Ethylene and propylene are substances called chemical feedstocks--meaning that they can be manipulated and bonded to other substances to form a huge range of other chemicals. Propylene and ethylene are crucial components of tons of products since they can be made into chains of repeating molecules called polymers that create synthetic plastics--everything from soft plastics like saran wrap to hard ones in PVC pipes. Derivatives of ethylene and propylene are also in shampoo products, adhesives, alcohols and rubbers.
As advances in technology keep allowing scientists to raise estimates on total natural gas reserves in the U.S. -- currently at over 2,000 trillion cubic feet -- these unconventional uses will continue to be important to producers who want to extract maximum revenue out of their natural gas projects.
More galleries
