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'''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]].  
'''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]].  
A relatively small number of hydyrocarbon feedstocks form the basis of the petrochemical industries, namely [[methane]], [[ethylene]], [[propylene]], [[butene]]s, [[butadiene]], [[benzene]], [[toluene]] and [[xylene]]s. These feedstocks are used to produce hundreds of other chemicals for countless uses.<ref name=Meyers>{{cite book|author=Richard Meyers|title=The Basics of Chemistry|edition=|publisher=Greenwood Press|year=2003|id=ISBN 0-313-31664-3}}</ref>


==Feedstocks sources==
==Feedstocks sources==
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The major hydrocarbon sources used in producing petrochemicals are:<ref name=HP>{{cite journal|author=Staff |year=2001 |month=March|title=Petrochemical Processes 2001 |journal=Hydrocarbon Processing |volume= |issue= |pages=pp. 71-246 |id=ISSN 0887-0284}}</ref><ref name=AMAP>[http://www.tsp2.org/news/Butadiene%20Supply%20AMAP%20Update.pdf SBS Polymer Supply Ooutlook]</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Jean-Pierre Favennec (Editor)|title= Petroleum Refining: Refinery Operation and Management|edition=|publisher=Editions Technip|year=2001|id=ISBN 2-7108-0801-3}}</ref>
The major hydrocarbon sources used in producing petrochemicals are:<ref name=HP>{{cite journal|author=Staff |year=2001 |month=March|title=Petrochemical Processes 2001 |journal=Hydrocarbon Processing |volume= |issue= |pages=pp. 71-246 |id=ISSN 0887-0284}}</ref><ref name=AMAP>[http://www.tsp2.org/news/Butadiene%20Supply%20AMAP%20Update.pdf SBS Polymer Supply Ooutlook]</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Jean-Pierre Favennec (Editor)|title= Petroleum Refining: Refinery Operation and Management|edition=|publisher=Editions Technip|year=2001|id=ISBN 2-7108-0801-3}}</ref>


*[[Methane]], [[ethane]], [[propane]] and [[butane]]s: Obtained primarily from [[Natural gas processing|natural gas processing plants]].
*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]].
*[[Petroleum naphtha|Naphtha]] obtained from [[Petroleum refining processes|petroleum refineries]].
*[[Benzene]], [[toluene]] and [[xylene]]s, as a whole referred to as ''[[BTX]]'' and  primarily obtained from petroleum refineries.  
*Benzene, toluene and xylenes, as a whole referred to as ''[[BTX]]'' and  primarily obtained from petroleum refineries.  
*[[Gas oil]] obtained from petroleum refineries.
*[[Gas oil]] obtained from petroleum refineries.


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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:  
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]]
*Ethylene
*[[Propylene]]
*Propylene
*[[Butene]]s and [[butadiene]]
*Butenes and butadiene
*[[Benzene]]
*Benzene


In 2008, the amounts of ethylene and propylene produced in steam crackers were about 125 M[[Tonne|t]] (megatonnes) and 75 Mt, respectively.
In 2008, the amounts of ethylene and propylene produced in steam crackers were about 125 M[[Tonne|t]] (megatonnes) and 75 Mt, respectively.

Revision as of 17:06, 2 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.

A relatively small number of hydyrocarbon feedstocks form the basis of the petrochemical industries, namely methane, ethylene, propylene, butenes, butadiene, benzene, toluene and xylenes. These feedstocks are used to produce hundreds of other chemicals for countless uses.[1]

Feedstocks sources

(PD) Image: Milton Beychok
Petrochemical feedstock sources.

The major hydrocarbon sources used in producing petrochemicals are:[2][3][4]

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
  • Butenes and butadiene
  • Benzene

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

The adjacent diagram depicts the all of the major petrochemical feedstocks.

Feedstocks and example petrochemical products

Feedstocks and example petrochemical products
methane ethylene propylene butenes and butadienes benzene toluene xylenes
hydrogen polyethylene polypropylene styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) styrene benzoic acid phthalic anhydride
ammonia ethanol isopropanol methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) polystyrene toluene diisocyanate polyesters
methanol ethylene glycol propylene glycol polybutadiene phenol polyurethanes dimethyl terephthalate
methyl chloride vinyl acetate allyl chloride acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) cumene caprolactam terephthalate acid
carbon black perchloroethylene acrylonitrile polybutenes aniline nylons polyethylene terephthalate
acetylene polyvinyl acetate acrylic acid methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) adipic acid polyureas dioctyl phthalate
formaldehyde glycol ethers epoxy resins tert-butanol nylons  

References

  1. Richard Meyers (2003). The Basics of Chemistry. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-31664-3. 
  2. Staff (March 2001). "Petrochemical Processes 2001". Hydrocarbon Processing: pp. 71-246. ISSN 0887-0284.
  3. SBS Polymer Supply Ooutlook
  4. Jean-Pierre Favennec (Editor) (2001). Petroleum Refining: Refinery Operation and Management. Editions Technip. ISBN 2-7108-0801-3. 



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.