ADDITIONAL SCIENCE

FORM 5

CHAPTER 3: PETROCHEMICALS

3.1 PETROCHEMICALS

Petrochemicals are chemical substances

produced when petroleum is processed.
Dead organic matters are transformed into
petroleum by heat and pressure.
Petroleum is a mixture of hydrocarbon
compounds of different sizes, weights
and
boiling points.

3.1 PETROCHEMICALS

Formation of petroleum

3.1 PETROCHEMICALS

As the hydrocarbon compounds have

different boiling points, they can be
separated by fractional distillation.

3.1 PETROCHEMICALS
LPG (< 30 C)

Cooking gas
Petrol (40150 C)
Naphtha (60 180 C)
Kerosene
(Kerosene
150 230 C)
Diesel oil (230
300 C)

Crude oil

Lubricating oil
(300 350 C)

Fuel for
vehicles
Raw material for
chemicals and plastics
Fuel for
aeroplanes
Fuel for lorries
and buses

Lubricants for
machines

Bitumen (> 350 C)

Surfacing roads

Furnace

Fractional distillation process

3.1 PETROCHEMICALS

In the fractional distillation tower,

substance with the highest boiling point
will condense at the bottom of the column
while substance with the lowest boiling
point will condense at the top.

3.1 PETROCHEMICALS

Changes in physical properties of the

petroleum fractions going down the
distillation tower

Longer
hydrocarbon
chains

Heavier
molecules
Lower
volatility

Higher
boiling
points

Lower flammability

More viscous liquids

Darker colour

3.2 THE PRODUCTION OF PETROCHEMICALS

Cracking process is a conversion method

that uses heat and pressure to convert
heavy hydrocarbon molecules into lighter
hydrocarbon molecules.

Cracking process

3.2 THE PRODUCTION OF PETROCHEMICALS

Catalytic
cracking
- Uses catalysts
(platinum or
aluminium)
Hydro cracking
- Uses hydrogen
at lower
temperature but
higher pressure

Thermal
cracking
- Uses heat

Types of
cracking
process

3.2 THE PRODUCTION OF PETROCHEMICALS

The lighter hydrocarbon molecules from

the cracking process is combined to form
polymers which are petrochemicals.
Petrochemicals

Uses

Polyvinyl chloride

Pipe, roofing, electric plug

Polythene

Plastic bottles, shopping bag

Synthetic rubber

Tyres, toys, gloves, shoes

Synthetic fibres (rayon and

nylon)

Ropes, clothing

Polypropylene

Automotive parts

3.3 EVALUATING THE IMPORTANCE OF

PETROCHEMICALS

Advantages of petrochemical products:

(i) Less costly
(ii) Produced in smaller size and lighter
weights
(iii) Long lasting
(iv) Does not corrode
Disadvantage of petrochemical products:
(i) Pollution