Petrochemicals life cycle analysis

In polymer applications derivatives of oils and fats, such as epoxides, polyols and dimerizations products based on unsaturated fatty acids, are used as plastic additives or components for composites or polymers like polyamides and polyurethanes. In the lubricant sector oleochemically-based fatty acid esters have proved to be powerful alternatives to conventional mineral oil products. For home and personal care applications a wide range of products, such as surfactants, emulsifiers, emollients and waxes, based on vegetable oil derivatives has provided extraordinary performance benefits to the end-customer. Selected products, such as the anionic surfactant fatty alcohol sulfate have been investigated thoroughly with regard to their environmental impact compared with petrochemical based products by life-cycle analysis. Other product examples include carbohydrate-based surfactants as well as oleochemical based emulsifiers, waxes and emollients. 

Since FAS can be produced either from vegetable oil based or petrochemical-based fatty alcohol (Fig. 4.9), both types have been evaluated in a life-cycle analysis with a positive overall result for the natural based product. With vegetable-based fatty alcohol sulfate, the analysis starts with the harvesting of the oil fruits (palm kernels or coconuts) and their processing to isolate the desired plant oil. Subsequent transesterification and hydrogenation of the methyl ester intermediates lead to the fatty alcohols, which are finally sulfated to produce the desired product. Based on this analysis the environmental impact of vegetable oil based fatty alcohol sulfate compared with the petrochemical based product is as follows ... 

Fatty alcohols, by which the author means those in the range C and above, are split into two classes, petrochemical and oleochemical, or, as they are more usually referred to, synthetic and natural. The discussion of the relative merits of synthetic vs natural products has been at the forefront of surfactant technology for many years and has produced a wealth of literature. It is beyond the scope of this work to discuss whether oleochemicals have an inherent environmental benefit over petrochemicals. A good deal of scientific study on life cycle analysis and macro environmental impact is available but social and ethical arguments, as well as the perceptions of the end consumer, also play a part. On a strictly scientific basis, the author sees no inherent advantage in either source. The performance of a surfactant based on synthetic materials may differ from a naturally derived one but neither is intrinsically better than the other. In terms of impact on humans and the environment, there is also no clear evidence to suggest a difference between the two sources of hydrophobe. 

Economic studies on the production of biobutanol from corn determined that distillation recovery of butanol from the dilute ABE fermentation broth is not economical comparing to the butanol production from the current petrochemical route (Ezeji et al., 2007c). However, the life-cycle analysis on the corn-based butanol production indicated that the use of corn-based butanol as a biofuel can lead to substantial fossil energy savings relative to the use of conventional petroleum gasoline, and it can also avoid a large amount of GHG emission burdens (Wu et al., 2008). 

In looking at the life cycle analysis of surfactants based on renewable materials versus petrochemical feedstocks there are pros and cons to each side. Petrochemical processes use more energy but generate less waste whereas agricultural processes generate more waste and gaseous emissions. However, the opportunities for efficiency improvements are greater in the oleochemical and allied industries than in the petrochemical industry [40]. 

Detailed discussions at component level starting from sensors, safety field bus, safe logic solvers, and final control elements are a unique addition to the book. The book also covers the security aspects of various networks, viz. firewalls and zone-conduit to name a few, which is also another unique feature of the book. The book also covers application of SIS in various plants covering fossil fuel power stations, nuclear power stations, oil and gas sector such as upstream, midstream, refinery, and petrochemicals. There have been supplementary data and information on statistical approaches, embedded controls, and cost impact and life cycle cost analysis to take care of advancement in technology and systematic approach toward the problem. 

---