Читать книгу Petrochemistry and the Green Planet: a Pipe Dream or Reality? - Владислав Киреев - Страница 4

The inception of the petrochemical era is closely tied to the discovery of oil in the late 19th century. It became an industrial raw material for the production of various chemical products for the first time. This pivotal event marked the start of the petrochemical industry’s growth and had a profound influence on the global economy and industry.

Let’s travel back to the late 19th century. The era of initial oil discoveries and the first oil wells emerged in the USA and Russia. One of the most iconic of these ones was the Spindletop oil well in Texas, USA, established in 1901. This discovery was a watershed moment in the development of the oil industry, attracting the attention of investors and entrepreneurs to the prospects of the oil business.

In the early 20th century, the first chemical plants based on oil evolved into one of the industry’s most significant innovations. Scientists and engineers sought ways not just to derive fuel from oil, but also to create other components, breaking new ground for the oil refining and petrochemical industry.

With the advancement of technologies and research, new methods were discovered along with new chemical compounds from oil, such as styrene, a strategically important raw material for producing synthetic rubber. It was first synthesized in 1927, marking a significant milestone in the petrochemical industry. Due to its unique properties, synthetic rubber began to successfully compete with its natural analogue, ensuring itself a strong position in global industrial markets.