The petrochemical industry uses process technology to create its consumer and commercial products. As markets grow and prices rise, process technology uses innovative equipment and processing to transform the industry.

Process technology systems use advanced digital transformations in Baton Rouge, throughout Louisiana, and beyond. This technology plus facility maintenance and product innovation are driving the modernization of the chemical industry in this state. Currently, there are 150 petrochemical plants and 15 oil and gas refineries in Louisiana.

An Overview Of The Petrochemical Industry 

The petrochemical industry is a division of the oil and gas industry that produces many products from oil and natural gas. The refined products are used in many consumer and commercial goods. They include plastics, synthetic rubber, solvents, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, additives, explosives, and adhesives.

This petrochemical industry has evolved from oil and gas processing by adding value to low-value products used in many areas, including: 

  • Cars and trucks
  • Packaging
  • Household goods
  • Medical equipment
  • Paints
  • Clothing
  • Building materials 

The petrochemical industry is a competitive sector that uses significant process technology innovations. It represents a substantial part of the total petroleum industry in terms of product value. A complaint against this industry that companies are trying to correct is its contributions to landfill pollution. Chemical waste from the industry can end up in soil, water, and landfills that negatively impacts ecosystems. 

Digitizing Petrochemical Process Technology In Louisiana 

Process Technology AdvanceDigitization is the key to optimizing production, reducing waste, becoming more eco-friendly, and supporting remote operations in Louisiana. This innovation will also unlock many new growth opportunities in the Baton Rouge area and around the state.

Leaders in the petrochemical industry are using the power of digital technologies to provide reliable and plentiful energy sources to people across the globe. Digitization is a welcome requirement of an ever-changing industry in Louisiana. The state is an energy hub of the nation and positioned for growth and success in modernizing the industry. Some benefits include: 

  • Better tracking, analyzing, and implementing current and new methods of operation
  • Fewer emissions, faster production time, and more effective ways of communication
  • Improved business outcomes, such as enhanced reliability and personal safety

“As markets grow and prices rise, process technology uses innovative equipment and processing to transform the industry.”

The Latest Technological Advances In The Louisiana Petrochemical Industry 

Process technology upgrades are responsible for decarbonizing the petrochemical industry in Louisiana and other states. Innovative solutions are underway to integrate renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power in plants and facilities. They can produce more clean energy for production processes to help reduce the industry’s carbon footprint.

New process technology approaches can capture carbon dioxide emissions from petrochemical operations and convert them into usable products. Examples include valuable chemicals and building materials that can help mitigate the industry’s environmental impact.

Advanced process technologies enable the development of more sustainable petrochemical products for consumer and commercial use. The production of bioplastics offers the same functionality as traditional plastics with less environmental impact. Another welcomed process is recycling and reusing products to reduce waste materials and resource consumption. The industry goals include making sustainability part of the global solution for saving the environment.                                                                                                                                                              

Process Technology In Louisiana: Dow Louisiana Company

Process Technology InnovationsA major player in process technology transformation in Louisiana is Dow Louisiana Company. This amazing and future-oriented business provides jobs for more than 4,000 Dow and contract employees and puts more than $1 billion into the state’s economy each year. Their plants use advanced process technology to produce a myriad of products, including:

  • Plastics are made into computer components, football helmets, adhesives, parts of tires, athletic shoes, pipes, wire, and cable covers
  • Polymers become ingredients in body washes, gels, antibacterial soaps, creams, and lotions that reduce irritation and protect the skin
  • Glycol ethers are used in leather and textile dyes, paints, coatings
  • Polyolefins and elastomers become part of resins in plastic food wraps
  • Methyl cellulose is used in cosmetics, shampoos, and detergents
  • Polyethylene becomes part of disposable diapers, milk carton coatings, trash bags, grocery sacks, margarine tubs, film canisters, and weather stripping for homes
  • Methyl cellulose is used as a thickening agent in milkshakes and salad dressings 

Process technology plays a significant role in transforming the petrochemical industry in Louisiana. Innovations in processing, digitizing, products, worker safety, and improving the environmental impact are doing a tremendous job. Learn more about working in this growing industry by contacting ITI Technical College in Baton Rouge. 

For more information about graduation rates, the median debt of students who completed the program, and other important information, please visit our website:https://iticollege.edu/disclosures/