426
The Chemistry and Technology of Petroleum
TABLE 15.7
Sources of Petrochemical Intermediates
Hydrocarbon
Source
Methane
Natural gas
Ethane
Natural gas
Ethylene
Cracking processes
Propane
Natural gas, catalytic reforming, cracking processes
Propylene
Cracking processes
Butane
Natural gas, reforming and cracking processes
Butene(s)
Cracking processes
Cyclohexane
Distillation
Benzene
Catalytic reforming
Toluene
Catalytic reforming
Xylene(s)
Catalytic reforming
Ethylbenzene
Catalytic reforming
Alkylbenzenes
Alkylation
>C 9
Polymerization
TABLE 15.6
Hydrocarbon Intermediates Used in the Petrochemical
Industry
Carbon Number
Hydrocarbon Type
Saturated
Unsaturated
Aromatic
1
Methane
2
Ethane
Ethylene
Acetylene
3
Propane
Propylene
4
Butanes
n-Butenes
Isobutene
Butadiene
5
Pentanes
Isopentenes
(Isoamylenes)
Isoprene
6
Hexanes
Methylpentenes
Benzene
Cyclohexane
7
Mixed heptenes
Toluene
8
di-Isobutylene
Xylenes
Ethylbenzene
Styrene
9
Cumene
12
Propylene tetramer
tri-Isobutylene
18
Dodecylbenzene
6–18
n-Olefins
11–18
n-Paraffins