What does the chemical industry produce?
The products of the chemical industry can be divided into three
categories:
- Basic chemicals
- Speciality
chemicals
- Consumer
chemicals
Several other categorisations are used but this one is simple and
helpful in the context of this web site. Outputs range widely, with basic
chemicals produced in huge quantities (millions of tonnes) and some speciality
chemicals produced in modest kilogramme quantities but with very high value.
As explained in the unit on Chemical Reactors, the choice of reactor is often goverened by the amount of chemical that is to be produced.
As explained in the unit on Chemical Reactors, the choice of reactor is often goverened by the amount of chemical that is to be produced.
The value of sales per category for both Europe and the US are broadly
similar, as shown in:
Europe
|
US
|
|||
Basic chemicals
|
62
|
61
|
||
Polymers
|
24
|
18
|
||
Petrochemicals
|
24
|
25
|
||
Basic Inorganics
|
14
|
18
|
||
Speciality
chemicals
|
25
|
24
|
||
Consumer chemicals
|
13
|
14
|
||
Table 1: Products from the chemical industry in 2011 by category (%).
Facts and Figures 2011, CEFIC; 2011 Guide to the Business of Chemistry, American Chemistry Council.
Facts and Figures 2011, CEFIC; 2011 Guide to the Business of Chemistry, American Chemistry Council.
Basic chemicals
Basic chemicals are divided into
- chemicals derived from oil, known as
petrochemicals
- polymers
- basic inorganics
The term ‘petrochemical’ can be misleading as the same chemicals are
increasingly being derived from sources other than oil, such as coal and
biomass. An example is methanol, commonly produced from oil and natural gas in
the US and Europe but from coal in China.
Another is poly(ethene), derived from oil and gas in the US and Europe but increasingly from biomass in Brazil. Other examples are described in the units on this web site.
Another is poly(ethene), derived from oil and gas in the US and Europe but increasingly from biomass in Brazil. Other examples are described in the units on this web site.
Basic chemicals, produced in large quantities, are mainly sold within
the chemical industry and to other industries before becoming products for the
general consumer. For example, ethanoic acid is sold on to make esters, much of
which in turn is sold to make paints and at that point sold to the consumer.
Huge quantities of ethene are transported as a gas by pipeline around Europe
and sold to companies making poly(ethene) and other polymers. These are then
sold on to manufacturers of plastic components before being bought by the
actual consumer.
Petrochemicals and polymers
The production of chemicals from petroleum (and increasingly from coal
and biomass) has seen many technological changes and the development of very
large production sites throughout the world.
The hydrocarbons in crude oil and gas, which are mainly straight chain alkanes, are first separated using their differences in boiling point, as is described in the unit Distillation. They are then converted to hydrocarbons that are more useful to the chemical industry, such as branched chain alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons.
These processes are described in the unit, Cracking and related refinery processes.
The hydrocarbons in crude oil and gas, which are mainly straight chain alkanes, are first separated using their differences in boiling point, as is described in the unit Distillation. They are then converted to hydrocarbons that are more useful to the chemical industry, such as branched chain alkanes, alkenes and aromatic hydrocarbons.
These processes are described in the unit, Cracking and related refinery processes.
In turn, these hydrocarbons are converted into a very wide range of
basic chemicals which are immediately useful (petrol, ethanol, ethane-1,2-diol)
or are subjected to further reactions to produce a useful end product (for
example, phenol to make resins and ammonia to make fertilizers). Many examples
are found in the group of units on this site devoted to Basic chemicals.
The main use for petrochemicals is in the manufacture of a wide range of
polymers. Due to their importance of these they are given their own section of
units, Polymers.
Basic inorganics
These are relatively low cost chemicals used throughout manufacturing
and agriculture. They are produced in very large amounts, some in millions of
tonnes a year, and include chlorine, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric and nitric
acids and chemicals for fertilizers.
As with petrochemicals, many emerging countries are now able to produce them more cheaply than companies based in the US and Europe. This has led to tough competition and producers of these chemicals worldwide work continuously to reduce costs while meeting ever more stringent environmental and safety standards.
As with petrochemicals, many emerging countries are now able to produce them more cheaply than companies based in the US and Europe. This has led to tough competition and producers of these chemicals worldwide work continuously to reduce costs while meeting ever more stringent environmental and safety standards.
The units on basic inorganics can be found within the Basic chemicals section of the site.
Speciality
chemicals
This category covers a wide variety of chemicals for crop protection, pains and inks, colorants (dyes and pigments). It also includes chemicals used by industries
as diverse as textiles, paper and engineering. There has been a tendency
in the US and Europe to focus on this sector rather than the basic chemicals
discussed above because it is thought that, with active research and
development (R & D), speciality chemicals deliver better and more stable
profitability.
New products are being created to meet both customer needs and new environmental regulations. An everyday example is household paints which have evolved from being organic solvent-based to being water-based. Another is the latest ink developed for ink-jet printers.
New products are being created to meet both customer needs and new environmental regulations. An everyday example is household paints which have evolved from being organic solvent-based to being water-based. Another is the latest ink developed for ink-jet printers.
Units on selected speciality chemicals can be found within the Materials and Applications section of this site.
Consumer chemicals
Consumer chemicals are sold directly to the public. They include,
for example, detergents, soaps and other toiletries. The search for more
effective and environmentally safe detergents has increased over the last 20
years, particularly in finding surfactants that are capable of cleaning
anything from sensitive skin to large industrial plants.
Parallel to this, much work has been done in producing a wider range of synthetic chemicals for toiletries, cosmetics and fragrances.
Parallel to this, much work has been done in producing a wider range of synthetic chemicals for toiletries, cosmetics and fragrances.
Units on selected consumer chemicals can be found within the Materials and Applications section.
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