ethylene

ethylene
Name	Ethylene
Othernames	Ethene
Formula	C2H4
Molar mass	28.05 g·mol−1
Appearance	Colorless gas
Density	1.1786 kg·m−3 (gas, 0 °C, 1 atm)
Melting point	−169.2 °C
Boiling point	−103.7 °C

ethylene

Introduction

Ethylene is a simple unsaturated hydrocarbon used as a fundamental feedstock in chemical industry and as a plant hormone in agriculture. Major producers such as ExxonMobil, Shell plc, Chevron Corporation, Dow Inc., and SABIC integrate ethylene into value chains that supply polymers, solvents, and intermediates to markets linked to BASF SE, LyondellBasell Industries, TotalEnergies, and INEOS. Historically, developments in ethylene production connect to engineering advances from firms like DuPont and chemical discoveries associated with chemists working in institutions such as University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and University of Oxford.

Production and synthesis

Ethylene is produced predominantly by steam cracking of hydrocarbons sourced from regions and companies tied to OPEC, Gazprom, Saudi Aramco, Royal Dutch Shell, and shale plays in the United States. Steam crackers operated by corporations including PetroChina and Chevron Phillips Chemical process naphtha, ethane, propane, and butane feedstocks in facilities located near ports like Port of Rotterdam and industrial centers such as Houston, Texas and Antwerp. Alternative routes include catalytic dehydrogenation developed by research groups at BASF SE and technology licensed by firms like Lummus Technology and Thyssenkrupp. Academic collaborations at University of California, Berkeley and ETH Zurich advance oxidative coupling and membrane reactor concepts. Historical laboratory syntheses trace to experiments in the 19th century by chemists associated with Royal Society proceedings and later refinements in petrochemical plants modeled after projects at Imperial Chemical Industries.

Physical and chemical properties

Ethylene is a colorless, flammable gas exhibiting a planar geometry around the carbon–carbon double bond, consistent with valence notions taught at Harvard University, Stanford University, and California Institute of Technology. Its pi-bond imparts reactivity exploited in reactions studied in publications from American Chemical Society journals and conferences such as Gordon Research Conferences. Ethylene undergoes electrophilic additions, polymerizations catalyzed by Ziegler–Natta and metallocene systems developed by scientists affiliated with Ziegler, Karl Ziegler, and Giulio Natta legacies, and oxidation processes investigated at Max Planck Society laboratories. Spectroscopic characterization employs techniques standardized by institutions including National Institute of Standards and Technology and analyzed in databases from International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry.

Industrial and commercial applications

Ethylene underlies production of polyethylene grades supplied by corporations like Dow Inc., ExxonMobil Chemical, and SABIC to industries involving manufacturers such as Walmart and IKEA through supply chains managed by logistics firms including Maersk. As a precursor to ethylene oxide and ethylene glycol, it links to antifreeze and polyester supply marketed by textile firms like Inditex and Nike, Inc.. Ethylene derivatives feed into vinyl chloride monomer routes serving producers such as OxyChem and construction materials used by companies like Vulcan Materials Company. In petrochemical complexes co-located with refineries owned by BP and TotalEnergies, ethylene is converted to alpha-olefins, styrene, and intermediates for detergents and surfactants used by consumer goods firms like Procter & Gamble and Unilever.

Biological roles and effects

Ethylene functions as a phytohormone controlling fruit ripening, leaf abscission, and stress responses studied in plant biology programs at institutions like Wageningen University & Research, University of California, Davis, and Cornell University. Agricultural researchers at United States Department of Agriculture and companies such as Syngenta exploit ethylene signaling to regulate postharvest handling for crops distributed through markets like Sainsbury's and Tesco. Ethylene perception mechanisms involve receptor proteins discovered in studies associated with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and signaling pathways characterized in work linked to Nobel Prize-level inquiries into cell communication. Ethylene exposure affects ripening of climacteric fruits such as apples and bananas handled by multinational exporters like Chiquita Brands International and Dole Food Company.

Safety, handling, and environmental impact

Storage, transportation, and safety protocols for ethylene fall under regulations and standards published by organizations including Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, and International Maritime Organization. Accidental releases implicate emergency response teams like Federal Emergency Management Agency and regional authorities in industrial hubs such as Houston, Texas and Port of Antwerp. Combustion contributes to volatile organic compound inventories addressed in air quality plans by agencies such as European Environment Agency and climate policy discussions at United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Risk management in petrochemical complexes is informed by incident analyses from investigators at Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement and standards bodies like American Petroleum Institute.

Category:Organics