Petrochemical
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2008-06-30T18:13:18Z
Rifleman 82
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/117.3.22.92|117.3.22.92]] ([[User talk:117.3.22.92|talk]]) to last version by Rifleman 82
[[Image:Grangemouth04nov06.jpg|thumb|A petrochemical refinery in [[Grangemouth]], [[Scotland]], [[UK]].]]
'''Petrochemicals''' are chemical products made from raw materials of [[petroleum]] or other [[hydrocarbon]] origin. Although some of the [[chemical compound]]s that originates from petroleum may also be derived from other sources such as [[coal]] or [[natural gas]], petroleum is a major source of many. This article is mainly intended to discuss [[organic compound]]s or materials that are not burned as [[fuel]] (see also [[Petroleum product]]).
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 processes such as [[fluid catalytic cracking]] and [[steam cracking]]. 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.
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.
The following is a partial list of the major commercial petrochemicals and their derivatives:
* [[ethylene]] - the simplest olefin; used as a ripening hormone, a monomer and a chemical feedstock
** [[polyethylene]]s - [[Polymerization|polymerized]] ethylene
**[[ethanol]] - made by [[hydration]] ([[chemical reaction]] adding [[water]]) of ethylene
** [[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
*** [[ethoxylates]]
** [[vinyl acetate]]
** [[1,2-Dichloroethane|1,2-dichloroethane]]
*** [[trichloroethylene]]
*** [[tetrachloroethylene]] - also called perchloroethylene; used as a dry cleaning solvent and degreaser
*** [[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
** [[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
** [[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]]
* [[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; often 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
==See also==
*[[Petroleum]]
*[[Petroleum product]]s
*[[Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries]]
== External links ==
* [http://www.petrochemistry.net/ Petrochemistry in Europe]
* [http://www.xperimania.net/ Educational resource on petrochemistry]
* [http://www.petrochemicals.dnetzer.net/articles/article-3.05.pdf Article showing some of the basics of a petchem facility]
[[Category:Petroleum products]]
[[Category:Chemical substances]]
[[Category:Chemical engineering]]
{{Nofootnotes|date=February 2008}}
[[ar:البتروكيمياويات]]
[[da:Petrokemisk]]
[[fa:صنایع پتروشیمی]]
[[id:Petrokimia]]
[[ja:石油化学工業]]
[[no:Petrokjemiske produkter]]
[[fi:Petrokemikaali]]