Abstract

Propylene is an important industrial chemical used as a feedstock in the production of polypropylene, acrylonitrile, propylene oxide, 2-propanol, alkylated fuels, and other chemicals. It is obtained from steam cracking in pyrolysis furnaces in olefins plants and in refinery catalytic-cracking reactors. Distillation in multitray columns yields purities in excess of 99.5 wt%. The physical and chemical properties of propylene are well characterized. Under ambient conditions, it is a colorless gas and has anesthetic properties at high concentrations. Propylene is usually transported in the liquid state at high pressures. Proper precautions must be taken when handling propylene.