10 PETROLEUM PRODUCTS FOR EVERYDAY USE - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The products of oil are products that are produced from hydrocarbons when processed in refineries. Unlike petrochemicals, which are generally pure chemical compounds, petroleum products are complex combinations.

Depending on the demand and the refinery, different products can be produced. Most of the products are used as “transportation fuels”, ranging from gasoline to fuel oil (fuel oil).

These fuels include or can be blended to obtain gasoline, diesel, turbine fuel, or heating oils. The heaviest parts can be used to produce asphalt, tar, paraffin, lubricants and other heavy oils.

Refineries also produce other chemicals that are also used to make plastics and other materials used by humans. Petroleum coke is also commercialized, for example.

The most common derivatives are fuel oils for heating and electricity and for asphalt. It is also used as a raw material to make synthetic materials, plastics and chemicals that have a use in the daily life of human beings.

Petroleum waste or secondary by-products from petroleum refining are also used to make other things. It is estimated that there are more than 6,000 products made from the waste. The most common products include fertilizers, perfumes, linoleum, insecticides, petroleum jelly, soaps, vitamin capsules, etc.

A 42 gallon barrel of oil (150 liters) creates about 19.4 gallons of gasoline (75 liters). The remainder, which is more than half, is used to make hundreds of everyday products. Some of the most common are solvents, inks, nail polishes, dyes and colorants, doors, toothpastes, telephones, cameras, plastics, antiseptics and detergents.

Commonly used petroleum products

1- Asphalt

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It is a sticky, black and viscous liquid. It is a partially solid form of oil. It is used mostly in road construction.

It is also sometimes used in roof waterproofing. Because it is a strong substance that can be quickly repaired, it is widely used on runways around the world.

Other uses for asphalt include roof shingles, fabric waterproofing, and livestock sprays. It is also used in some paints and inks of some companies to increase the resistance to water, the permanence of the ink and to make the color darker. Asphalt is sometimes used to seal some alkaline batteries during the manufacturing process.

2- Synthetic fibers

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The most common synthetic fibers are those made from petroleum derivatives. Among the most used are acrylic, polyester, nylon and lycra.

One of the biggest problems with these fibers is that they are not friendly to the environment. Particles of these fibers often remain in the environment or end up in the oceans, so scientists are trying to make fibers from recycled materials instead of petroleum derivatives.

3- Propane

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It is commonly used as a fuel for cooking stoves, engines, and central heating. It is a by-product of gas processing and oil refining. Propane can also be produced as a biofuel.

Being a by-product, its supply cannot be easily adjusted to increase increasing demand. In North America it is stored in saline cavities after being produced.

It is widely used in portable kitchens and barbecue grills because it only needs a measuring nozzle to be used. Propane fuels locomotives, buses, forklifts, and ice builders. It's a great home option in places that don't have natural gas lines; It is used so that backup heaters, dryers and power plants can function as it is easily transported.

Propane is transported and stored in steel cylinders as a liquid with a vapor space above the liquid.

4- Detergents

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Before World War II, detergents were made with natural oils and fats from plants and animals. But after the conflict there was a shortage of oils and companies needed to create other options. This is how synthetic detergents were born.

At that time, oil was beginning to be found in many places, so chemicals derived from petroleum began to be made to make detergents. Upon discovering that it was also much cheaper to make them with these derivatives and not with natural products, the trend to make synthetic detergents persists to this day.

Synthetic detergents often cause irritation to the eyes, skin, lungs, allergies and asthma. The fact that they could be carcinogenic is also being studied.

Another concern about detergents is that when they go down the drain, they end up in the water. This means that they can harm aquatic life; many of these chemicals are toxic to algae and fish.

5- Plastic

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Plastic is any material that is made of synthetic or semi-synthetic compounds and that can be molded into solid objects. Most plastics are made from petroleum derivatives; a minority is created through recyclable materials.

Although they are not biodegradable and are one of the biggest causes of global pollution, plastics are easy to manufacture, cheap, versatile and resistant to water. They are used in the vast majority of everyday products, from packaging to plumbing. Cars, furniture, toys, CDs, kitchen tools, etc.

6- vitamin supplements

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Most vitamin supplements are made from vitamins produced synthetically from petroleum in chemical plants. Companies make these vitamin supplements from petroleum products simply because it is less expensive than making them from natural sources.

The most common supplements that are made from petroleum derivatives include Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, and Vitamin B-9. If the packaging says they are vegetarian, many times it is because they do not come from animals but come from synthetic petroleum derivatives.

7- Perfumes

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Perfumes are a mixture of essential fragrance oils or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents. Petroleum-derived solvents such as petroleum ether, hexane, toluene, and benzene are used to extract fresh materials from plants; creating semi-solid fragments of lavender, roses, jasmine, etc.

Once the extraction process is complete, the solvent evaporates and leaves this semi-solid substance. This product is then washed with ethanol to form “absolutes”, which are used in perfume formulas.

The vast majority of perfumes do not contain these petrochemicals in their ingredient list; many of these toxins cause allergies, asthma, headaches, skin irritations, and sneezing. However, the vast majority of fragrances use these compounds.

8- Fertilizers

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One of the most important uses of oil is in the production of ammonia to be used as a source of nitrogen in agricultural fertilizers. Although ammonia can be found naturally through biological processes and manure, from the 20th century it began to be manufactured industrially.

Modern agriculture in general also relies on pesticides in order to produce consistent and healthy crops. These pesticides are almost always also produced through petroleum derivatives.

To run a farm or ranch, oil is absolutely necessary; From operating machines to fertilizing plants, agriculture is one of the areas that most uses petroleum-based products.

9- Paraffin

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This soft, solid substance is white or transparent. It is derived from petroleum and consists of a mixture of hydrocarbons. At room temperature it is solid and begins to melt at approximately 37 ° C.

Paraffin wax is widely used in lubricants, candles, and electrical insulation. Tinted paraffin wax can be made into crayons.

Paraffin candles are odorless and are usually white. They were created in the late 1800s and it was a breakthrough in candle making technology. Burns much more efficiently and cleanly than bait candles; in addition, they are much cheaper to produce.

Other activities in which paraffin is used include as a coating on waxed paper, as a sealant in bottles, as a crust on candy, in chewing gum, as an ingredient in lubricants, and in moisturizing cosmetics, among others.

10- Lotions and cosmetics

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Petroleum jelly or petroleum jelly is a petroleum derivative commonly used in personal hygiene and cosmetic products; acts as a wetting agent. If it is well refined, the petrolatum does not pose any health risk, however, depending on where it has been refined, it may be contaminated with toxic chemicals.

It is known as petrolatum, petroleum jelly, paraffin oil, and mineral oil. As it melts at a temperature close to human skin, it softens when applied and creates a barrier so that the skin's natural moisture cannot escape. It is a popular ingredient in skin care products and many cosmetics.

References

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4. Asphalt and Bitumen. (2009). Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA. Recovered from onlinelibrary.wiley.com.
5. The Dirt on Laundry Detergents. (2008) Boogie Green. Recovered from sarahmosko.wordpress.com.
6. The Truth About Detergents (2011) Smart Klean. Recovered from smartklean.com.
7. fabric friday: petroleum-based manufactured fibers (2013) Oliver Rands. Recovered from oliverands.com.
8. The Truth About Vitamins in Nutritional Supplements. Articles - Doctor's Research. Recovered from doctorsresearch.com.
9. 9. Which part of petroleum is used for perfume? (2016). Recovered from quora.com.
10. Petrolatum, petroleum jelly. Chemicals of Concerns - Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Recovered from safecosmetics.org.
11. Petroleum Products. Petroleum Geology. Recovered from aapg.org.
12. Other Uses of Petroleum. Agriculture. Recovered from petroleum.co.uk.