In recent years, experts have forecasted that driven by the growth of the ethylene industry and increased oil and gas exploration, China's available C5 resources are expected to surpass 20 million tons by 2020. After refining, approximately 14 million tons of refined C5 components will be available. While progress has been made in utilizing C5 diolefins, with many companies showing optimism for isoprene rubber projects and some already starting construction, trans-isoprene rubber has entered product promotion stages, and development of engineering plastics is moving forward. However, the lighter C5 components, such as pentane, still lack effective utilization channels. Most of them are directly vented or burned on-site, leading to resource waste and environmental pollution.
The author emphasizes that the rational use and industrialization of light C5 components should not be overlooked. Using these components as urban pipeline gas shows significant potential. Pentane, however, is difficult to dehydrogenate, making it less suitable for certain applications. Currently, many C5 light components from oil fields, refineries, and ethylene plants are either burned or used as solvents, cleaning agents, or for cyclopentadiene refining. Some even add them to gasoline, which can negatively impact fuel quality.
Since the 1980s, China has encouraged deep processing of C9 components, and in the early 1990s, research began on using C5 light components as fuel gas. Today, the technology for mixing C5 light components with air to produce fuel gas is well-established. The resulting gas meets city gas design standards, with a heat value exceeding the explosion limit by two times and being largely non-toxic. It can be transported over long distances at low pressure, making it ideal for small towns south of the Great Wall. For communities of 10,000 to 30,000 households, this gas offers a safe, economical, and environmentally friendly solution.
From a resource supply perspective, C5 components can be used in fine chemicals, with diolefin and monoolefin fractions accounting for about 20% of the total. These can serve as urban fuels, while the alkane fraction, making up around 70%, can be used as organic solvents. With over 55% of cracked C5, 70% of refinery C5, and more than 95% of natural C5 capable of being converted into mixed gas, if fully utilized, the C5 gas volume would equal 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas—more than the annual supply of the West-East Gas Pipeline Project. This could meet the gas needs of 60 million urban residents.
Moreover, once a clear outlet for C5 light components is established, they no longer need to be used for catalytic reforming of gasoline, thereby improving fuel quality and reducing vehicle emissions. If all 14 million tons of refined C5 were used as pipeline gas, it could save 26–36 million tons of standard coal annually, cut CO₂ emissions by 18.56–42.16 million tons, and reduce sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and dust by 1.3 million tons. It could also save 20 million tons of crude oil per year.
In conclusion, accelerating the industrialization of C5 light components for urban pipeline gas is a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally sustainable strategy.
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