Raw Material for Organic Chemical Industries (Part - 1) | Chemical Technology - Chemical Engineering PDF Download

Raw Material for Organic Chemical Industries 

Introduction

Chemical process industry play an important role in the development of a country by providing a wide variety of products, which are being used in providing basic needs of rising population which is 6.4 billion globally and 1.2 billion in India in 2012. Chemical process industries uses raw material derived from petroleum and natural gas, salt, oil and fats, biomass and energy from coal, natural gas and a small percentage from renewable energy resources. Although initially manufacture of organic chemicals initially started with coal and alcohol from fermentation industry, however later due to availability of petroleum and natural gas dominated the scene and now more than 90% of organic chemicals are produced from petroleum and natural gas routes. However, rising cost of petroleum and natural gas and continuous decrease in the reserves has spurred the chemical industry for alternative feedstock like coal, biomass, coal bed methane, shale gas, sand oil as an alternate source of fuel and chemical feedstock. 

Energy Resources 

Energy play vital role an important role for the development of any country and to meet the challenges due to increasing population it has become one of the very important to optimize its use and look for alternative energy resources. Coal remains the dominant source of energy meeting 52.4% of India’s prime energy needs while oil and natural gas met 41.6% of energy requirement in 2008-09. Power sector accounted for 77% of the non-coking coal off-take. As per planning commission projections till 2032, coal will continue to have a dominant share meeting over 50% of primary commercial requirement [Dutta, 2011]. World and India Energy consumption scenario is given in Figure M-I 2.1 [Hindu Industrial directory, 2007]. The world energy consumption had projected to increase by 58% over a 24 year period from 2001 to 2025. The total energy use projected to grow from 404 in 2001 to 640 quadrillion BTU in 2025 [Energy outlook, 2003]. India’s requirement for fossil fuels by 2030 is estimated by various agencies is in the range of 337 to 462 million tones of oil, 99 to 184 million tones oil equivalent of gas and 602 to 954 million tones of coal Indian energy’s [Hindu industrial directory, 2007]. 

World 74.5 Bnbbl OE                        India 2.7 Bnbbl OE 

Figure M-I 2.1: Indian Energy Scenario 

Sources: Hindu industrial directory, 2007

Raw Materials for Organic Chemical Industries 

Although initially manufacture of organic chemicals initially started with coal and alcohol from fermentation industry, however later due to availability of petroleum and natural gas dominated the scene and now more than 90% of organic chemicals are produce from petroleum and natural gas routes. However, rising cost of petroleum and natural gas and continuous decrease in the reserves as spurred the chemical industry for alternative feedstock like coal, biomass, coal bed methane, shale gas, sand oil as alternate source of fuel and chemical feedstock. Table M-I 2.1 gives the details of raw materials for chemical process industries. Raw materials for chemical industries are classified as primary raw materials and basic intermediates. Although major organic chemicals are produced from petroleum feed stock, however alternative raw materials are available which are getting attention. Detail of feedstock for organic chemical industries is shown in Figure M-I 2.2.  Table M-I 2.2 shows the details of natural gas and petroleum fractions as petrochemicals feedstock. Alternative Routes to Principal Organic Chemicals is given Table M-I 2.3 

Table M-I 2.1: Raw Material for Chemical Process Industries Primary Raw Materials: 

 Basic Intermediates: 

Secondary Intermediates:

Monomer: Caprolactam, adipic acid, hexamethylene diamine, terephthalic acid and acrylonitrile for synthetic fibres, intermediates for dye stuff industry and pesticides.

Figure M-I 2.2: Feed Stock for Organic Chemical Industries 

Table M-I 2.2: Natural Gas and Petroleum Fractions as Petrochemicals Feedstock