Introduction to polymer and

petrochemical technology:
Petrochemicals and their
derivatives
• Petrochemicals are chemicals made (derived) from petroleum
(crude oil) and natural gas.
• Petroleum and natural gas are made up of hydrocarbon molecules,
which are comprised of one or more carbon atoms, to which
hydrogen atoms are attached.

• Most petrochemicals contain hydrogen and carbon.

• The prefix "petro-" is an arbitrary abbreviation of the word

"petroleum"; since "petro-" is Ancient Greek for "rock" and "oleum"
means "oil".

• Therefore, the etymologically correct term would be "oleochemicals".

• However, the term oleochemical is used to describe chemicals

derived from plant and animal fats.
• Currently, oil and gas are the main sources of the raw materials
because they are the least expensive, most readily available, and
can be processed most easily into the primary petrochemicals.
However, they are not renewable.

• Some chemical compounds made from petroleum are also obtained

renewable sources such as corn or sugar cane.

• Only about five percent of the oil and gas consumed each year is
needed to make all the petrochemical products.

• Petrochemicals have had a dramatic impact on our food, clothing,

shelter and leisure. Some synthetics, tailored for particular uses,
actually perform better than products made by nature because of
their unique properties.
• The petrochemical industry, which produces chemicals using OIL
AND NATURAL GAS as major raw materials, occupies an important
position in world's MANUFACTURING and consuming sectors.

• Petrochemicals can be converted into thousands of industrial and

consumer products, including PLASTICS, paints, RUBBER,
fertilizers, detergents, dyes, TEXTILES and solvents.

• The industry consists of 2 major divisions.

– The primary petrochemical industry produces basic chemicals,
such as ethylene, from oil or gas.
– The secondary industries convert the basic petrochemicals into
materials that may be directly used by other industries.
• Primary petrochemical classes are divided into groups depending on
their chemical structure :
– olefins groups including ethylene and propylene, and
– Aromatics groups including benzene, toluene and xylene
isomers.

• Chemical plants produce olefins by steam cracking of natural gas

liquids like ethane and propane.

• Aromatics are produced by catalytic reforming of naphtha. Olefins

and aromatics are the building blocks for a wide range of materials
such as solvents, detergents, and adhesives. Olefins are the basis
for polymers and oligomers used in plastics, resins, fibers,
elastomers, lubricants, and gels.

• Another group is Synthesis gas is a mixture of carbon monoxide and

hydrogen used to make ammonia and methanol. Ammonia is used
to make the fertilizer urea and methanol is used as a solvent and
chemical intermediate.
 Primary Petrochemical
• "Primary Petrochemicals" include: olefins, aromatics and
methanol.

• Olefins are unsaturated molecules of carbon (C) and

hydrogen (H) that appear as short chains, of two, three
or four carbons in length, e.g. ethylene, propylene and
butadiene. Ethylene and propylene are important
sources of industrial chemicals and plastics products.
Butadiene is used in making synthetic rubber.

• Aromatics contain a six carbon ring structure. (benzene,

toluene, and xylenes). Benzene is a raw material for
dyes and synthetic detergents, and benzene and toluene
used in making polyurethanes. Manufacturers use
xylenes to produce plastics and synthetic fibers

• The oxygen/hydrogen (OH) group in methanol denotes

that it is an alcohol.
 Intermediates and Derivatives:
• Petrochemical intermediates are generally produced by
chemical conversion of primary petrochemicals to form
more complicated derivative products.
• Petrochemical derivative products can be made in a
variety of ways:
– directly from primary petrochemicals;
– through intermediate products which still contain only carbon and
hydrogen; and,
– through intermediates which incorporate chlorine, nitrogen or
oxygen in the finished derivative.
• In some cases, they are finished products; in others,
more steps are needed to arrive at the desired
composition.
• Of all the processes used, one of the most
important is polymerization. It is used in the
production of plastics, fibers and synthetic
rubber, the main finished petrochemical
derivatives.
• Some typical petrochemical intermediates are:
– vinyl acetate for paint, paper and textile coatings
– vinyl chloride for polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
– resin manufacture
– ethylene glycol for polyester textile fibers
– styrene which is important in rubber and plastic
manufacturing
 Major End Use Products:
Some typical petrochemical intermediates are:
• vinyl acetate for paint, paper and textile
coatings vinyl chloride for
• polyvinyl chloride PVC)
• resin manufacture
• ethylene glycol for polyester
• textile fibers
• styrene which is important in rubber and plastic
manufacturing.