INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHEMICAL ASSOCIATIONS WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? The global chemical industry will be widely valued and supported for its economic, social and environmental contributions to society Mr. Alain Perroy, Council Secretary, ICCA c/o CEFIC, Ave. E. Van Nieuwenhuyse 4, BTE 2, B-1160 Brussels, Belgium - Telephone: ++32 2 676 7217 Fax: ++ 32 2 676 7226 Email: mca@cefic.be - Web site: http://www.icca-chem.org
WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? Chemistry it s in everything and everywhere. By its very nature, the world and everything around us air, water, the ground beneath us, the infinite number of things and technologies we use every day, as well as our own living tissue - is chemistry in motion. As society learned to harness the chemistry of nature and things, a wide range of innovative products and services - that make people s lives better, healthier and safer - has emerged. Good chemistry makes it possible. What is it? It is extended and healthier life spans, saved lives, improved quality of life, higher standards of living, an improved environment, economic benefits, and myriad social and other benefits of chemistry. Chemistry is essential to our everyday lives. It makes possible many innovations and benefits for society. When the science of chemistry is applied, it helps make the lives of people throughout the world safer, healthier and more productive. Indeed, our food, safe water supply, clothing, shelter, health care, computer technology, transportation and every other facet of modern life, all depend upon the business of chemistry. The business of chemistry transforms the natural raw materials of the earth, sea and air into products that we use everyday. It creates products that bring major societal benefits to quality of life, health, productivity, convenience and safety. Think of the following as the value chain of the business of chemistry: Chemistry Discovery and Innovation Better Products Social and Economic Benefits from Better Products Improved Quality of Life, Safety and Well-Being Peace of Mind, Security, and Enjoyment of Life Thus, the business of chemistry involves problem solving companies providing solutions to improve the world. It is a science and technology, knowledge-based industry that is key to a sustainable world economy and improved health and nutrition.
Chemical Chains The figures that follow provide a simplified overview of some key parts of the production chain of the business of chemistry, from raw material inputs to valued outputs. There are two kinds of chemistry, organic and inorganic. Organic inputs, like oil and natural gas, contain hydrocarbons, which form the backbone of final organic chemical outputs. Very few chemicals use oil and natural gas directly as raw materials. Rather, they are first processed into natural gas liquids such as ethane, propane or into heavier liquids such as naphtha and gas oil. In the first stage of processing, these raw materials are refined to produce primary outputs like benzene and ethylene. Primary outputs like these are the building blocks of the business of chemistry. In subsequent stages of processing, (Figures 2.3-2.10) chemicals such as chlorine are added to the hydrocarbon backbones to give the compounds certain desired characteristics. The final output may, for example, be nylon or polyester fiber, plastic, a pharmaceutical product, or other products, which are often not thought of as business of chemistry outputs. Inorganic inputs are often compounds of two or more natural elements. Salt, a simple compound formed from sodium (Na) and chlorine (Cl) can be broken down by electrolysis to produce chlorine and caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). Chlorine (Figure 2.4), a common inorganic chemical, is used both by industries and consumers. The paper industry, for example, uses chlorine to bleach paper pulp, and consumers may appreciate it as a means of keeping their clothes white and their drinking water safe. Caustic soda is another inorganic chemical used extensively in manufacturing processes and in the production of soaps and detergents. The figures that follow do not attempt to report all chemical products and processes. The vast spectrum of chemical products makes it impractical to describe more than a few simple process chains.
What is Chemistry? Mining Inorganic Raw Materials Organic Raw Materials, Coal, Biomass Oil Gas Production Heat Air Chemical Processing Water Chemical Building Blocks Heat Air Water Chemical Processing Chemical Intermediate & Finished Products Other Manufacturers Consumers Exports Chemistry combines organic and inorganic materials from the earth, with heat, air, and water to make products useful in modern civilization. Organic chemicals begin with raw materials containing hydrocarbons such as oil, natural gas, and coal. Inorganic chemicals do not contain carbon but are made from ores taken from the earth, such as salt.
Chlor-Alkali Chain Ethylene Dichloride Vinyl Chloride Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Siding, Pipe, Flooring Methyl Chloride, Methylene Chloride, Chloroform, Carbon Tetrachloride, & Other Chlorinated Methanes Solvents, Metal Cleaning, Electronics, Polymers Chlorine Ethylene Dichloride, & Other Chlorinated Ethanes PVC Solvents Siding, Flooring, Pipe, Shower Curtains Dry Cleaning, Metal Cleaning, Degreasing Chlorinated Benzene Pesticides, Dyes Chlor-Alkali Plant Epoxy Coatings, Adhesives, Printed Circuit Board Epichlorohydrin Other Chemicals Pulp Bleaching Glycerin Toothpaste, Cosmetics, Food Water Treatment Other Chemicals Caustic Soda Pulp & Paper Soaps, Detergents, Cleaners Water Treatment Oil Refining
Ammonia Chain Ammonium Sulfate Natural Gas Ammonia Ammonium Phosphates Fertilizer, Feeds, Explosives, Chemicals Nitric Acid Urea Caprolactam Nylon Fibers Carpet, Home Furnishing, Apparel Acrylonitrile Acrylic Fibers Apparel, Home Furnishings Chemicals
Methanol Chain Methyl-Tertiary Butyl Ether Gasoline Phenol Formaldehyde Natural Gas Methanol Formaldehyde Plywood, Particle Board, Insulation Urea Urea Formaldehyde Carbon Monoxide Acetic Acid Latex, Paints, Other Coatings, Adhesives, Textile Finishing Chlorine Chloromethanes Electronics, Metal Cleaning, Paint Remover, Silicones, Insulation Acetone Methyl- Methacrylate Glazing, Signs, Other Acrylics Chemicals
Ethylene Chain Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE) & Linear Low Density Polyethylene (LLDPE) High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Food Packaging, Film, Trash Bags, Diapers, Toys, Housewares Housewares, Crates, Drums, Food Containers, Bottles Ethylene Dichloride Vinyl Chloride PVC Siding, Window Frames, Swimming Pool Liners, Pipes Ethylene Oxide Ethylene Glycol Automotive Antifreeze Crude Oil/ Natura l Gas Ethylen Fibers Pantyhose, Carpets, Clothing Polyester Resin Bottles Film Polystyrene Insulation, Cups, Models Ethylbenzene Acrylonitrile Instrument Lenses, Houseware Linear Alcohols Detergents Butadiene Rubber Tires, Footwear, Sealants Vinyl Acetate Adhesives, Coatings, Textile/Paper Butadiene Latex Carpet Backing, Paper Coatings Miscellaneou
Propylene Chain Propylene Oxide Propylene Glycol Polyesters Auto Patch Compounds, Furniture Parts, Boats, Fibers Polyols Polyurethane Foams, Coatings, Lacquers Polypropylene Fibers Auto Steering Wheels, Knobs, Auto Grills, Pipe, Film, Shirt Packages, Strapping, Rope & Twine Indoor/Outdoor Carpets, Matting Crude Oil Propylene Isopropyl Alcohol Acetone Methyl Methacrylate Solvents, Coatings, Cosmetics, Health Care Plastics, Signs, Plexiglass, Paints, Tail- Light Lenses, Lighting Panels Oxoalcohols Plasticizers Solvents PVC Plastics Coatings Rain Coats, Inflatable Toys Acrylonitrile Polyacrylonitrile Acrylic Fiber Carpets, Sweaters, Draperies, Dresses, Coats Modacrylic Fiber Acrylic Synthetic Furs, Coatings Lenses, Light Fixtures, Coatings, Domestics Cumene ABS Telephones, Auto Parts, Bathtubs Phenol Phenolic, Nylon Fibers, Solvents Acrylic Acid, Acrylates Super Absorbent Polymers, Coatings, Adhesives, Detergents
C-4 Chain -Butadiene Rubber Polybutadiene Rubber Tires, Footwear Tires, Golf Balls -Butadiene Latex Carpet Backing, Adhesives Butadiene ABS Chloroprene Rubber Automotive Parts, Spas Gaskets, Seals, Hoses Nitrile Rubber Shoe Soles, Kitchen Mats, Hoses, Gaskets Crude Oil C-4 Isobutylene Synthetic Rubber Auto Tires, Plastic Compounds Gasoline Butylene Oxide Polyurethanes Foams, Insulation Maleic Anhydride Unsaturated Polyesters Alkyd
Benzene Chain Crude Oil Ethylene Cracker Benzene Ethylbenzene Polystyrene Insulation, Cups, Models Acrylonitrile Instrument Lenses, Houseware Butadiene Rubber Tires, Footwear, Sealants Butadiene Latex Carpet Backing, Paper Coatings Cumene Acetone Phenol Bisphenol A Phenolic Polycarbonate Epoxy Football Helmets, Eyeglasses, Computers Protective Coatings, Adhesives Plywood, Coatings, Housings Cyclohexane Adipic Acid Caprolactam Nylon Fibers & Nylon Fibers & Aniline Isocyanates Rubber Chemicals Pesticides Dyes Chlorobenzenes Pesticides, Dyes
Toluene Chain Ethylbenzene Benzene Cumene Cyclohexane Aniline Other o-xylene Crude Oil Toluene Xylene p-xylene m-xylene Urethane Foams Bedding, Insulation Toluene Diisocyanate Urethane Coatings Varnishes, Adhesives, Sealants Solvents Urethane Elastomers Footwear
Xylene Chain Plasticizer D.O.P. Plastic Products Phthalic Anhydride Alkyd o-xylene Solvents and Auto Parts, Coatings, Furniture Polyester Polyol Urethanes Foams, Insulation Crude Oil Xylene m-xylene Dyes Isophthalic Acid Alkyd Polyamide TV parts Adhesives Solvents Unsaturated Polyesters p-xylene Terephthalic Acid/ Dimethyl Terephthalate Polyester Fibers for Apparel, PET for Bottles, Tapes & Films
The International Council of Chemical Associations (ICCA) is the world-wide voice of the chemical industry, representing chemical manufacturers and producers all over the world. It accounts for more than 75 per cent of chemical manufacturing operations with a production exceeding USD 1.6 trillion annually. Almost 30 percent of this production is traded internationally. ICCA promotes and co-ordinates Responsible Care and other voluntary chemical industry initiatives. ICCA has a central role in the exchange of information within the international industry, and in the development of position statements on matters of policy. It is also the main channel of communication between the industry and various international organizations that are concerned with health, environment and trade-related issues, including the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD).