Knowra Petrochemical industry Petrochemical industry The petrochemical industry converts petroleum and natural gas into chemicals and materials, including plastics, synthetic fibers, solvents, and fertilizers.
Steam cracking : A process that uses high-temperature steam to break hydrocarbons into smaller molecules, especially ethylene and propylene. It is the main route from light hydrocarbon feedstocks to major building-block chemicals.
Petroleum refining : The industrial separation and conversion of crude oil into fuels, lubricants, and other products. Refineries produce naphtha and other streams that feed petrochemical plants.
Polyethylene : A polymer of ethylene used in packaging, pipes, containers, and many other products. It is a major end product of the industry's ethylene chain.
Plastic pollution : The accumulation of plastic materials in the environment, where they can persist and harm organisms and ecosystems. The industry's plastic output contributes to waste that escapes collection and disposal systems.
Catalytic reforming : A refinery process that converts naphtha into higher-octane components and aromatic hydrocarbons using catalysts. Its aromatic products supply important petrochemical feedstocks.
Natural gas : A naturally occurring mixture of gaseous hydrocarbons, chiefly methane, found in underground reservoirs. Its ethane and other components can become major petrochemical feedstocks.
Polypropylene : A polymer of propylene used in packaging, textiles, automotive parts, and household goods. It turns a principal petrochemical intermediate into a versatile plastic.
Greenhouse gas emissions : Gases released into the atmosphere that trap heat, including carbon dioxide and methane. Emissions arise from fossil feedstock extraction, energy-intensive production, and product disposal.
Ethylene : A two-carbon hydrocarbon used as a feedstock for plastics, solvents, and other chemicals. It is the industry's largest-volume organic chemical and a starting point for many product chains.
Propylene : A three-carbon hydrocarbon used to make polypropylene and numerous other chemicals. It is a core intermediate produced by cracking and converted into many materials.
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