Petrochemical Analysis
Infographic
Published: January 8, 2025
|
Alexander Beadle
Alexander Beadle is a science writer and editor for Technology Networks. He holds a masters degree in Materials Chemistry from the University of St Andrews, Scotland.
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Credit: Technology Networks
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
Download this infographic to explore:
- What petrochemicals are used for
- The need for petrochemical analysis
- Common petrochemical analysis techniques
Y
X Y
Z
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
OPTIMIZATION IN-USE
ANALYSIS
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
SYNTHESIS
GAS
Propene Toluene
Butenes Xylenes
Petrochemicals are organic
compounds derived from crude
oil or natural gas. This is done
using cracking and catalytic
reformation processes.
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
OLEFINS AROMATICS
Based on their chemical structure
or composition, petrochemicals
can be divided broadly into three
groups: olefins, aromatics and
synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas,
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
hydrogen
Methanol,
other industrial
chemicals
A high sulfur content can
poison the catalysts used
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
which build up inside
machinery.
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
or chemical wear (corrosion).
Ethene Benzene
Plastics, synthetic
rubber
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
products with varied chemical
compositions
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
minimal waste For some petrochemical
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
analyses of their elemental
composition while they are
in use can help to detect
wear and degradation
The extraction and processing
of raw materials into
finished petrochemical
products is a complex,
multi-step process
that can introduce
the risk of errors
or contamination
issues if left
unchecked
Crude feedstocks
often contain traces of
unwanted elements,
such as sulfur
Analysis helps
to ensure
that the final
products of
petrochemical
processing are
contaminantfree,
fit-for-purpose,
authentic and meet all
relevant requirements and
regulations
The presence of
trace elements
can cause crude
feedstocks
to react
unpredictably
during
subsequent
processing and
refinement steps
mmonia
alloons
lothing
yes
namel
ertilizers
lue
ouse paint
otorcycle helmets
nsulation
ayaks
ubricants
ylon rope
il filters
lastics
efrigerants
ynthetic rubber
pholstery
aporizers
ires
arn
aporizers
pholstery
S T
U V
W X Y
Z
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
OPTIMIZATION IN-USE
ANALYSIS
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
SYNTHESIS
GAS
Propene Toluene
Butenes Xylenes
Petrochemicals are organic
compounds derived from crude
oil or natural gas. This is done
using cracking and catalytic
reformation processes.
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
OLEFINS AROMATICS
Based on their chemical structure
or composition, petrochemicals
can be divided broadly into three
groups: olefins, aromatics and
synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas,
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
hydrogen
Methanol,
other industrial
chemicals
A high sulfur content can
poison the catalysts used
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
which build up inside
machinery.
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
or chemical wear (corrosion).
Ethene Benzene
Plastics, synthetic
rubber
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
products with varied chemical
compositions
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
minimal waste For some petrochemical
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
analyses of their elemental
composition while they are
in use can help to detect
wear and degradation
The extraction and processing
of raw materials into
finished petrochemical
products is a complex,
multi-step process
that can introduce
the risk of errors
or contamination
issues if left
unchecked
Crude feedstocks
often contain traces of
unwanted elements,
such as sulfur
Analysis helps
to ensure
that the final
products of
petrochemical
processing are
contaminantfree,
fit-for-purpose,
authentic and meet all
relevant requirements and
regulations
The presence of
trace elements
can cause crude
feedstocks
to react
unpredictably
during
subsequent
processing and
refinement steps
mmonia
alloons
lothing
yes
namel
ertilizers
lue
ouse paint
otorcycle helmets
nsulation
ayaks
ubricants
ylon rope
il filters
lastics
efrigerants
ynthetic rubber
pholstery
aporizers
ires
ynthetic rubber
efrigerants
lastics
il filter
M N O P
Q R S T
U V
W X Y
Z
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
OPTIMIZATION IN-USE
ANALYSIS
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
SYNTHESIS
GAS
Propene Toluene
Butenes Xylenes
Petrochemicals are organic
compounds derived from crude
oil or natural gas. This is done
using cracking and catalytic
reformation processes.
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
OLEFINS AROMATICS
Based on their chemical structure
or composition, petrochemicals
can be divided broadly into three
groups: olefins, aromatics and
synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas,
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
hydrogen
Methanol,
other industrial
chemicals
A high sulfur content can
poison the catalysts used
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
which build up inside
machinery.
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
or chemical wear (corrosion).
Ethene Benzene
Plastics, synthetic
rubber
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
products with varied chemical
compositions
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
minimal waste For some petrochemical
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
analyses of their elemental
composition while they are
in use can help to detect
wear and degradation
The extraction and processing
of raw materials into
finished petrochemical
products is a complex,
multi-step process
that can introduce
the risk of errors
or contamination
issues if left
unchecked
Crude feedstocks
often contain traces of
unwanted elements,
such as sulfur
Analysis helps
to ensure
that the final
products of
petrochemical
processing are
contaminantfree,
fit-for-purpose,
authentic and meet all
relevant requirements and
regulations
The presence of
trace elements
can cause crude
feedstocks
to react
unpredictably
during
subsequent
processing and
refinement steps
mmonia
alloons
lothing
yes
namel
ertilizers
lue
ouse paint
otorcycle helmets
nsulation
ayaks
ubricants
ylon rope
otorcycle helmets
K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V
W X Y
Z
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
OPTIMIZATION IN-USE
ANALYSIS
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
SYNTHESIS
GAS
Propene Toluene
Butenes Xylenes
Petrochemicals are organic
compounds derived from crude
oil or natural gas. This is done
using cracking and catalytic
reformation processes.
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
OLEFINS AROMATICS
Based on their chemical structure
or composition, petrochemicals
can be divided broadly into three
groups: olefins, aromatics and
synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas,
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
hydrogen
Methanol,
other industrial
chemicals
A high sulfur content can
poison the catalysts used
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
which build up inside
machinery.
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
or chemical wear (corrosion).
Ethene Benzene
Plastics, synthetic
rubber
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
products with varied chemical
compositions
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
minimal waste For some petrochemical
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
analyses of their elemental
composition while they are
in use can help to detect
wear and degradation
The extraction and processing
of raw materials into
finished petrochemical
products is a complex,
multi-step process
that can introduce
the risk of errors
or contamination
issues if left
unchecked
Crude feedstocks
often contain traces of
unwanted elements,
such as sulfur
Analysis helps
to ensure
that the final
products of
petrochemical
processing are
contaminantfree,
fit-for-purpose,
authentic and meet all
relevant requirements and
regulations
The presence of
trace elements
can cause crude
feedstocks
to react
unpredictably
during
subsequent
processing and
refinement steps
mmonia
alloons
lothing
yes
namel
ertilizers
lue
ouse paint
otorcycle helmets
nsulation
ayaks
ubricants
ayaks
J
H I
J
K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V
W X Y
Z
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
OPTIMIZATION IN-USE
ANALYSIS
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
SYNTHESIS
GAS
Propene Toluene
Butenes Xylenes
Petrochemicals are organic
compounds derived from crude
oil or natural gas. This is done
using cracking and catalytic
reformation processes.
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
OLEFINS AROMATICS
Based on their chemical structure
or composition, petrochemicals
can be divided broadly into three
groups: olefins, aromatics and
synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas,
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
hydrogen
Methanol,
other industrial
chemicals
A high sulfur content can
poison the catalysts used
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
which build up inside
machinery.
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
or chemical wear (corrosion).
Ethene Benzene
Plastics, synthetic
rubber
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
products with varied chemical
compositions
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
minimal waste For some petrochemical
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
analyses of their elemental
composition while they are
in use can help to detect
wear and degradation
The extraction and processing
of raw materials into
finished petrochemical
products is a complex,
multi-step process
that can introduce
the risk of errors
or contamination
issues if left
unchecked
Crude feedstocks
often contain traces of
unwanted elements,
such as sulfur
Analysis helps
to ensure
that the final
products of
petrochemical
processing are
contaminantfree,
fit-for-purpose,
authentic and meet all
relevant requirements and
regulations
The presence of
trace elements
can cause crude
feedstocks
to react
unpredictably
during
subsequent
processing and
refinement steps
mmonia
alloons
lothing
yes
namel
ertilizers
lue
ouse paint
otorcycle helmets
nsulation
ouse paint
lue
ertilizers
D E F
G H I
J
K L
M N O P
Q R S T
U V
W X Y
Z
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
OPTIMIZATION IN-USE
ANALYSIS
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
SYNTHESIS
GAS
Propene Toluene
Butenes Xylenes
Petrochemicals are organic
compounds derived from crude
oil or natural gas. This is done
using cracking and catalytic
reformation processes.
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
OLEFINS AROMATICS
Based on their chemical structure
or composition, petrochemicals
can be divided broadly into three
groups: olefins, aromatics and
synthesis gas.
Synthesis gas,
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
hydrogen
Methanol,
other industrial
chemicals
A high sulfur content can
poison the catalysts used
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
which build up inside
machinery.
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
or chemical wear (corrosion).
Ethene Benzene
Plastics, synthetic
rubber
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
products with varied chemical
compositions
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
minimal waste For some petrochemical
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
analyses of their elemental
composition while they are
in use can help to detect
wear and degradation
The extraction and processing
of raw materials into
finished petrochemical
products is a complex,
multi-step process
that can introduce
the risk of errors
or contamination
issues if left
unchecked
Crude feedstocks
often contain traces of
unwanted elements,
such as sulfur
Analysis helps
to ensure
that the final
products of
petrochemical
processing are
contaminantfree,
fit-for-purpose,
authentic and meet all
relevant requirements and
regulations
The presence of
trace elements
can cause crude
feedstocks
to react
unpredictably
during
subsequent
processing and
refinement steps
mmonia
alloons
lothing
yes
namel
yes
lothing
alloons
A
mmonia
PETROCHEMICAL
analysis
From plastics and paints to detergents
and drugs, petrochemical products are all
around us.
The petrochemical refinement process that turns crude oil and
gas into this wide array of products is a highly complex, multi-stage
operation. To ensure all relevant quality control and safety standards have
been met, the purity of petrochemical products and intermediates must be
accurately monitored throughout their production.
This infographic will explore the need for petrochemical analysis, as well as
common analytical techniques that are applied in the sector.
WHAT ARE
petrochemicals?
Petrochemicals are organic
Based on their chemical structure
compounds derived from crude
or composition, petrochemicals
oil or natural gas. This is done
can be divided broadly into three
using cracking and catalytic
groups: olefins, aromatics and
reformation processes.
synthesis gas.
SYNTHESIS
OLEFINS
AROMATICS
GAS
Ethene
Benzene
Synthesis gas,
Propene
Toluene
or syn gas, is a
mixture of carbon
monoxide and
Butenes
Xylenes
hydrogen
Plastics, synthetic
Dyes, detergents,
Methanol,
rubber
synthetic fiber
other industrial
chemicals
Petrochemicals are the building blocks from which many everyday items are made.
A
B C
D E F
G
F
G
H I
K L
M
L
M N O P
Q R
S
T
U V
W
V
W X
WHY DO WE NEED
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
Petrochemical analysis plays a role in almost every aspect of the petrochemicals sector – from
exploration, production and refining to petrochemical additives, lubricants and catalysts.
CRUDE FEEDSTOCKS
Crude oil and natural gas are natural
CHEMICAL INTERMEDIATES
products with varied chemical
compositions
Crude feedstocks
The extraction and processing
often contain traces of
of raw materials into
unwanted elements,
finished petrochemical
such as sulfur
products is a complex,
multi-step process
The presence of
that can introduce
trace elements
the risk of errors
can cause crude
or contamination
feedstocks
issues if left
to react
unchecked
unpredictably
during
Analysis helps
subsequent
to ensure
processing and
that the fina
refinement steps
products of
petrochemical
processing are
A high sulfur content can
contaminant
poison the catalysts used
free,
fit-for-purpose,
in cracking and contribute
to corrosive solid deposits
authentic and meet all
which build up inside
relevant requirements and
machinery.
regulations
OPTIMIZATION
IN-USE
Processors and refineries may apply petrochemical testing
ANALYSIS
techniques to ensure that their process parameters are
fully optimized and produce high-quality products with
For some petrochemical
minimal waste
products, such as lubricants,
regular scheduled
The presence of trace metals in lubricating oil
analyses of their elemental
may indicate that a machine is experiencing
composition while they are
physical wear (friction between moving parts)
in use can help to detect
or chemical wear (corrosion).
wear and degradation
WHAT TECHNIQUES
ARE USED IN
petroAchNeAmLYicSaIlS?
Gas chromatography (GC) is applied to many different aspects of
petrochemical testing, including the detection of contaminants,
GC & LC
trace sulfur analysis and detailed hydrocarbon analysis.
It is most frequently paired with mass spectrometry, but other
detector types are also used for specific applications:
•
Flame ionization detectors (FID) can be applied to analyze light
hydrocarbons
•
Flame photometric detectors (FPD) are used for organo-sulfur
and organophosphorus analysis in fuels
•
Photo-ionization detectors (PID) can be used to study volatile
organic compounds
GC may be unsuitable for heavier petrochemicals with higher
boiling points, such as resins, as these are more difficult to
vaporize as required for analysis. Non-volatile petrochemicals can
instead be separated using liquid chromatography (LC) or high
performance
liquid chromatography (HPLC).
MS
Mass spectrometry (MS) uses the mass-to-charge (m/z) ratio of
ions in a sample to identify and quantify various analytes.
Ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry (uHRMS) can be used to
study the abundance of various compounds present in fuels and
petroleum products, as well as their chemical structure.
MS is also frequently used in tandem with other techniques,
such as GC or LC , to increase sensitivity and improve the ease of
interpretation.
Inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP
ICP-OES &
OES)
is used at all stages of the petrochemical process – from oil
ICP-MS
production to refining and commercialization. It is commonly
applied to analyze for trace elements in crude oil following
extraction and to detect traces of metal wear in petrochemical
based
lubricants.
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) is also
utilized by the petrochemical industry for ultra-trace element
detection. ICP-MS offers a lower limit of detection compared
to ICP-OES, while ICP-OES is better suited to high-throughput
analyses.
FTIR & NIR
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a fast, flexibl
technique commonly used in the petrochemical sector for the
rapid analysis of crude oil fractions. FTIR is also one of the
methods approved by the independent standards organization
ASTM International as a standard technique for assessing in
service
lubricants.
Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) is a related technique also used
at petrochemical refineries for the real-time analysis of fuels.
In addition to crude oil analysis in the laboratory, nuclear
NMR
magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy plays a key role in oil
and gas exploration where it is used to study the properties of
underground reservoirs.
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