Mobile Source Air Toxics (MSAT) II regulations restrict the average benzene level in gasoline sold in the U.S. to 0.62 vol%. In India and in several other countries, benzene in gasoline is presently restricted to 1 vol%. Fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) gasoline contributes to nearly 10%–20% of the gasoline pool in a typical refinery.

As the global energy system continues to be threatened by geopolitical tensions, the refining industry continues to demonstrate an outstanding capacity for adaptation.

The global chemical industry faced a challenging year in 2023. Various factors contributed to sluggish demand growth for chemicals globally, including the European recession, U.S. inflation and a lower-than-expected chemical demand rebound in China. These factors resulted in global chemical market growth of < 1% in 2023, with many producers experiencing lower output.

Today, the world produces twice as much plastic waste as it did two decades ago, with the majority ending up in landfills, being incinerated or leaking into the environment.

Polyolefins products such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE), linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene (PP) form approximately 65%–70% of all polymers manufactured globally.

The authors’ company has developed a commercial chemical process^a for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane (ODH-E). By means of a heterogeneous catalyst, ethane and oxygen are selectively converted into ethylene and acetic acid, which, after separation and purification, are provided in polymer-grade and glacial quality, respectively.