Pyrolysis gasoline (Pygas) is a coproduct of the steam cracking process and, while pygas does not often drive cracking economics, it is a key contributor to the olefins value chain. Although demand for olefins and polyolefins relative to the capacity available to produce olefins and polyolefins has been weak in the last few years, resulting in limited availability of pygas at times, the future for pygas is positive.
Pygas has long been a key feedstock for the production and supply of benzene and to a lesser extent toluene, mixed xylenes, and gasoline blend stocks. The importance of pygas cannot be understated because the extraction of benzene from pygas supplied over 30% of the world’s benzene as shown in the chart and thus pygas is especially important to the overall aromatics value chain.
