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GHG Emissions by (Petro)Chemical Processes and Decarbonization Priorities—A Review

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  • Andrea Isella

    (PSE-Lab, Process Systems Engineering Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano—Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy)

  • Davide Manca

    (PSE-Lab, Process Systems Engineering Laboratory, Dipartimento di Chimica, Materiali e Ingegneria Chimica “Giulio Natta”, Politecnico di Milano—Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milano, Italy)

Abstract

Global warming is becoming an increasing issue, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions represent the engine of such a phenomenon. This review aims to identify the origin of GHG emissions and focus in detail on the ones related to (petro) chemical industries. The industrial sector is the primary GHG emitter among all the other anthropogenic sources. The chemical industry is the first in charge of that (having accounted for about 6.5% of the global GHG emissions in 2018). Thought-provoking data such as yearly productivities and emission factors related to the predominant chemicals prompt the reader to acquire a sense of the critical activities responsible for carbon-intensive emissions, which should be the first to be decarbonized. Specifically, ammonia synthesis and steam cracking resulted in the most polluting processes of the chemical industry, being responsible for the release of about 440 and 228 Mt-CO 2,eq /y, respectively, in 2020. The same approach also applies to oil refining. Due to the massive amounts of oil barrels produced daily, oil refining is a key player in industrial GHG emissions (about 3% of the global emissions in 2018). Indeed, in 2020, refineries emitted nearly 1313 Mt-CO 2,eq /y.

Suggested Citation

  • Andrea Isella & Davide Manca, 2022. "GHG Emissions by (Petro)Chemical Processes and Decarbonization Priorities—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-13, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:20:p:7560-:d:941370
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Congressional Budget Office, 2013. "Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the Environment," Reports 44223, Congressional Budget Office.
    2. Christoph Kern & Andreas Jess, 2021. "Reducing Global Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Meet Climate Targets—A Comprehensive Quantification and Reasonable Options," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Liang Jing & Hassan M. El-Houjeiri & Jean-Christophe Monfort & Adam R. Brandt & Mohammad S. Masnadi & Deborah Gordon & Joule A. Bergerson, 2020. "Carbon intensity of global crude oil refining and mitigation potential," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(6), pages 526-532, June.
    4. Congressional Budget Office, 2013. "Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the Environment," Reports 44223, Congressional Budget Office.
    5. Congressional Budget Office, 2013. "Effects of a Carbon Tax on the Economy and the Environment," Reports 44223, Congressional Budget Office.
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