Petrochemicals

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Petrochemicals are chemicals derived directly or indirectly from petroleum or natural gas. These include a wide range of compounds like ethene, propene, benzene, and their derivatives used in making p…

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Feed stock refers to the starting material used for producing petrochemicals. Common feed stocks are natural gas (rich in methane) and naphtha (a petroleum fraction). These are processed to obtain pri…

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1. Natural gas (mainly methane) 2. Naphtha and reformed naphaque…

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Primary petrochemicals are the initial chemicals obtained from feed stocks. Examples: - From natural gas: Ethene (CH₂=CH₂), Propene (CH₃–CH=CH₂), Ethyne (CH≡CH) - From naphtha: Butadiene, benzene…

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Intermediate petrochemicals are derived from primary petrochemicals through chemical reactions. For example, ethylene oxide is made from ethene, and cumene is made from propene and benzene.

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Downstream petrochemicals are those formed at later stages in a reaction sequence. Example: In the sequence CH₄ → CH₃Cl → CH₃OH, methyl chloride (CH₃Cl) is first-generation, and methanol (CH₃OH) is se…

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$$CH_4 + O_2 \xrightarrow{\text{Catalyst}} CH_3OH$$ Methane reacts with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst to form methanol (methyl alcohol), an important industrial solvent and precursor to formald…

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Carbon black is produced by the pyrolysis (cracking) of methane: $$CH_4 \xrightarrow{\Delta} C (carbon\,black) + 2H_2$$ Used in ink and tire manufacturing; hydrogen is a byproduct.