Chinese name:乙烯
Chemical formula:C2H4
Structural simplification:CH2=CH2

Ethylene technical indicators

Types of ethylene packaging

1. Physical properties
‌‌: Ethylene is a colorless gas at room temperature and pressure.
‌‌: The density of ethylene is about 1.178 kg/m³, which is slightly lighter than air.
‌Melting point and boiling point‌: The melting point of ethylene is -169.4℃ and the boiling point is -103.7℃.
Solubility: Ethylene is insoluble in water, slightly soluble in ethanol, but soluble in organic solvents such as ether, acetone and benzene.
‌‌: Ethylene has a slight sweetness or a grass-like smell.

2. Ethylene source
The main source of ethylene production is petroleum. ‌
Ethylene is an important chemical raw material, and its output is a symbol of a country's petrochemical level. Ethylene production mainly depends on the processing of petroleum, specific sources include direct distillation of crude oil, secondary processing of distillate oil, as well as natural gas and oil field gas. Through chemical processing, these raw materials can produce ethylene, which is then used in a variety of chemical products such as synthetic fibers, synthetic rubbers, synthetic plastics, etc. The ethylene industry is the core of the petrochemical industry. Ethylene products account for more than 75% of petrochemical products and occupy a very important position in the national economy. Therefore, petroleum is the main source of ethylene production, and its production and consumption levels are usually regarded as one of the important indicators of a country's economic development and industrialization.

3. Main uses
1. Industrial field
Ethylene is an important basic raw material for organic chemicals and is widely used in the production of synthetic materials such as polyethylene, ethylene propylene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, etc. It is also the basis for the synthesis of basic organic synthetic raw materials such as ethanol, ethylene oxide, glycol, acetaldehyde, and acetic acid.
2. Agricultural field
Ethylene is a plant endogenous hormone. All parts of higher plants, such as leaves, stems, roots, flowers, fruits, tubers, seeds and seedlings, will produce ethylene under certain conditions. It is the smallest molecule among plant hormones, and its physiological function is mainly to promote fruit and cell expansion. The ripening of grains promotes the fall of leaves, flowers and fruits, and also has the effects of inducing flower bud differentiation, breaking dormancy, promoting germination, inhibiting flowering, organ shedding, dwarfing plants and promoting the generation of uncertain roots.
3. Other fields
Ethylene is also used as a ripening agent for fruits and vegetables, and is widely used to ripen fruits such as navel oranges, tangerines, and bananas for environmentally friendly ripening fruits. In addition, ethylene is also used in the synthesis of medicine and high-tech materials.

4. Application scenarios of ethylene of different purity
High-purity ethylene (such as 99.999%) is usually used in industrial applications with high precision requirements, such as semiconductor manufacturing, scientific research, etc., because its impurity content is extremely low, which can ensure the stable operation of equipment and the high quality of products.
Medium purity ethylene (such as 99.95%) is suitable for general industrial applications, such as chemical production, plastic manufacturing, etc. Although the purity is slightly lower, it can still meet most industrial needs. ‌