Primary Raw Materials for Petrochemicals

Primary raw materials are naturally occurring substances that have not been subjected to chemical changes after being recovered. Natural gas and crude oils are the basic raw materials for the manufacture of petrochemicals. The first part of this chapter deals with natural gas. The second part discusses crude oils and their properties. Secondary raw materials, or intermediates, are obtained from natural gas and crude oils through different processing schemes. The intermediates may be light hydrocarbon compounds such as methane and ethane, or heavier hydrocarbon mixtures such as naphtha or gas oil. Both naphtha and gas oil are crude oil fractions with different boiling ranges. The properties of these intermediates are discussed in Chapter 2. Coal, oil shale, and tar sand are complex carbonaceous raw materials and possible future energy and chemical sources. However, they must undergo lengthy and extensive processing before they yield fuels and chemicals similar to those produced from crude oils (substitute natural gas (SNG) and synthetic crudes from coal, tar sand and oil shale). These materials are discussed briefly at the end of the chapter.