Description 



Petrochemicals are c 

 (e.g., naptha) and natura 

 from these raw feedstocks 

 olefins and aromatics. ( 

 energy products such as g 

 lubricating oils, as well 

 petrochemicals are furthe 

 and chemical stages into 

 dyes, resins, and fibers) 

 paints, textiles, rubber, 



hemicals derived from refined petroleum products 

 1 gas liquids. The chemicals directly produced 



are classified into two main categories-- 

 Excluded from the definition are all fuel and 

 asoline, fuel oil, natural gas, kerosene, 



as asphalt, wax, and coke.) These basic 

 r processed through several intermediate mechanical 

 a wide range of chemical derivatives (such as 

 , from which many end products are made including 



plastic products, and many others [48]. 



Several hundred petrochemicals can be identified. The six petro- 

 chemical groups underscored below are those which were produced in the 

 greatest quantities in 1970. Among the specific types produced are 

 [45]: 



aromatics 



formaldehyde 



benzene 



perchloroethylene 



trichloroethylene 



vinyl chloride monomer 



polypropylene 



polyisoprene rubber 



polybutadiene 



polyisoprene 



high density polyethylene 



ethylene 



low density polyethylene 



synthetic glycerine 



ethylene oxide 



orthoxylene 



styrene monomer 



sulfurized fatty bases 



oils 



additives 



leaded compounds 



neoprene rubber 



chloroprene monomer 



isopropyl alcohol 



acetone 



metaxylene 



paraxylene 



ammonia 



propylene oxide 



ethane 



hydrogen gas 



nitrogen 



argon 



toluene 



A "petrochemical complex" is virtually undefinable as a physical 

 entity but it is often an industrial area of large size, perhaps 300 to 

 400 acres or more. Of course there are many smaller manufacturers 

 producing special products. A petrochemical plant has a "refinery look" 

 to it. There are tanks, pipes, stacks, and metal buildings. 



Site Requirements 



A minimum of 300 acres is currently required for a complex able to 

 support, for example, 1 billion pounds of olefins production per year. 

 This may be representative of future petrochemical development that 



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