We can observe that in the above reaction schemes, there are two reaction pathways for phenol from benzene i.e., either chlorination of benzene or oxidation of benzene. Therefore, choosing the most appropriate technology for production is a trivial task.

Complexity in pathway: In the above Cumene example case, it is interesting to note that toluene hydrodealkylation produces benzene which can be used to produce phenol. Therefore, fundamentally toluene is required for the generation of various petrochemicals such as benzene and phenol. In other words, there is no hard and fast rule to say that a petrochemical is manufactured using a suggested route or a suggested intermediate petrochemical. Intermediate petrochemicals play a greater role in consolidating the manufacture of other downstream petrochemicals.

 

13.3 Summary of petrochemical processes presented in the course

We next present a summary of the petrochemical processes that would be presented in the course.

Lecture 13

• • Methanol from Synthesis gas route .

Lecture 14

• • Formaldehyde from Methanol.

• Chloromethanes from methane.

Lecture 15

• • Ethylene and acetylene production via steam cracking of hydrocarbons.

Lecture 16

• • Vinyl chloride from ethylene using two step process.

Lecture 17

• • Ethanolamine from ethylene.

Lecture 18

• • Isopropanol from Propylene.

• Cumene from propylene.

Lecture 19

• • Acrylonitrile from propylene.

• Oxo process for converting olefins and synthesis gas to aldehydes and alcohols.

Lecture 20

• • Butadiene from Butane.

• Hydrodealkylation of Toluene.

Lecture 21

• • Phenol from Cumene.

• Phenol from Toluene Oxidation.

Lecture 22

• • Styrene from Benzene.

• • Pthalic anhydride from o-xylene.

Lecture 23

• • Maleic anhydride from Benzene.

• DDT manufacture from Benzene.