Raw Materials and Feedstocks

Raw Materials and Feedstocks

Introduction

• In chemistry and the chemical industry, understanding the distinction between raw materials and feedstocks is essential. Raw materials are the basic resources provided by the Earth, while feedstocks are chemicals derived from raw materials for further chemical manufacturing. Let's explore these concepts.

Raw Materials

• Raw materials are the fundamental resources that nature supplies, and they serve as the starting point for various chemical processes. Some common raw materials include:

Fossil Fuels

• Examples: coal, oil, and natural gas.
• Fossil fuels are ancient organic materials formed over millions of years and are used as sources of energy and feedstocks for various chemical products.

Metallic Ores

• Examples: aluminium extracted from bauxite (Al2O3).
• Metallic ores are minerals containing valuable metals, which can be extracted and used in a wide range of industrial applications.

Minerals

• Examples: chlorine from sodium chloride (table salt).
• Minerals such as salt provide essential chemical elements that are used in various industrial processes.

Water and Air

• Water is involved in processes like the hydration of ethene to ethanol.

• Air contains gases like nitrogen, which is used in the Haber Process, and oxygen, used in catalytic oxidation reactions.

• Examples: plant and animal products, vegetable oils, and starch.

• Organic materials are derived from living organisms and find use in various chemical applications.

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Raw Materials and Feedstocks

Organic Materials

• Examples: plant and animal products, vegetable oils, and starch.
• Organic materials are derived from living organisms and find use in various chemical applications.

Feedstocks

Feedstocks are chemicals derived from raw materials and are crucial in chemical manufacturing. They serve as starting materials for the production of a wide range of chemical products. For example:

• Crude oil is a raw material that can be fractionally distilled to obtain various products, including naphtha.
• Naphtha serves as a feedstock and can be cracked to produce ethene, which is used in the production of plastics and other chemicals.

Feedstocks

Raw materials are the Earth's natural resources, while feedstocks are chemicals derived from these raw materials to be used in the chemical industry. Understanding the relationship between raw materials and feedstocks is essential for the production of a wide array of chemical products that impact our daily lives.