Petrochemicals

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Petrochemicals are chemical substances made primarily from coal, oil, and natural gas. They are used to make consumer products such as aspirin, detergents, shampoo, pesticides, milk jugs, gasoline, carpeting, and more. Petrochemicals are considered feedstock, which is raw material used for processing or manufacturing another product.^[1][2]

Background[edit]

Petrochemicals, which are composed of hydrocarbons, encompass several chemicals. They are commonly defined as chemicals produced from crude oil and natural gas and used for commercial purposes. They may also include chemicals made from vegetable products. Petrochemicals are used to produce consumer products such as aspirin, detergents, shampoo, pesticides, milk jugs, gasoline, carpeting, synthetic fibers and rubbers, insulating materials, paints, polyester clothes, automobiles, and others.^[3][4][4][5]

Examples of petrochemicals are described below:

Types of petrochemicals[edit]

• Olefins are molecules, such as ethylene, propylene, and butylene, which are used to produce polyester fibres, antifreeze, film, plastics, synthetic rubber, carpets, plastic pipes, and more. They are produced from natural gas liquids, kerosene, and gas oil.^[6]

• Aromatics are molecules with a distinctive perfumed smell. They are raw materials used to produce detergents, dyes, clothing, cosmetics, paints, household fabrics, sports equipment, and more.^[7]

• Synthetic gas can be made from coal, oil, natural gas, biomass, or other hydrocarbon feedstocks. Synthetic gas has 50 percent of the energy density of natural gas. It is used to generate electricity and produce industrial gases, chemicals, fuels, and fertilizers. Coal emissions and municipal waste can be gasified to produce synthetic gas using other chemicals.^[8]

Production[edit]

A petrochemical plant in Saudi Arabia.

Petrochemicals are produced primarily from liquefied natural gas and petroleum. At high temperatures, liquefied natural gas produces petrochemicals such as ethylene, propylene, butylenes, and butadiene. Crude oil produces similar chemicals as well as aromatic petrochemicals, such as benzene. Petrochemical processing plants produce petrochemicals in the following ways:^[9]

• Cracking is a method used to break up hydrocarbon molecules into useable parts. The petrochemicals are produced at high pressure and high temperatures or at lower temperature and lower pressure with a catalyst (a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without changing its own chemical structure), such as a powder of silicon dioxide and aluminum oxide. The result is a mixture of solids and gas that acts as a liquid, which is then cooled and distilled for further use.

• Isomerization is a process that rearranges chains of molecules. The process can involve a catalyst that modifies chains of carbon atoms at high pressure and high temperatures. Isomerization can be used to make gasoline burn more efficiently in internal combustion engines.

• Reforming is a process using heat, pressure, and a catalyst to change the chemical structure of hydrocarbons, which are added to petroleum. The process also produces aromatic petrochemicals used in the cosmetic industry.

Use of petrochemicals[edit]

Many consumer products created with petrochemicals.

Petrochemicals are found in consumer products, including the following:^[10]

• Objects in commercial aircraft, such as seats, windows, floatation foams, and seat trays
• Military helmets, combat uniforms, and vests
• Medical gowns, catheters, hand sanitizer, surgical gloves, and aspirin
• Safety goggles, protective helmets, face masks, and protective footwear
• Plastic food and beverage containers
• Plumbing fixtures, windows in homes, roofing, fences, decks, and insulation
• CD and DVD players, cell phones, radios, televisions, washing machines, dishwashers, and freezers

Regulation[edit]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued federal standards for petrochemical production in 1974 and amended the regulations in 1975, 1977, 1982, and 1985. The regulations require petrochemical facilities to limit their wastewater discharges as required under federal permits mandated by the Clean Water Act.^[11]

The American Fuel and Petroleum Manufacturers (AFPM), a trade association representing oil and gas manufacturers as well as petrochemical companies, argued in 2016 that the EPA had regulated the oil and natural gas industry beyond what is necessary to ensure health, safety, and environmental protection. “Despite the great progress we have made in environmental stewardship under the Clean Air Act and other laws, we are concerned that EPA and other agencies have at times moved from regulation to overregulation, making unreasonable and often conflicting demands on our members to spend enormous sums to make changes in their manufacturing processes that bring little or no significant environmental or health benefits,” according to the AFPA website in December 2016. In addition, the group argued, “The cumulative impact of overregulation has resulted in significant job losses, higher consumer costs, and a weakening our nation’s economic and national security.”^[12]

Economic and environmental impact[edit]

Proponents of petrochemicals argue that the industry is vital for creating consumer products, including electronics, vehicles, airplanes, aspirin, plastic containers, and more. In addition, proponents argue that the economic benefits of petrochemicals include lower prices for products and more higher-paying jobs in the industry. According to the American Fuel and Petroleum Manufacturers (AFPM), oil and gas refinery workers earned an average hourly wage approximately 50 percent higher than the U.S. average and that the petrochemical industry’s average salary was $100,000 as of December 2016.^[13][14]

Opponents of petrochemicals argue that petrochemicals produce valuable products but that the use of petrochemicals has an immeasurable negative environmental impact. Some opponents argue that the petrochemicals used in plastic plates, plastic containers, and other packaging could contain potential carcinogens that leach into food or liquids at high temperatures. The Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, argued in 2016 that several animals die by consuming plastics containing specific petrochemicals and that some products made with petrochemicals are not biodegradable and thus remain in the environment or oceans.^[15]

See also[edit]

• 

  Energy policy in the United States

• 

  Crude oil

• 

  Natural gas

• 

  Glossary of energy terms

Footnotes[edit]

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