Petrochemistry is a science that makes it possible to obtain chemical products from fossil fuels.
Petrochemistry is the science and technique that corresponds to petroleum chemistry , the industry that uses oil and natural gas as raw materials for the development of numerous chemical products.
Petrochemistry, therefore, provides the knowledge and mechanisms for the extraction of chemical substances from fossil fuels . Gasoline , diesel , kerosene, propane , methane and butane are some of the fossil fuels that allow the development of petrochemical products.
This science also makes possible the production of fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides, the production of asphalt and synthetic fibers and the manufacture of different plastics. Gloves , erasers and paints, among many other everyday items, are part of petrochemical production.
Types of petrochemicals
It must be emphasized, in addition to everything stated so far, that petrochemistry is a branch of the chemical industry that can be clearly divided into two groups that are perfectly differentiated.
Thus, on the one hand, we find what is known as primary petrochemistry . Under this name is the discipline that is fundamentally responsible for undertaking what would be the processing of both natural gas and petroleum derivatives.
On the other hand, there is secondary petrochemistry . In its case, we can establish that it is responsible for transforming different products, fundamentally the basic and intermediate ones, into others that are already manufactured and that become a basic part of the consumer society in which we live. In this way, everything from detergents to fertilizers, synthetic fibers and paints, among others, are obtained thanks to this industry .
The processes to obtain petrochemical products are carried out in refineries and involve physical and chemical changes of the hydrocarbons . The basic process, which splits oil and natural gas into various lighter compounds, is known as cracking (the molecules are split apart).
Primary petrochemistry is responsible for the processing of petroleum derivatives.
Global activity
In addition to all of the above, it must be made clear that, according to the data obtained, petrochemicals is a type of industry that has the particularity that it has grown rapidly since its launch throughout the world. Hence, it is currently an important economic area thanks to the significant volumes of money and profits it generates.
Mexico y Saudi Arabia (Saudi Arabia) son dos de los países en los que más importancia y presencia tiene la petroquímica. No obstante, existen otros muchos que también han hecho de esta rama de la chemical industry una fuente de wealth.
The combination of basic petrochemicals and different chemical inputs makes it possible to obtain intermediate petrochemicals such as methanol-based resins (used for the manufacture of rubber, plastics, detergents and lubricants), polyurethanes (used in the manufacture of mattresses and plastics) and acetaldehydes (which result in perfumes, flavorings and others).
Finally, it should be noted that the petrochemical industry requires important safety measures to avoid environmental damage since its processes are potentially polluting and have a high environmental impact.