Catalysis in Petrochemical Processes

The field of petrochemicals started some years ago with the simple addition reaction of water to propylene for the production of isopropyl alcohol. Currently, the petrochemical industry has become a multi-billion dollar enterprise which encompasses a wide field of chemical products. Almost all the basic organic reactions such as hydrogenation, alkylation, substitution, polymerization, etc. are utilized for the production of these chemicals. It may not, however, have been possible to establi...