Cresylic acid.—Domestic production and sales statistics for so-called crude cresylic acid are not publishable. It is known, however, that production of the crude is small compared with our output of refined cresylic acid. It is usually more economical for the producer to prepare the mixture of tar acids to the specifications of the purchaser, rather than to leave part of the refining operations to be performed by the latter. The fact that imports of cresylic acid are chiefly of crude is largely due to the different tariff treatment of crude and refined.
Domestic production of refined cresylic acid was confined to one or two firms until 1928, when there were four makers. Statistics of production and sales are not publishable for the years prior to 1929, though it may be stated that the annual domestic output increased each year to supply the increased demand. Table [68] shows production and sales from 1929 to 1934, inclusive. Data for later years are not publishable.
Table 68.—Refined cresylic acid: United States production and sales, 1929-37
| Year | Production | Sales | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Value | Unit value | ||
| Pounds | Pounds | Per pound | ||
| 1929 | 14,601,534 | $0.10 | ||
| 1930 | 17,305,308 | 16,026,407 | $1,267,155 | .08 |
| 1931 | 10,994,000 | 10,305,000 | 652,000 | .06 |
| 1932 | 8,060,000 | 4,805,000 | 251,000 | .05 |
| 1933 | 13,813,941 | 11,975,441 | 626,496 | .05 |
| 1934 | 10,949,860 | 9,230,255 | 489,231 | .05 |
| 1935 | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
| 1936 | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
| 1937 | (1) | (1) | (1) | |
1 Not publishable; figures would reveal operations of individual firms.
Source: Compiled from annual reports of the Tariff Commission on dyes and other synthetic organic chemicals in the United States.
As previously stated, the composition of cresylic acid has gradually been changed from a mixture of the isomeric cresols to mixtures of cresols, xylenols, and high-boiling tar acids. The cresols, formerly included under cresylic acid statistics, are now shown separately. For this reason the data in table [68] do not fully reflect the increased output of these tar acids in recent years. Statistics for years prior to 1931 probably include all of the tar acids except phenol, while those for subsequent years do not include the separated cresols. In 1934 the production of refined cresylic acid was 10,949,860 pounds, and in addition recovery of the several cresols amounted to 11,798,276 pounds making a total of 22,748,136 pounds as compared with a total of 14,601,534 pounds in 1929 and 17,305,308 pounds in 1930.
During 1936 and the first part of 1937 a serious shortage of cresylic acid existed in the domestic market owing to increased demand by synthetic resin makers. The output in 1936 exceeded that in 1935 and the production in 1937 was appreciably higher than in 1936. These increases are due to the recovery of appreciable quantities at several new distillation plants, the topping of large amounts of tar hitherto not processed, and increased production by present recovery units.
There are many grades of cresylic acid, most of which are prepared by mixing or blending to individual specifications. Every large consumer apparently has his own specifications. In addition to these special mixtures there are the following standard blends:
(1) Ninety-nine percent high-boiling, straw color.