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W4V23 - Feedstocks - Intermediates - Handout PDF
W4V23 - Feedstocks - Intermediates - Handout PDF
Michel Duc
They are both reactive enough to be the direct precursors of long-chain molecules
called polymers, that are the base component of plastics and resins. They are also the
precursors of other chemical intermediates like, for instance, ethylene glycol used as
antifreeze for cars. Both are highly flammable gases.
That is why they are difficult to transport. They are actually mostly transported
onshore through gas pipelines and overseas in gas tankers.
The 2nd family of intermediates is the AROMATICS Benzene, Toluene and Xylenes,
together abbreviated as BTX. They are characterized by a single 6-carbon aromatic
ring.
BTX are liquid intermediates that cannot be readily converted into plastic polymers.
For this purpose, they need to be chemically modified further on into more reactive
molecules.
As liquids, they can be easily transported by any means and are subject to overseas
trading. All together, they represent currently an average yearly production tonnage
of over 110 million tons.
The cracked gases are then cooled rapidly in a heat exchanger to stop any further reaction.
Some fuel oil is first extracted at around 200°C from the bottom of a first separation tower
called primary fractionator.
Refinery Propylene
We have just seen that propylene is only a co-product of ethylene production from naphtha
crackers. Its demand has however largely outpaced the demand for ethylene, especially
because of the great success of polypropylene plastics.
To conclude, all these processes lead to small reactive molecules that can be used to make
long-chain products by what we call “polymerization reactions”. These products, which are
called “polymers”, are the base materials of an incredibly wide variety of plastics.