An Introduction to the Chemistry Using Industries

Learning Outcomes To highlight how chemistry impacts on our everyday lives

To highlight the economic position of the U.K.’s chemistry using industries both at home, in the E.U and within the global economy

To highlight the current and future challenges which face the chemistry using industries

To show where chemistry research is making a difference to solve some of the global challenges which face this industry, contributing to the “green economy”

Why is Chemistry Important?Chemistry is an “enabling science”

i.e. chemistry facilitates other sciences, research and manufacturing

The chemicals industry is at the heart of manufacturing

It converts raw materials (e.g. oil and gas) into a host of products and resources for use by both industrial and household consumers

Why is Chemistry Important?Chemistry impacts on our everyday lives through:

Soaps, shampoos and detergents to keep us clean Disinfectants and pharmaceuticals to safeguard health Additives to foods to keep them fresher longer Paints to protect and extend the life of metal and timber Insulation materials to save energy in buildings The fuel we put in our cars

Chemistry is all around us and is involved in everything we need, do and interact with in our everyday lives!

The History of the U.K. Chemistry Using Industries

The U.K. chemicals industry grew up using locally occurring resources such as salt, coal, limestone, vegetable matter and animal fats

Today it is part of a global industry primarily using natural gas and oil fractions such as naphtha as its dominant raw materials

The U.K. Chemical Economy Chemicals and pharmaceuticals represent 12% of total U.K.

manufacturing output, equivalent to 1.5% of GDP

Everyday the chemicals industry contributes £70 million to the U.K. economy

4% - Glass, ceramics, etc.

15% - Food, beverages, etc.

12% - Transport equipment

4% - Paper and printing

12% - Chemicals11% - Other

11% - Metals

10% - Electrical and optical

8% - Mechanical Engineering

8% - Rubber and plastic

The chemicals industry manufactures a diverse range of materials and products

The chemicals industry in the U.K. invests over £5 billion per year in R&D – one third of the total U.K. R&D spend

This investment in innovation drives sector growth

The U.K. (and E.U.) chemicals industry has shown continued output growth and has out performed other manufacturing businesses, especially in the current economic climate

The chemicals industry is the U.K.’s no. 1 manufacturing exporter The U.K. chemicals industry has maintained a surplus in trade

Every working day the U.K.’s chemicals industry adds £30 million to our country’s balance of trade. In the same period the rest of manufacturing achieved a £300 million daily loss!

The jobs of 600,000 people in the U.K. depend upon the chemicals industry – these workers are highly skilled and earn on average 40% more than employees in other areas of manufacturing

These facts demonstrate that the chemicals industry is at the heart of the U.K.’s economy

China was the biggest producer of chemicals in 2010

The U.K. made sales of approximately € 45 billion in 2010

The Global Chemical Economy

Between 2000 – 2010, Asia and particularly China have dominated world chemicals sales taking over from the E.U. and North America

During this period, total global chemicals sales have risen by 60%

Asia’s dominance in the chemicals market is shown by the output of chemicals produced over the last 5 years

Note that all regions showed negative chemical production growth for 2008/9, but are recovering at present

This trend can be explained by the significant investment in the chemicals industry that China has received in the last 10 years

However the E.U. has continued to invest in it’s chemicals industry with the sector receiving the second highest manufacturing investment in 2007

The U.K. contributed 9% of the total E.U. chemicals sales in 2010

The total chemicals market value in the E.U. was € 491 billion These sales cover a range of products, with 75% of the E.U. market

made up of petrochemicals, polymers and specialities

The E.U. dominates the world chemicals export market

The majority of these exports are to other E.U. countries

Other important E.U. chemical trade partners are North America and Asia (inc. China and Japan)

Where does this leave the U.K. in the Global Market?

Since the chemistry using industries are one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the U.K., it is positioned at the heart of the U.K.’s economy

Asia and China are now dominating the global chemicals market, lead by heavy investment over the last 10 years

The chemicals market is still very strong in the U.K.

This is lead by strong chemicals exports mostly to other E.U. nations, North America and Asia

Current Challenges for theChemistry Using Industries

Chemistry using industries convert energy & raw materials into useful products which impact upon our everyday lives

Energy The future price and availability of energy resources is a key issue The chemicals industry is one of the most energy intensive sectors It consumes 22% of U.K.’s total industrial use of energy at a cost of

£4 billion per year It can represent up to 30% of a businesses total costs

Supply of Raw Materials The future price and availability of the raw materials used in the

manufacturing processes (i.e. gas and oil) is also a key issue Oil and gas supplies are beginning to run low Global competition through the new petrochemical capacity in the

Middle East threatens the supply and availability of these raw materials at an affordable price

In addition, the supply of other resources (e.g. metals) is also drying up This all impacts the future sustainability of the chemistry using industries

Climate change Being a highly energy intensive industry, the

chemicals industry is in part contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases

This contribution is either direct through burning of raw materials (e.g. oil and gas) or indirect through the use of energy supply and transport of raw materials around the world

However, the industry was an ‘early starter’ in setting aggressive targets for efficiency and reduction of harmful emissions

It is also a provider of solutions to this problem and is investing into R&D for many new products and processes aimed at cutting greenhouse gas emissions

Waste management and environmental impact For environmental and economic reasons industry strives for efficiency to minimise waste production and emissions into the environment i.e. the less waste you produce the less it costs get rid of/store

….There are many other issues and challenges facing the chemicals industry over the coming years – these are just a few examples….

These challenges offer opportunities for innovation to address and solve the key issues. Since chemistry is an enabling science, it is well placed to make a direct impact through investment, innovation and R&D

Where is Chemistry Making a Difference?

Saving energy and reducing environmental impact There has been a strong focus on maximising cost effective use of

energy resulting in an improved energy efficiency of 35% from 1990 – 2006 (27% for E.U. from 1990 – 2009)

The E.U. is a long way ahead of the U.S.A. on this issue

Reduced emission of greenhouse gases Being a highly energy intensive industry, the chemicals industry is

contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases However, the industry was an ‘early starter’ in setting aggressive targets

for efficiency and reduction of harmful emissions Greenhouse gas emissions have fallen 49% since 1990

Can chemistry offer further solutions to these problems? Chemistry is a provider of solutions Since chemistry is an ‘enabling science’ it allows for the development of

new processes and technologies to address these issues through R&D

The top products which achieve carbon savings are: Improved building insulation materials More efficient lighting Lightweight yet strong plastics for more fuel efficient modes of transport Development of low-temperature detergents to save energy Improved fuel and engine efficiency….etc….

It has been estimated that for each 1 unit of greenhouse gas which the chemistry using industry emits in production processes, the resulting new products save 2-3 units of greenhouse gas emission

This positions the chemistry using industries at the heart of the

‘green economy’

Conclusions Chemistry is an enabling science – it is all around us and is involved in

everything we need, do and interact with in our everyday lives

The chemistry using industries are one of the largest manufacturing sectors in the U.K. making a varied range of products

This industry is positioned at the heart of the U.K.’s manufacturing economy

Asia and China are now dominating the global chemicals market, but the chemicals market is still very strong in the U.K. lead by strong exports

There are many challenges which face the chemistry using industries, however this industry is making a difference and is key to the U.K.’s

‘Green Economy’

References & Further ReadingChemical Industries Association www.cia.org.uk Chemical and Pharmaceutical Businesses in the UK, Our Campaigns, Sept. 2010 Annual Review, 2009

CEFIC – The European Chemical Industry Council www.cefic.org Facts and Figures 2011 – The European chemical industry in a worldwide

perspective

AuthorsDr. Trevor Farren, Dr. Simon Mosey, Dr. William Drewe & Prof. Barry Stickings

OrganisationSchool of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, U.K.

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