Cracking nonane into heptane and ethene molecule

This process is known as chain growth polymers – as it adds one monomer unit at a time. This is achieved by introducing a catalyst, typically a peroxide. The addition polymerisation reaction is when one monomer connects to the next one (dimer) and dimer to the next one (trimer) and so on. There are two different mechanisms for polymerisation: This happens when monomers are chemically bonded into chains. Polymerisation is a process in the petroleum industry where light olefin gases (gasoline) such as ethylene, propylene, butylene (i.e., monomers) are converted into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons (polymers).

Pictorial representation of how plastics are made (Figure is adapted from ref)ģ. However, there are other means, such as using gas.įigure 1. One of these, called naphtha, is the crucial compound to make a large amount of plastic. In the refining process, crude oil is heated in a furnace, which is then sent to the distillation unit, where heavy crude oil separates into lighter components called fractions. Refining process transforms crude oil into different petroleum products – these are converted to yield useful chemicals including “monomers” (a molecule that is the basic building blocks of polymers). Extraction of raw materials (largely crude oil and natural gas, but also coal) – these are a complex mixture of thousands of compounds that then need to be processed.Ģ. Most of the plastic in use today is derived by the following steps:ġ. In Europe, only a small proportion (about 4 – 6%) of our oil and gas reserves goes towards the production of plastics, with the rest used for transport, electricity, heating and other applications ( Ref)

However, the growing demand for limited oil-reserves is driving a need for newer plastics from renewable resources such as waste biomass or animal-waste products from the industry. The vast majority of plastic in use today is synthetic because of the ease of manufacturing methods involved in the processing of crude oil. Whilst biobased plastics come from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria and other biological substances. Synthetic plastics are derived from crude oil, natural gas or coal. Plastic can either be ‘synthetic’ or ‘biobased’. Plastics:A Vision for a Circular Economy.

Cracking nonane into heptane and ethene molecule