Background:
This profile is concerned with primary aliphatic (e.g. ethene, propene, butadiene) and aromatic (e.g. benzene) organic chemicals and the intermediate and final product chemicals derived from them. Synthetic organic chemicals are manufactured from natural organic materials, such as petroleum, natural gas and coal which have undergone at least one chemical reaction (e.g. oxidation, hydrogenation or chlorination).
Potential Processes and Operations:
In the past carbonisation, or distillation, of coal yielded coal tar and a gaseous fraction including methane and ethene. The coal tar could be further distilled to produce aromatic hydrocarbons, such as benzene and naphthalene, and phenols. Other source materials were ethanol (used to produce ethene) and ethyne/acetylene (used to produce ethene and propene). Crude oil is now the principal carbon source for the manufacture of bulk organic chemicals. Oil refining processes use distillation to separate the crude oil into fractions which can be further separated by physical and chemical processing to yield ethene, propene and butadiene, which are the basis for processing a huge variety of intermediate and final product organic chemicals. This profile deals with the six major sources of organic chemicals:
- Ethyne / acetylene
- Methane
- Ethene / ethylene
- Propene / propylene
- Butanes, butenes / butylenes and higher aliphatic hydrocarbons
- Aromatics
Potential Contaminants of Concern:
Industry profiles usually include a list of potential contaminants associated with different locations on site. For this profile a site-wide approach has been taken because its focus is on organic chemicals manufacturing works which may be contaminated by a large range of substances. It is recommended that an appropriate site investigation be carried out to determine the exact nature of the contamination associated with an individual site, taking into account the history of the site.
| Contaminant type | Main group of contaminants | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Site wide | ||
| Organic | Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) | • |
| Halogenated hydrocarbons | • | |
| Non-halogenated hydrocarbons | • | |
| Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs | • | |
| Dioxins and furans | • | |
| Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) | • | |
| Pesticides and herbicides | ||
| Organometallic compounds | • | |
| Explosives | ||
| Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) | ||
| Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) | • | |
| Inorganic | Metals | • |
| Non-metals and common inorganic substances | • | |
| Asbestos | • | |
| Cyanides | • | |
| Radionuclides | ||
| Other potential contaminants of concern | There are many organic and inorganic contaminants not included in the above groups. Refer to the original Industry Profile for additional potential contaminants. | |
- Best available techniques reference document (BREF) - Manufacture of Organic Fine Chemicals (2006)
- Best available techniques reference document (BREF) - Production of Large Volume Organic Chemicals (2017)
- Best available techniques reference document (BREF) - Production of Polymers (2007)
- Best available techniques reference document (BREF) - Common Waste Gas Management and Treatment Systems in the Chemical Sector (2023)
- For specific sites further information may be obtained from environmental permits which may be found by relevant searches.
- Gas works, coke works and other coal carbonisation plants
- Oil refineries and bulk storage of crude oil and petroleum products
