Sub-Product

The purity of ethylene is normally greater than 99.9 wt%; quality is adjusted to meet specific requirements. Sulfur, oxygen and acetylene are the most troublesome but carefully controlled impurities, especially when ethylene from multiple sources is mixed for transportation.

Specification ranges (mg/kg) for maximal levels of key contaminants in ethylene (in the Unted States) are:

• methane + ethane, 50–2000
• propylene and heavier, 7–200
• acetylene, 1.4–10
• hydrogen, 0.1–10
• carbon monoxide, 0.15–10
• carbon dioxide, 2.2–50
• oxygen, 0.6–10
• sulfur, 1–10
• water, 0.6–20

Specifications for the quality of ethylene in Europe, Japan and the USA are similar.

Source: National Library of Medicine, National Center for Biotechnology Information, Some Industrial Chemicals, Ethylene. (accessed 24^th Oct 2024)