pulling demand for UV filter ingredients at both formulation and contract manufacturing levels.
Technical-grade material FOB China runs approximately USD 1.8 to 2.0 per kilogram (Q1 2026 reference). Small-lot and cosmetic-grade orders carry a premium above these levels depending on purity specification and documentation requirements.
| Sourcing Parameter | Detail |
| HS Code (Base Compound) | 2914.39 |
| HS Code (Some Derivatives) | 2914.50 |
| Primary Import Origins | China, India |
| Technical-Grade Price Reference | USD 1.8 to 2.0/kg FOB China (Q1 2026) |
| Cosmetic-Grade Pricing | Premium above technical-grade; COA/MSDS required |
| Key Distribution Hubs | Karachi, Lahore, Faisalabad |
| Critical Documentation | Certificate of Analysis (COA), Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), purity specification |
| Lead Time Consideration | Import-dependent; advance procurement recommended |
Benzophenone suppliers in Pakistan and benzophenone importers in Pakistan are concentrated in Karachi’s chemical trading zones, with distribution networks extending to benzophenone distributors in Karachi, benzophenone suppliers in Lahore, and benzophenone Faisalabad-based industrial customers. When you buy benzophenone in Pakistan, always request a current COA and ensure the purity grade matches your application. For cosmetic-grade material, verify that concentrations align with applicable regional regulatory limits before formulation.
Benzophenone wholesale Pakistan buyers benefit from forward procurement planning given import lead times. Stexol Chemicals is a specialist supplier of cosmetic raw materials in Pakistan, offering quality-certified UV-active ingredients with full documentation, flexible order quantities, and supply-chain support for small and medium-scale manufacturers. Bulk orders of benzophenone can be placed directly through Stexol Chemicals, making it a reliable single-source option for manufacturers looking to consolidate their raw material procurement.
Benzophenone manufacturers in Pakistan do not currently exist at commercial scale, which makes supplier selection and import-chain reliability critical procurement decisions.
Not every market or application requires benzophenone. Understanding when alternatives are appropriate prevents unnecessary reformulation while also preventing regulatory exposure.
The lowest-risk substitution path is mineral UV protection using zinc oxide and/or titanium dioxide. These are the only two UV filters the US FDA classifies as generally recognized as safe and effective (GRASE). Both are reef-compatible in non-nano particle form, carry minimal regulatory risk globally, and align with clean beauty positioning. Limitations include white-cast appearance at higher concentrations and weaker long UVA coverage for titanium dioxide without formulation adjustments.
Next-generation organic UV filters such as bis-ethylhexyloxyphenol methoxyphenyl triazine (Tinosorb S) offer broad-spectrum coverage with strong safety profiles in EU-approved markets, though not all have FDA clearance.
Low-migration polymeric benzophenone derivatives and alternative Type I photoinitiator chemistries are the standard industry response to food-contact migration concerns. UV-LED curing systems operating at specific wavelengths also allow reformulation away from benzophenone-type chemistry entirely, though capital investment and ink system changes are required.
No formal benzophenone restriction applies under current Pakistani regulation. However, Pakistan’s developing cosmetic regulatory framework and growing alignment with international standards make proactive reformulation planning a sound medium-term strategy rather than a reactive one.
Ready to source benzophenone or UV-active raw materials for your production line?
Stexol Chemicals supplies quality-certified cosmetic and industrial chemical ingredients to manufacturers across Pakistan with full documentation, reliable lead times, and order flexibility designed for small to medium-scale operations.
Contact us today and get the right-grade material your formulation actually needs.
