This section provides an overview for ethylene gas as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 10 ethylene gas manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
Ethylene gas is a hydrocarbon consisting of two carbons linked by a double bond, and is an alkene with the simplest structure.
It is stable as a gas at room temperature, but can also be produced industrially by thermal cracking of substances such as ethane, propane, and butane, or by cracking petroleum naphtha.
Ethylene gas has two types of uses: ethylene gas itself is used solely, and ethylene gas is used as synthetic material for organic compounds.
Ethylene gas is known to have various physiologically active effects as a plant hormone. Specifically, ethylene gas are used to suppress the ripening of bananas and kiwifruit, and to inhibit the sprouting of potato plants.
The main component of ethephon solution used as a plant growth regulator for fruit trees and tomatoes is an aqueous solution of 2-chloroethylphosphonic acid, which, after being sprayed on plants, decomposes to produce ethylene gas, which is then used as a plant growth regulator .
Ethylene gas are hydrocarbons with a simple structure and highly reactive double bonds, and is used as a material for various low-molecular-weight and high-molecular-weight compounds.
Ethanol, ethylene oxide, and acetaldehyde are typical examples of low molecular weight compounds synthesized from ethylene gas.
In addition, vinyl chloride and styrene, monomers synthesized from ethylene gas, are polymerized to polyvinyl chloride and polystyrene, respectively.
Polymer Compounds
When ethylene gas are polymerized directly as a monomer, polyethylene is obtained. Polyethylene has a wide range of applications and is used in various packaging materials and plastic bags.
For example, copolymerization with vinyl acetate yields ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), which is used as an adhesive, etc. When EVA is saponified, ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) is used as an oxygen barrier food packaging material.
With a melting point of -169°C and a boiling point of -104°C, ethylene exists as a gas at room temperature. The specific gravity of ethylene is 0.975, which is close to that of air (specific gravity 1), and its color is colorless, making it difficult to distinguish it from air.
However, it is flammable and combustible, and fires can produce irritating or toxic gases, so it should be handled with care.
Ethylene gas are also found in nature and is known to be produced by vegetables and fruits.
Ethylene gas are manufactured industrially. The most mainstream method involves the reaction of petroleum naphtha, which contains a variety of hydrocarbons, with steam at temperatures above 800°C. Ethylene gas are then separated from the hydrogen, ethylene, propylene, and aromatic compounds that are produced. Other methods include pyrolysis of ethane contained in shale gas.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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