The dye intermediates are generally found as petroleum downstream products. For application they are further processed. On processing they are transformed to finished dyes and pigments. The dye intermediates are a vital inputs for a number of major industries. Some of the major industries they serve are textiles, plastics, paints, printing inks and paper.

Further, Dye Intermediates also serve as an important raw materials for the Acid, Reactive, and Direct Dyes. A major application of Dye intermediates are found in Hair dyes. Two types of dye intermediates, that are broadly used in the hair dyes are Paraphenylenediamine and Paratoluenediamine.

However of late the scanner of the experts that deal on the toxicity of the dyes have been increasingly focused on the types of material being used as Dye intermediates. From the early part of 1980's, a concerted effort is on to develop dyes that are based on safer intermediates. Here the chemical structure of a few safer intermediates, along with the respective, traditional mutagenic intermediates, are depicted.


Actually what happened is that the traditional intermediates were adopted years ago. This was the time before the advent of numerous tests, that are effectively used to determine the environmental assessments. These days responsible dye manufacturers have almost eliminated the prohibitive colors from their range of product.

• Melachite green crystal
• Basic magenta lumps
• Acid orange, yellow and acid black Dyes
• Anthraquinone Type Intermediates
  • Amino Anthraquinone
  • Anthraquinone-2-Carbon Acid
  • 1-Nitro Anthraquinone
  • 2-Chloro Anthraquinone
  • 1-Methylamino Anthraquinone