The petroleum refining industry is one of the largest sources of greenhouse gases among all manufacturing sectors in the US economy. Along with the environmental impacts of their operations, refiners face complex regulatory issues involving their products. The nature and chemistry of different major refinery products or by-products and their effects on human health and the surrounding environment makes it imperative for regulatory agencies like the EPA to impose heavy regulations on the petroleum refining industry in comparison to other industries in the US.
It is important that the practitioners associated with the petroleum refining industry know about the operations in the refining process, the nature of the major products and by-products from the refining industry, the chemicals used in the process, and the overall impacts of the refining process and products on human health and safety to meet the ever increasing regulatory requirements of this industry. This course aims to fulfill these requirements by discussing the basic chemicals, processes, products and environmental impacts involved in refining petroleum.
