Aromatic compounds, production petroleum refining industry

T he petroleum industry entered the field of aromatics production largely because the unprecedented demand for toluene for the manufacture of TNT at the outbreak of World War II in 1939 could not be met by other sources. As a result of its efforts, the industry supplied 75 to 85% of all the toluene which was nitrated for TNT production during the latter years of World War II. Since that time the petroleum refiners have remained in the field and at present they are major suppliers of toluene and xylenes. In Table I it is shown that in 1949 about 59% of the toluene and 84% of the xylenes produced in the United States were derived from petroleum sources. The petroleum industry has diversified its operations in the field of aromatics production until at present a variety of materials is offered. Table II presents a partial list of the commercially available aromatics, together with some of their uses. A number of other aromatics, such as methylethyl-benzene and trimethylbenzene, have been separated in small scale lots both as mixtures and as pure compounds. 

Mixtures of gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons which can be vaporized represent the raw materials preferable for the industrial production of carbon black. Since aliphatic hydrocarbons give lower yields than aromatic hydrocarbons, the latter are primarily used. The best yields are given by unsubstituted polynuclear compounds with 3-4 rings. Certain fractions of coal tar oils and petrochemical oils from petroleum refinement or the production of ethylene from naphtha (aromatic concentrates and pyrolysis oils) are materials rich in these compounds. These aromatic oils, which are mixtures of a variety of substances, are the most important feedstocks today. Oil on a petrochemical basis is predominant. A typical petrochemical oil consists of 10-15% monocyclic, 50-60% bicyclic, 25-35% tricyclic, and 5-10% tetracyclic aroma tes. 

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