1212.    --------------.  [GOLDSTEIN, R. F.] Petroleum Chemicals Reviewed.  Petrol. Times, vol. 52, Nov. 19, 1948, p. 1016.

        Probable future development and expansion of petroleum chemicals are reviewed.  Present trends indicate that the period of cheap chemical raw materials has passed.  Propane and butane are more valuable as domestic fuels than as raw materials for aliphatics.  Byproducts of synthetic plants such as Fischer-Tropsch may prove an important source.  NH₃ is made from H₂ with natural gas as the source.  For MeOH the natural gas is converted to a synthesis gas CO+2H₂, which is converted to MeOH by catalytic reaction at high temperature and pressure.  Under the head of new products the manufacture of acrolein from petroleum and the Oxo reaction are discussed.  The latter gives normal or branch-chain aldehydes by addition of CO and H₂ to an olefinic double bond.  Acids and alcohols can be obtained from the aldehydes.