Sources of organic chemicals

Other important natural sources of organic chemicals are the so-called fossil fuels - natural gas, petroleum, and coal - all deposited in the earth from the decay of plant and animal remains, and containing thousands of degradation products. Most of these are simple compounds containing only carbon and hydrogen (technically and even reasonably known as hydrocarbons). Natural gas is relatively simple... 

Bulk Organic Chemicals in Wastewater from Sources of Organic Chemicals, Plastics and Yes 40 CFR 414.70 EPA 1987e... 

Coal may become more imported both as an energy source and as the source of organic chemicals in this century (Demirbas and Giillu, 1998). Coal science is an applied disciphne, using methods of science and engineering for research into genesis, characterization, conversion and utilization of coal and related solid fuels (Demirbas, 1999). 

Crude oil is an important source of organic chemical fuels. It is refined by fractional distillation. Use the information in the table below to answer the questions which follow. 

Biomass was the primary source of organic chemicals up to the mid- to late 1800s when the fossil fuel era began, and was then gradually displaced by... 

Petroleum chemicals or petrochemicals are chemicals derived from petroleum, liquefied petroleum gases, or natural gas. These raw materials are the major sources of organic chemicals today, and the term petrochemicals is virtually synonymous with organic chemicals. Therefore, the markets for petrochemicals are the same as the markets for organic chemicals in general. Even a few inorganic chemicals—for example, sulfur, sulfuric acid, ammonia, and hydrogen cyanide—are made from petroleum and natural gas. 

Products and Uses Tar obtained from coal. Produced in making coke for steel. Coal tar originally was the major source of organic chemicals, which are currently obtained from natural gas and petroleum. Used for roads, waterproofing, paints, pipe coatings, surfacings, insulation, pesticides, sealants, adhesives, hair coloring products, and makeup. 

The first plastic made was cellulose nitrate, which is a derivative of cellulose, obtained from wood pulp. The first truly synthetic polymer material was phenolic resin, which was synthesized from phenol and formaldehyde derived from coal. Today, the source of organic chemicals for the production of polymers has shifted from these traditional sources to petroleum and natural gas. Petroleum as a raw material for organic chemicals (petrochemicals) is relatively cheap, readily available in large tonnages, and more easily processed than the other main source of organic chemicals — coal. 

There is no doubt about the switch from oil to coal as a source of organic chemicals the only uncertainty concerns the time-scale and rate at which it happens. 

The story starts in the early part of this century, in the era before the development of the petrochemical industry, when the major source of organic chemicals was coal. The starting point for many aliphatic compounds then was acetylene (ethyne) whose production utilized coke which was produced from coal. The reactions involved were as follows ... 

Ethylene is not only the most important industrial source of organic chemicals, but it also has some biochemical properties that are crucial to agriculture. Ethylene is a plant hormone that can cause seeds to sprout, flowers to bloom, fruit to ripen and fall, and leaves and petals to shrivel and turn brown. It is produced naturally by plants from the amino acid methionine via an unusual cyclic amino acid, 1 -aminocydopropane-l-carboxylic... 

Because of its considerable economic importance it is not surprising that butadiene has been prepared by a variety of routes from each of the main sources of organic chemicals, namely petroleum, coal and agricultural products. 

BIOMASS is the only potentially renewable source of organic chemicals, organic materials and liquid transportation fuels. The biomass resource is huge. While estimates are necessarily imprecise, it is believed that photosynthesis fixes approximately 150billion tons of newplant matter annually on the planet. Production of biobased industrial products has the potential to benefit both the economy and the environment and to provide new pathways for sustainable economic development. 

Biomass production and processing have the potential to give us a uniquely sustainable source of organic chemicals, organic materials (such as biopolymers) and liquid transportation fuels. Biomass can also help us sustainably... 

In addition to water solutions, other liquid chemicals can be the basis for solution formation and use. Examples include crude oil (the source of organic chemicals), manufactured oils, many petroleum distillates, and nonwater solvents used for cleaning. Gasoline, kerosene, and other fuels are solutions. In addition, organic solvents, such as acetone and methyl alcohol, are used as solvents in industrial laboratories. It follows that students of chemistry should devote much attention to this state of matter known as a solution. 

The concept of a massive reduction of carbon dioxide as a source of organic chemicals in the future when fossil fuels become economically... 

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