ABSTRACT
The evolution of the modern society is directly related and even dependent on the availability of vast number and variety of chemicals, used in the chemical, polymer, food, textile, etc., industries. Preparation of the majority of these compounds involves or directly originates from petrochemicals. However, due to the limited and continuously and inexorably diminishing reserves of petroleum worldwide, alternative methods for making these chemicals need to be found. One alternative is the utilization of natural gas, composed mainly not only of methane but also nonnegligible amounts of C2-C4 alkanes, depending on the resource location. The estimations show that the reserves of natural gas are unlimited and currently its main application is as fuel.
