petrochemicaladj.1
/ˌpɛtrəʊˈkɛmᵻkl/, U.S. /ˌpɛtroʊˈkɛmək(ə)l/ Geology.
Of or relating to the chemistry of rocks (petrochemistry n.1).
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > earth sciences > geology > geochemistry > [adjective]
geochemic1840
geochemical1882
petrochemical1913
1913 Chem. Abstr. 7 3949 (heading) Petrochemical studies.
1952 Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 2 283 (heading) A petrochemical study of the Tertiary lavas of north-east Ireland.
1975 Nature 27 Feb. 691/1 Another study of the intrusion was initiated in the hope that new geo-physical and petrochemical techniques might provide the added insight needed to resolve some of these questions.
1996 Jrnl. Petrol. 37 317/1 To examine petrochemical implications of the model, computational variation within the basalt sequence is compared with that of the dykes.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
petrochemicaladj.2n.
/ˌpɛtrəʊˈkɛmᵻkl/, U.S. /ˌpɛtroʊˈkɛmək(ə)l/ A. adj.2
Of or relating to the chemistry of petroleum (petrochemistry n.2); of or relating to petrochemicals.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > hydrocarbons > [adjective] > petroleum containing much sulphur > of or relating to petrochemistry
petrochemical1942
1942 Oil & Gas Jrnl. 30 Apr. 47 The long experience of the Badger Company..enables it..to meet the requirements of the rapidly expanding Petro-Chemical Industry.
1959 Times Rev. Industry Sept. 99/3 The Monsanto Chemical Company..will build a petro-chemical factory..to produce styrene monomer from which polystyrene plastics are made.
1961 G. R. Choppin Exper. Nucl. Chem. xi. 185 Further reduction is effected by using solvents of petro~chemical origin.
a1974 R. Crossman Diaries (1976) II. 290 There was a likelihood of petro-chemical and associated development in the Invergordon area.
1992 Utne Reader Mar. 103/2 To produce feed crops for grain-fed cattle requires the use of petrochemical fertilizers, which emit nitrous oxide, another of the greenhouse gases.
B. n.
A chemical compound obtained or derived industrially from petroleum or natural gas. Usually in plural. Frequently attributive.
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the world > matter > chemistry > organic chemistry > hydrocarbons > [noun] > petroleum varieties > petrochemical
petrochemical1942
1942 Oil & Gas Jrnl. 25 June 180 (advt.) Typical ‘petro-chemicals’ already in production: alcohols, butadiene, benzol, [etc.].
1959 Engineering 2 Jan. 24/1 The new petrochemicals plant at the Fawley refinery of Esso.
1967 New Scientist 16 Feb. 385/3 Chemical engineering has now advanced to the point whereby the idea of using this gas [sc. carbon monoxide] as the key building block for petrochemicals—such as plastics and pesticides..—is no longer a pipe-dream.
1972 J. H. Harker & D. A. Allen Fuel Sci. iii. 35 Crude oil also provides the source of raw material for the rapidly growing petro~chemicals industry.
1991 South Aug. 27/1 Encouraged by predictions of increased demand for methanol in the 1990s, Trinidad and Tobago is investing heavily in the downstream petrochemicals sector.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.11913adj.2n.1942