petrochemia

Petrochemia, or petrochemistry in English, is the branch of chemistry and industry focused on converting hydrocarbon resources—primarily crude oil fractions and natural gas—into a wide range of chemical products. It provides the basic feedstocks for plastics, synthetic fibers, solvents, fertilizers, and many specialty chemicals. In Polish, petrochemia refers to the same field and its activities.

Feedstocks include naphtha, gas oil, condensates, and natural gas liquids, while the main building blocks are light hydrocarbons such as ethylene and propylene and aromatic compounds such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, obtained through refining and gas processing.

Common intermediate products include methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. Key processes include steam cracking to produce ethylene and other olefins, catalytic reforming and hydrocracking to adjust product yields, alkylation to make higher-octane components, and polymerization to form plastics. Separation and purification by distillation and other techniques are essential to obtain pure products.

Major end products include polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, polystyrene, and polyethylene terephthalate; synthetic fibers, elastomers, coatings, solvents, and fertilizers like ammonia and urea. Petrochemistry is closely tied to the refining industry and natural gas processing, with many complex complexes that integrate multiple steps and logistics.

Environmental and economic factors influence the sector, including energy intensity, feedstock prices, emissions, and waste management. Efforts focus on process optimization, pollution control, and advances in recycling and sustainable feedstocks.