Petrochemical Technology Research Articles

Natural Gas Liquids Remain Strong Petrochemical Feedstock

The supply of petrochemical feedstocks in the USA are discussed. The US petrochemical network starts with three main sources, i.e., olefins, aromatics, and natural gas. Petrochemical technology has been pushed to lower costs and improve yields in the face of a determined market drive from new petrochemical producing regions with vast supplies of low-cost gas liquids.

Advances in petrochemical technology assessment

Research demonstrated the potential usefulness of a model of the petrochemical industry for long-range planning. These fundamental concepts were converted into a working tool for technology assessment. The model industry is aggregated according to process technology and these aggregate processes are linked together by the potential flow of chemicals from primary feedstocks through to final petrochemical products. Estimates are made of the materials consumption and production, energy requirements and capital investment for each of the processes in the model. Given projections of primary feedstock supplies, the demands for final products and the costs of chemicals and energy, the most economically efficient model industry is determined as a basis for long-range planning. This paper summarizes the use to which these simple concepts have been put in industrial technology assessment. 26 tables.

Technology Assessment of the Polymer Products Industry

Abstract In the United States economy, intermediate petrochemicals rarely find direct consumer use; rather, they serve as raw materials for the manufacture of synthetic fibers, plastics, and resins; synthetic rubber, and thousands of other products. The demand for these end products drives the growth of the intermediate chemicals industry and shapes future technology. It is clear that petrochemical technology assessment requires both an understanding of the technology and of the function the technology is to serve in the economy.

A systems approach to assessing new petrochemical technology

Using a systems model of the petrochemical industry. it is shown that new petrochemical processes are more likely candidates for success if their introduction would result in better resource use by the industry as a whole. This principle is then used to estimate the relative probability of success for four recently developed processes. Such studies may be useful in modeling the long-range development of the industry and may assist the industry in setting long-range research and development goals.

Houdry Award Address, 1975

Abstract I want to express my deep appreciation for the honor bestowed on me. It is, of course, very satisfying to receive this acknowledgment after a 35-year career in applied named after Eugene J. Houdry, because it was my privilege to meer him and come to know him quite well in his later years and thus to observe the inquistiveness, intuition, and daring which made him a pioneer in caralytic petroleum and petrochemical technology. Few of us have the vision to anticipate industrial needs and single-mindedly pursue their satisfaction as Eugene Houdry did. We are, therefore, more dependent on the stimulation of discussions with collegues and on team work. It is my first duty to greatfully acknowledge the many contributions of numerous coworkers to whatever merited my getting this award