One day – One Word
Definition: “Propylene” is the common name given to the Propene. It is a gas, not to be confused with the Propane. Propylene may also be called Methylethylene. Comments: From process perspective, the Propylene is a byproduct as produced in parallel of the Ethylene during the cracking operations in the steam cracker as shown in the flowchart above. […]
Definition: “Rubber” is the common name given to Styrene Butadiene or Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR). Comments: Produced out of the butadiene, the C4 Olefins family, either by fraction distillation in refinery either as byproducts of the Ethylene in the steam cracker, the Rubber is mostly used because of its adhesive performances for tyres, sealants, sho soles, coatings. […]
Definition: “Ethylene” is one of the most important Olefin products. It is a colourless, flammable gas with a slightly sweet odor. As shwon in the diagram below, it comes directly from the cracking in a steam cracker of different feedstocks: Gas such as ethane, propane, butane Liquid naphtha coming from oil refineries. Comments: The chart below shows the […]
Definition: The “Aromatics” are so called because of their specific perfumed smell. The most well known “Aromatics” are the “Benzene”, the “Toluene”, the “Xylene”. For that reasons the “Aromatics” are also named as “BTX”. Comment: The “Aromatics” are produced from mainly from oil and a few from coal by distillation and then through a steam “cracker” in […]
Definition: “Olefin” is the common name given by the “Petrochemical” industry to the Alkene chemical products. The “Olefins” are classified in two families, the: “Monoolefins“, such as the “Ethylene” and “Propylene“ “Diolefins“, such as the “Butadiene” and the “Isoprene“ Comments: As we can see from the diagram above, the “Olefins” may be produced through a steam”Cracker” […]
Definition: “Petrochemical” comes from the Ancient Greek language where “Petro” means “rock” in referring to these rocks, “Petro”, producing “oleum” meaning “oil” to become “petro-oleum”, the “oil of rocks”. Therefore the word “Petrochemical” has been originally given to the chemistry issued from the oil. Comments: From process perspective, the “Petrochemical” industry begins where the “Refining” or […]
Definition: The “Naphtha” or “Naphtha petroleum” is the common name given to the “Aliphatic hydrocarbons“. Comment: The “Naphtha” results from the distillation of the oil in the refinery. But since there are hundreds of different petroleum crude oil worldwide with its own unique composition, there are as many “Naphtha“. Each refinery produces its own “Naphtha” with their own […]
Definition: A “cracker” breaks down large molecules from oil and natural gas into smaller ones. An ethylene “cracker” produces base petrochemical “building blocks” which are the first stage in the chemicals manufacturing chain. Comments: Natural gas companies have to remove Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs) from methane to make it “pipeline quality.” NGLs are made up of ethane, […]
