"On the main sources of carbon emissions in the chemical industry"

The chemical industry is related to the national economy and people's livelihood, but its carbon emissions are also important in the world. To understand the situation, we must investigate the main root cause of its carbon emissions.

The chemical process is complicated, and the selection and treatment of raw materials is the beginning of carbon emissions. Many chemical raw materials, such as coal, petroleum and other fossil raw materials, have considerable carbon emissions during mining, transportation and pre-treatment. Taking coal as an example, during the excavation process, the mechanical operation consumes huge energy, and the gas escape in the coal seam increases carbon emissions.

The chemical reaction process is the core of carbon emissions. Many chemical reactions require high temperature and high pressure conditions, and energy consumption is staggering. For example, ammonia synthesis requires a large amount of fuel for heating to maintain the reaction conditions. Traditional fuels are burned, and greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide are surging out. In organic synthesis, oxidation, cracking and other reactions not only convert raw materials into carbon emissions, but also maintain reaction conditions.

The operation and maintenance of chemical equipment should not be underestimated. The power supply of equipment depends on electricity or fossil fuels. If electricity comes from thermal power, it will undoubtedly increase carbon emissions. And problems such as equipment aging and leakage not only damage raw materials and reduce efficiency, but also cause unreacted substances to escape, or be subsequently converted into carbon emissions.

Product post-processing and transportation are also a source of carbon emissions. Product separation and purification require energy, and the production and processing of packaging materials have carbon emissions. From the factory to the market, the energy consumption of transportation tools increases carbon emissions, and the same is true for long-distance shipping and land transportation.

The chemical industry has multiple sources of carbon emissions. To reduce carbon emissions, it is necessary to focus on raw materials, reactions, equipment and post-processing. To find green raw materials, optimize reactions, improve equipment energy efficiency, and improve transportation is the way to sustainable development.