Petrochemicals


Petrochemicals are the chemical products obtained from petroleum or other fossil fuels, such as coal or natural gas by refining. Some chemical compounds are also obtained from renewable sources such as maize, palm fruit or sugar cane.

Methanol: Methanol is produced chiefly as a derivative of the destructive distillation of wood. It is used as a feedstock for the manufacture of chemicals, and as a fuel for specialized vehicles.

Benzene: Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil and is mainly used as a catalyst to make other chemicals.

Linear Alkyl Benzene (LAB): It is produced from petroleum feed and used as an intermediate in the production of surfactants and detergent.

Toluene: It is a colourless, water-insoluble liquid and widely used as an industrial feedstock and a solvent.

Hexane: Hexanes are major components of gasoline and are widely used as cheap and safe solvents.

Monoethylene Glycol(MEG): It is mainly used for manufacturing polyester, fiber and PET resins. Because it has low freezing point, it is used automotive industry in refrigerant liquids and antifreezes, brake fluids, solvent liquids, cellulose ester and ethers, cosmetics industry, varnish, paint and alkyd, ink industry.

Diethylene Glycol(DEG): Production of polyester and polyurethanes, as a solvent in printing inks and in textile dyeing, as snow spray on airplanes and railways, as a thinner in glue and cosmetic industry.