Product

LPG gaining popularity

Liquefied petroleum gas

How by-products come into focus - "Liquefied Petroleum Gas" (LPG) from Evonik includes various C4 products such as n-Butane or iso-Butane and much more.

What are Liquefied petroleum gases? 

Liquefied petroleum gas consists of one or more easily liquefiable hydrocarbon compounds with three or four carbon atoms. These short-chain hydrocarbons such as butane, propane and their mixtures remain liquid at room temperature and low compression (<10 bar). LPG can be extracted directly from natural gas processing plants or through further processing of crude oil at refineries.

One of our main fields of activity is the processing of crude oil derivatives. Over the years we have become one of the major producers of C4-based materials for the rubber, plastics and specialty chemicals markets. Nowadays, Evonik offers in its product range iso-Butane, n-Butane and several mixtures for diverse applications. As a colorless, inflammable gas, the different types of LPG have a characteristic odor. Under pressure, these gases are easily condensable.

N-BUTANE - CAS. 106-97-8

Find more information, such as the safety data sheet or the technical data sheet of n-Butane, click on the link below:

Possible applications:  

Due to their similar but not quite identical properties, our product can be used in various applications. Here are some examples:

For maleic anhydride: Maleic anhydride is a chemical intermediate used in the production of unsaturated polyester resins (UPR), the main component of glass fiber reinforced resins. In the field of synthetic resins and polymers, n-Butane makes an important contribution to maleic acid synthesis through catalytic oxidation processes. This contributes to the higher tensile strength of plastics. Maleic anhydride can be used in various industries such as construction, the automotive industry and agrochemicals. In addition, it acts as an important copolymer for the production of lubricants.

As a propellant: A highly purified mixture of n- and iso-Butane and propane can be used as an aerosol propellant in the cosmetic industry e.g. for shaving foam or deodorant. Furthermore, it can be applied in further end products such as insect spray, spray paint or packaging. These mixtures are grouped under the brand name DRIVOSOL®. These products can individually be adapted to your requirements and applications by flexible pressure settings in a range from 1.2 to 7.8 bar.

For the chemical industry as cracker feed: In the petrochemical industry, butane blends are gaining importance as a basic raw material. In chemical production, LPG can be converted by separation processes into ethylene, propylene, butylene, butadiene, etc. to produce synthetic plastics, rubber and fibers, as well as pharmaceuticals or dyes. LPG is widely used as an alternative raw material for steam cracking, in which it is thermally cracked by the use of steam in a series of pyrolysis furnaces to produce lighter hydrocarbons.

ISO-BUTANE - CAS. 75-28-5

Find more information, such as the safety data sheet or the iso-butane technical data sheet, click on the link below:

Possible applications: 

Due to their similar but not quite identical properties, our product can be used in various applications. Here are some examples:

For the production of polyethylene: HDPE (high-density polyethylene) is one of the world's most widely used polymers. Iso-Butane can be used in the manufacturing process of HDPE as a diluent or solvent in the so-called slurry loop process. At the same time, it serves as a refrigerant to control the release of heat.

For fuel: LPG, such as various types of butane, can be used in the fuel industry, for example, as a blending component. The conversion of iso-Butane into an alkylate takes place in petroleum refineries to convert low-molecular molecules into a larger weight molecule. Iso-Butane is used in the automotive industry in the form of alkylate gasoline, which in turn is produced using a specific alkylation process. The use of alkylate gasoline can significantly reduce the emission of harmful exhaust gases such as carbon monoxide, particulates and hydrocarbons.

As a refrigerant: Iso-Butane can be used in small quantities for refrigeration and freezing systems in refrigerators. The liquefied gas is increasingly becoming an environmentally friendly alternative. Instead of using the ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants, iso-Butane R600a can result in improved energy efficiency, which translates into lower running costs.

Here you can learn more about our natural refrigerants.

PRODUCTION & LOGISTICS OF N-BUTANE, ISOBUTANE AND ITS BLENDS

With our state-of-the-art C4 Verbund, we process various raw material streams such as crude-C4 or FCC-C4 (fluid catalytic cracking -C4) from steam crackers or refineries. Part of this Verbund is the production of our LPGs. In order to be even better positioned on the LPG market and to ensure a continuous supply, we produce our LPG at two different sites in Europe. The natural gas blends iso-Butane and butane can be supplied directly from our production location in Antwerp, Belgium, while our LPG n-Butane as well as iso-Butane and their blends are produced in Marl, Germany.

We provide individual support with our range of logistics options, such as tank wagons, containers or barges.

HOW CAN YOU CONTACT US?

Your contact for LPG is Dr. Lisa Harrmann, Marketing Manager for n-Butane, iso-Butane and its various blends. Dr. Lisa Harrmann will be happy to help with subjects such as liquefied petroleum gas, hydrogen or other gases. Have we aroused your interest? Simply contact Dr. Lisa Harrmann by email or via LinkedIn.

Further products: