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Petrochemicals are chemical products made from raw materials of petroleum or other hydrocarbon origin. Although some of the chemical compounds that originate from petroleum may also be derived from coal and natural gas, petroleum is the major source. The largest petrochemical industries are to be found in the USA and Western Europe, though the major growth in new production capacity is in the Middle East and Asia. There is a substantial inter-regional trade in petrochemicals of all kinds.  
'''Petrochemicals''' are [[Chemistry|chemical]] products made from the [[hydrocarbon]]s present in raw [[natural gas]] and [[Petroleum|petroleum crude oil]]. The largest petrochemical manufacturing industries are to be found in the [[United States]], [[Europe|Western Europe]], [[Asia]] and the [[Middle East]].  


==The intermediate feedstocks==


The two main classes of petrochemical raw materials are [[olefin]]s (including [[ethylene]] and [[propylene]]) and [[aromatics]] (including [[benzene]] and [[xylene]] [[isomers]]), both of which are produced in very large quantities.  At [[Oil refinery|oil refineries]], olefins are produced mainly from hydrocarbons by chemical [[Cracking (chemistry)|cracking]] such as [[steam cracking]] and by [[catalytic reforming]].  At oil refineries, aromatic hydrocarbons are mainly produced by catalytic reforming or similar processes.  From these basic building blocks is made a very wide range of  [[chemical]]s and other materials used in industry - [[monomer]]s, [[solvent]]s, [[detergent]]s, and [[adhesive]]s.  From the monomers, [[polymer]]s or [[oligomer]]s are produced for [[plastic]]s, [[resin]]s, [[fiber]]s, [[elastomer]]s, certain [[lubricant]]s, and gels. 
The major hydrocarbon sources used in producing petrochemicals are:


World production of ethylene is around 110 million tonnes per annum, of propylene 65 million tonnes, and of aromatic raw materials 70 million tonnes. The largest petrochemical industries are to be found in the USA and Western Europe, though the major growth in new production capacity is in the Middle East and Asia. There is a substantial inter-regional trade in petrochemicals of all kinds.
*[[Methane]], [[ethane]], [[propane]] and [[butane]]s: Obtained primarily from [[Natural gas processing|natural gas processing plants]].
*[[Petroleum naphtha|Naphtha]] obtained from [[Petroleum refining processes|petroleum refineries]].
*[[Benzene]], [[Toluene]] and [[Xylene]]s, as a whole referred to ''[[BTX]]'' 
*[[Gas oil]] obtained from [[Petroleum refining processes|petroleum refineries]].


To see a schematic flow chart of petrochemicals, please see - industry website - [http://www.gpca.org.ae/overview.asp '''Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association''' ]
Methane and BTX are used directly as feedstocks for producing petrochemicals.


However, the ethane, propane, butanes, naphtha and gas oil serve as optional feedstocks for processing in steam-assisted [[thermal cracking]] plants known as ''[[steam crackers]]'' to produce these intermediate petrochemical feedstocks:


*[[Ethylene]]
*[[Propylene]]
*[[Butylene]]s and [[Butadiene]]


The following is a partial list of the major commercial petrochemicals and their derivatives:
In 2008, the amount of ethylene and propylene produced in steam crackers was about 125 M[[Tonne|t]] (megatonnes) and 75 Mt, respectively.


* [[ethylene]] - the simplest olefin; used as a ripening hormone, a monomer and a chemical feedstock
==References==
** [[polyethylene]]s - [[Polymerization|polymerized]] ethylene
 
**[[ethanol]] - made by [[hydration]] ([[chemical reaction]] adding [[water]]) of ethylene
{{reflist}}
** [[ethylene oxide]] - sometimes called oxirane; can be made by [[oxidation]] of ethylene
 
*** [[ethylene glycol]] - from hydration of ethylene oxide or oxidation of ethylene 
 
**** [[antifreeze (coolant)|engine coolant]] - contains [[ethylene glycol]] 
 
**** [[polyester]]s - any of several polymers with ester linkages in the backbone chain
---------------------------------------------------
*** [[glycol ether]]s - from condensation of glycols 
'''Miscellaneous notes'''
*** [[ethoxylates]]
 
** [[vinyl acetate]]
From these basic building blocks is made a very wide range of  [[chemical]]s and other materials used in industry - [[monomer]]s, [[solvent]]s, [[detergent]]s, and [[adhesive]]s. From the monomers, [[polymer]]s or [[oligomer]]s are produced for [[plastic]]s, [[resin]]s, [[fiber]]s, [[elastomer]]s, certain [[lubricant]]s, and gels.   
** [[1,2-Dichloroethane|1,2-dichloroethane]]
 
*** [[trichloroethylene]]
 
*** [[tetrachloroethylene]] - also called perchloroethylene; used as a dry cleaning solvent and degreaser 
*[http://www.gpca.org.ae/overview.asp Gulf Petrochemicals & Chemicals Association]
*** [[vinyl chloride]] - monomer for [[polyvinyl chloride]]
**** [[polyvinyl chloride]] (PVC) - type of plastic used for piping, tubing, other things
* [[propylene]] - used as a monomer and a chemical feedstock 
** [[isopropyl alcohol]] - 2-propanol; often used as a solvent or rubbing alcohol 
** [[acrylonitrile]] - useful as a monomer in forming [[Orlon]], [[Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene|ABS]] 
** [[polypropylene]] - [[Polymerization|polymerized]] propylene 
** [[propylene oxide]]
*** [[propylene glycol]] - sometimes used in engine coolant 
*** [[glycol ether]]s - from condensation of glycols 
** [[acrylic acid]]
*** [[acrylic polymer]]s
** [[allyl chloride]] -  
*** [[epichlorohydrin]] - chloro-oxirane; used in epoxy resin formation 
**** [[epoxy resin]]s - a type of polymerizing glue from bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, and some [[amine]] 
* C4 hydrocarbons - a mixture consisting of butanes, butylenes and butadienes
** [[isomers of butylene]] - useful as monomers or co-monomers 
*** isobutylene - feed for making [[Methyl tert-butyl ether|methyl ''tert''-butyl ether]] (MTBE) or monomer for copolymerization with a low percentage of [[isoprene]] to make [[butyl rubber]] 
** [[1,3-butadiene]] - a [[diene]] often used as a monomer or co-monomer for polymerization to elastomers such as [[polybutadiene]] or a plastic such as [[acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene]] (ABS) 
*** [[synthetic rubber]]s - synthetic elastomers made of any one or more of several petrochemical (usually) monomers such as 1,3-butadiene, styrene, isobutylene, isoprene, chloroprene; elastomeric polymers are often made with a high percentage of conjugated diene monomers such as 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, or chloroprene
* [[higher olefins]]
** [[polyolefin]]s such poly-alpha-olefins which are used as lubricants
** [[alpha-olefin]]s - used as monomers, co-monomers, and other chemical precursors.  For example, a small amount of 1-hexene can be copolymerized with ethylene into a more flexible form of polyethylene. 
** other higher olefins
** [[detergent alcohol]]s
* [[benzene]] - the simplest aromatic hydrocarbon
** [[ethylbenzene]] - made from benzene and ethylene 
*** [[styrene]] made by dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene; used as a monomer 
**** [[polystyrene]]s - polymers with styrene as a monomer
** [[cumene]] - isopropylbenzene; a feedstock in the [[cumene process]] 
*** [[phenol]] - hydroxybenzene; of dassdcten made by the cumene process
*** [[acetone]] - dimethyl ketone; also often made by the cumene process 
*** [[bisphenol A]] - a type of "double" phenol used in polymerization in epoxy resins and making a common type of polycarbonate 
**** [[epoxy resin]]s - a type of polymerizing glue from bisphenol A, epichlorohydrin, and some [[amine]] 
**** [[polycarbonate]] - a plastic polymer made from bisphenol A and [[phosgene]] (carbonyl dichloride) 
*** [[solvents]] - liquids used for dissolving materials; examples often made from petrochemicals include ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, acetone, benzene, toluene, xylenes 
** [[cyclohexane]] - a 6-carbon aliphatic cyclic hydrocarbon sometimes used as a non-polar solvent 
*** [[adipic acid]] - a 6-carbon di[[carboxylic acid]] which can be a precursor used as a co-monomer together with a di[[amine]] to form an alternating copolymer form of nylon.  
**** [[nylon]]s - types of [[polyamide]]s, some are alternating copolymers formed from copolymerizing dicarboxylic acid or derivatives with diamines 
*** [[caprolactam]] - a 6-carbon cyclic [[amide]] 
**** [[nylons]] - types of [[polyamide]]s, some are from polymerizing caprolactam 
** [[nitrobenzene]] - can be made by single nitration of benzene 
*** [[aniline]] - aminobenzene 
**** [[methylene diphenyl diisocyanate]] (MDI) - used as a co-monomer with [[diol]]s or polyols to form polyurethanes or with di- or poly[[amine]]s to form [[polyurea]]s 
***** [[polyurethane]]s
** [[alkylbenzene]] - a general type of aromatic hydrocarbon which can be used as a presursor for a [[sulfonate]] [[surfactant]] (detergent) 
*** [[detergent]]s - often include [[surfactant]]s types such as alkylbenzenesulfonates and nonylphenol ethoxylates  
** [[chlorobenzene]]
* [[toluene]] - methylbenzene; can be a solvent or precursor for other chemicals   
** [[benzene]]
** [[toluene diisocyanate]] (TDI) - used as co-monomers with [[diol]]s or polyols to form polyurethanes or with di- or poly[[amine]]s to form [[polyurea]]s
*** [[polyurethane]]s - a polymer formed from diisocyanates and diols or polyols 
** [[benzoic acid]] - carboxybenzene 
*** [[caprolactam]]
**** [[nylon]]
* [[xylene|mixed xylenes]] - any of three dimethylbenzene isomers, could be a solvent but more often precursor chemicals 
** ''ortho''-[[xylene]] - both [[methyl group]]s can be oxidized to form (''ortho-'')phthalic acid 
*** [[phthalic anhydride]]
** ''para''-[[xylene]] - both methyl groups can be oxidized to form terephthalic acid 
*** [[dimethyl terephthalate]] - can be copolymerized to form certain polyesters 
**** [[polyester]]s - although there can be many types, [[polyethylene terephthalate]] is made from petrochemical products and is very widely used.   
*** purified [[terephthalic acid]] - often copolymerized to form [[polyethylene terephthalate]]
**** [[polyester]]s

Revision as of 21:25, 1 July 2009

Petrochemicals are chemical products made from the hydrocarbons present in raw natural gas and petroleum crude oil. The largest petrochemical manufacturing industries are to be found in the United States, Western Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

The intermediate feedstocks

The major hydrocarbon sources used in producing petrochemicals are:

Methane and BTX are used directly as feedstocks for producing petrochemicals.

However, the ethane, propane, butanes, naphtha and gas oil serve as optional feedstocks for processing in steam-assisted thermal cracking plants known as steam crackers to produce these intermediate petrochemical feedstocks:

In 2008, the amount of ethylene and propylene produced in steam crackers was about 125 Mt (megatonnes) and 75 Mt, respectively.

References


Miscellaneous notes

From these basic building blocks is made a very wide range of chemicals and other materials used in industry - monomers, solvents, detergents, and adhesives. From the monomers, polymers or oligomers are produced for plastics, resins, fibers, elastomers, certain lubricants, and gels.


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