Hydroxydichlorodiphenyl Ether (CAS 3380-30-1): Procurement Reference for Industrial Antimicrobial Buyers

Hydroxydichlorodiphenyl Ether

 A formulation chemist at a personal care manufacturer in the UK recalled the supplier qualification process for their triclosan-alternative antimicrobial program as one of the more technically demanding they had completed. Their target compound was hydroxydichlorodiphenyl ether — specifically the 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol isomer used in antimicrobial formulations — and the challenge was that the compound sits in a regulatory environment that had been shifting for years, with implications for documentation, purity requirements, and application disclosure that changed between the time they started the project and when they finalized their supplier. The chemistry wasn’t the problem. The regulatory paperwork was where the complexity lived.

♦Hydroxydichlorodiphenyl ether, in its most commercially significant form as triclosan (CAS 3380-30-1), is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent with a long history in personal care, household, and industrial antimicrobial applications. Its mechanism — inhibiting fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria — is distinct from quaternary ammonium and alcohol-based antimicrobials, which gave it a durable formulation role in rinse-off and leave-on personal care products, industrial antimicrobial plastics, and medical device coatings. Regulatory actions in several markets have restricted or banned specific triclosan applications — the US FDA banned it from OTC antiseptic wash products in 2016, and the EU has restrictions on leave-on cosmetic applications — meaning that the current commercial use profile is concentrated in applications where the regulatory status remains clear, including industrial and institutional cleaning, certain medical applications, and markets outside the most restrictive regulatory frameworks.
 
For buyers sourcing this compound, the practical quality considerations are reasonably well defined. HPLC purity is the primary assay method, with the specification typically set at 98% or higher for formulation-grade material; a complete HPLC trace with isomer identification is expected from serious suppliers, since the target isomer (5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol) should be confirmed relative to other chlorinated phenoxy phenol isomers that may co-precipitate in production. Heavy metals limits are required for any cosmetic or personal care application. Residual solvent data per ICH Q3C or equivalent framework applies for pharmaceutical-adjacent applications. Melting point as an identity parameter should match the reference value of approximately 55–57°C for the pure compound.
The regulatory documentation dimension requires particular attention. Buyers importing into the EU need to confirm the supplier’s REACH registration status and obtain the relevant SDS with the EU-compliant hazard classification. For specific end-use applications in personal care, buyers in EU and US markets should verify that the antimicrobial claim and concentration are within the currently approved parameters before finalizing the formulation specification. Working with a supplier who understands the regulatory landscape for this compound rather than just the chemical specification will save considerable back-and-forth.
Hydroxydichlorodiphenyl Ether
Sdlookchem supplies hydroxydichlorodiphenyl ether (CAS 3380-30-1) with batch HPLC purity, melting point, heavy metals, and appearance documentation. Full HPLC trace with impurity profiling available on request for qualification purposes. GHS SDS with current classification and REACH compliance documentation provided. Export documentation for EU and US markets handled routinely. MOQ is 1 kg; commercial pricing from 10 kg.
 

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