This article explains how synthetic products are produced and used in daily life, discussing the processes of the petrochemical industry, its limitations, and sustainable alternatives.
Think about the room you live in. What do you see? Probably clothes scattered about, pay-as-you-throw plastic bags filled with soon-to-be-discarded trash, empty milk PET bottles, synthetic rubber mats, and more. These all share one common trait: they are synthetic products. In fact, synthetic products are so widespread around us that it’s harder to find something that isn’t synthetic than something that is. Clothes are made from synthetic fibers like nylon or polyester. The vinyl in plastic bags and PET bottles are both made from polyethylene, a thermoplastic resin. The synthetic rubber in mats is composed of materials like polyisoprene, created by polymerizing isoprene. Everyone has probably wondered at least once how these synthetic products are made. So, how are these synthetic products, so closely tied to modern daily life, actually produced?
Synthetic products are born from the petrochemical industry, a branch of polymer chemistry. The petrochemical industry uses petroleum or natural gas as raw materials to produce chemical products, occupying a crucial position in modern chemical industry. Through this petrochemical industry, we can create various synthetic products such as synthetic fibers, synthetic resins (plastics), synthetic rubber, plasticizers, and pharmaceuticals. In this process, diverse chemical reactions and processes interact complexly to give birth to the many products we use daily. The development of the petrochemical industry is one of the crucial elements forming the foundation of modern industry.
The petrochemical industry holds great significance in that it brought about a transformation in the raw materials used in the chemical industry. While the traditional chemical industry used raw materials like coal or animal and plant matter, the petrochemical industry uses hydrocarbons contained in petroleum or natural gas as its raw materials. The discovery of hydrocarbons as a raw material transformed the existing chemical industry. A prime example is the use of synthesis gas—a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced by the incomplete oxidation of hydrocarbons—which began to be employed in manufacturing methanol and ammonia. Furthermore, it played a major role in the discovery of numerous new synthesis methods, the invention of new products, and the subsequent development of new technologies.
To obtain hydrocarbons for use in the petrochemical industry, crude oil must first undergo a refining process. The main components of crude oil are hydrocarbons, molecules composed solely of carbon and hydrogen. Hydrocarbons vary greatly depending on the number and structure of the carbon and hydrogen atoms in their molecules. Utilizing the fact that the boiling points of these hydrocarbons vary widely (the more carbon atoms, the higher the boiling point), components like gasoline, kerosene, light oil, heavy oil, and naphtha can be separated from crude oil.
Among these separated substances, naphtha is by far the most widely used in the petrochemical industry. Naphtha is cracked down at the NCC (Naphtha Cracking Center) into petrochemical base stocks such as ethylene, propylene, and butane. These base oils are used in various chemical syntheses. Among them, ethylene serves as the primary raw material for the petrochemical industry. A significant portion of ethylene is used to manufacture polyethylene, which is used in various containers and packaging films. Ethylene also plays diverse roles, such as reacting with chlorine to produce vinyl chloride and being synthesized into ethylene oxide, which is used as a raw material for synthetic detergents.
Propylene, which has one more carbon atom than ethylene, is synthesized into polypropylene and used as a raw material for synthetic fibers. It is also used as a synthesis feedstock for glycerol, which is used as a raw material for acrylic fibers (acrylonitrile) and as an anti-drying agent. Furthermore, acetylene, possessing a triple bond, has a strong reactivity with other substances, primarily undergoing addition and elimination reactions. For example, reacting with water produces acetaldehyde, while reacting with hydrogen chloride produces vinyl chloride. Acetylene is also used as an important industrial raw material because it can synthesize various types of acetylene derivatives.
The petrochemical industry is highly attractive because it can manufacture numerous high-value-added substances from various types of hydrocarbons through diverse synthesis methods. However, the petrochemical industry also has several limitations. First, it is a capital-intensive industry requiring enormous capital and technology. The high initial investment cost is the primary drawback. Furthermore, the petrochemical industry is a source of pollution. With growing environmental awareness, this aspect requires improvement. Finally, the depletion of petroleum reserves is a significant concern. Oil is not an infinite resource, and some argue that reserves could be exhausted within decades.
Even considering all these limitations, the petrochemical industry remains highly valuable. If the limitations listed above can be overcome, the future of the petrochemical industry—capable of producing numerous synthetic products from hydrocarbons—will be bright.
Recently, researchers have been making significant efforts to find sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives. The biochemistry industry, which uses biomass as raw material, is one such alternative. The biochemical industry, which produces chemical products using plant-based raw materials, holds the potential to complement the limitations of the petrochemical industry. Alongside this, advancements in recycling technology are also playing a crucial role. As plastic recycling technology improves, methods for reusing existing plastics as raw materials are gaining attention. These new technologies and methods will contribute to enhancing the sustainability of the petrochemical industry.
Therefore, we must recognize the current limitations and continue our efforts to overcome them. Considering the significant role synthetic products play in our daily lives, the development and innovation of the petrochemical industry will remain critically important. A deep understanding and research into the direction the petrochemical industry should take for a sustainable future are necessary.
