Scope of the Petrochemical Industry

‌The petrochemical industry produces a wide variety of chemicals from petroleum and natural gas. The main raw materials are various petroleum fractions and refinery gases from the refining process, as well as natural gas and oilfield gases. Light oil fractions are cracked to produce olefins like ethylene, propylene, and butadiene, and aromatics like benzene, toluene, and xylene. Aromatics can also be obtained from catalytic reforming of light oil fractions.

Light oil fractions and natural gas can be converted into synthesis gas through steam reforming or partial oxidation of heavy oil. This synthesis gas is used to produce ammonia and methanol. Olefins are further processed to produce alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, acids, and epoxides.

With advancements in science and technology, these olefins and aromatics are used to produce polymers like synthetic resins, synthetic rubber, and synthetic fibers, as well as fine chemicals like surfactants. Therefore, the scope of the petrochemical industry now includes much of polymer and fine chemical production.

Petrochemical production is typically integrated with petroleum refining or natural gas processing, where they provide each other with raw materials, by-products, or semi-finished products to improve economic efficiency.