Environmental life cycle assessment of olefins and by-product hydrogen from steam cracking of natural gas liquids, naphtha, and gas oil

摘要: Steam cracking is an energy-intensive process used to convert natural gas liquids, naphtha, and gas oil into ethylene and propylene, as well as other chemicals. It is the primary source of ethylene, one of the most important building blocks for the chemical and plastics industry. Steam cracking also co-produces hydrogen which is typically combusted with the tail gas onsite for process heat, but alternatively could be separated and sold as a by-product. This study provides a detailed life cycle inventory for the United States steam cracking industry …