2907.12.00.00 - Cresols and their salts

This HTS category, 2907.12.00.00, specifically covers cresols and their salts. Cresols are a group of organic compounds that are isomers of methylphenol, meaning they contain a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached to a benzene ring with a methyl group (-CH3). This classification encompasses all isomers of cresol, including ortho-, meta-, and para-cresol, as well as mixtures thereof, and their corresponding salts. These substances are characterized by their phenolic properties and are often used as intermediates in the synthesis of various chemicals, including disinfectants, solvents, and resins.

To distinguish this category from its siblings, it is important to note the specific chemical structure. While 2907.11.00.00 covers phenol (hydroxybenzene) and its salts, which lack the methyl substituent, and 2907.13.00.00 deals with octylphenol and nonylphenol, which have longer alkyl chains, this heading is exclusively for compounds with a single methyl group attached to the phenolic ring. The naphthol categories (2907.15 and its subheadings) refer to naphthalene derivatives with hydroxyl groups, which have a fused ring system, a distinct structural difference.

As 2907.12.00.00 is a leaf node, it does not have further subcategories. Therefore, classification at this level requires a precise identification of the substance as a cresol or its salt. Examples within this classification would include technical grade cresols used in industrial applications or specific purified cresols and their alkali metal salts. The absence of subcategories means that the distinction between various forms of cresols is managed at this specific 10-digit code rather than through further subdivision.