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| propylene | |
|---|---|
| Name | Propylene |
| Other names | Propene |
| Formula | C3H6 |
| Molar mass | 42.08 g·mol−1 |
| Appearance | Colorless gas (ambient) |
| Density | 1.81 kg·m−3 (gas, 0 °C) |
| Melting point | −185.2 °C |
| Boiling point | −47.6 °C |
| Solubility | Slight in water |
propylene
Propylene is an unsaturated hydrocarbon in the alkene family used as a chemical feedstock and industrial fuel intermediate. Major chemical companies such as ExxonMobil, Shell plc, BP, Chevron, and TotalEnergies SE process propylene alongside petrochemical complexes in regions like Gulf Coast (United States), Rotterdam, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Southeast Asia. Trade organizations and regulatory bodies including the American Chemistry Council, International Energy Agency, and national agencies such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency monitor production, safety, and market trends.
Commercial propylene is produced by steam cracking of hydrocarbons and by fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) in refineries operated by companies like Valero Energy Corporation and Phillips 66. On-purpose technologies such as propane dehydrogenation (PDH) are supplied by licensors such as LyondellBasell, UOP LLC, Haldor Topsoe, and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc.. Petrochemical complexes integrate units from engineering firms like Fluor Corporation and KBR, Inc. to convert feedstocks from sources including crude oil, natural gas liquids, and shale gas basins such as the Permian Basin and Marcellus Formation. Research institutions like Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of California, Berkeley, and Imperial College London study catalytic mechanisms, while international conferences hosted by European Chemical Industry Council and Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association disseminate process advances.
Propylene is a colorless, flammable gas with formula C3H6 and a molar mass of 42.08 g·mol−1. Its physical constants are catalogued by agencies including National Institute of Standards and Technology and industrial handbooks produced by American Petroleum Institute. As an alkene, it undergoes electrophilic addition, polymerization, and oxidation reactions; polymerization is catalyzed by systems developed by researchers associated with Dow Chemical Company, BASF SE, Borealis AG, and Nobel laureate work connected to Karl Ziegler and Giulio Natta. Oxidation and combustion pathways are studied in combustion research groups at Princeton University and Sandia National Laboratories for application in gas turbine and internal combustion engine modeling.
The largest use of propylene is as feedstock for polypropylene production in plants owned by corporations such as Ineos Group Limited, SABIC, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., and Covestro AG. Polypropylene finding applications in companies like Toyota Motor Corporation and Apple Inc. supports automotive and consumer electronics supply chains. Propylene derivatives include propylene oxide (produced by firms such as Dow Chemical Company), acrylonitrile (made by producers including Solenis), and cumene (historically supplied by Shell plc), which feed industries ranging from Bayer and 3M materials to packaging operations at Walmart suppliers. Propylene is also used in manufacture of chemicals for pharmaceutical firms like Pfizer and Roche and in petrochemical hubs coordinated through trade hubs like Aframax and major ports such as Port of Houston.
Regulatory frameworks from Occupational Safety and Health Administration and European Chemicals Agency classify handling requirements and exposure limits; emergency response guidelines are coordinated with agencies including National Fire Protection Association and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Acute exposure to high concentrations can cause asphyxiation and central nervous system effects documented by occupational health departments at institutions like Johns Hopkins University. Environmental monitoring programs run by United Nations Environment Programme and national ministries assess fugitive emissions from petrochemical complexes and refineries run by operators like ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco. Climate and air quality research at National Aeronautics and Space Administration and European Space Agency study atmospheric reactions of volatile organic compounds including propylene that contribute to ozone formation.
Storage and bulk transport are managed under standards from International Maritime Organization and Department of Transportation (United States), using pressurized vessels, refrigerated tanks, and pipeline networks maintained by firms such as Enbridge and Kinder Morgan. Safety management systems employed by operators like BASF SE and Linde plc adhere to guidance from International Organization for Standardization and American Society of Mechanical Engineers for pressure vessels, leak detection, and emergency shutdown. Major incidents and learnings involving petrochemical facilities prompt coordination with local authorities including fire departments and facility operators in industrial centers such as Baytown, Texas and Antwerp.
The commercial rise of propylene paralleled expansion of the petrochemical industry in the 20th century led by companies such as Standard Oil derivatives and later multinational petrochemical firms like Dow Chemical Company and Union Carbide Corporation. Technological milestones—steam cracking, catalytic cracking, and Ziegler–Natta polymerization—were advanced in laboratories at University of Texas at Austin and industrial research centers like DuPont research facilities. Global market analysis by organizations such as International Monetary Fund and World Bank tracks propylene demand linked to manufacturing growth in regions including China, India, European Union, and United States. Trade disputes, tariffs, and investment flows influencing petrochemical expansion have been addressed in forums like World Trade Organization negotiations and regional agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement framework, later succeeded by United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement.
Category:Alkenes Category:Petrochemicals