Sofia Martinez
Plastic is all around us, but when was it first produced from oil? The story of plastic's origins begins in the mid-19th century, when some animal-derived materials, such as ivory and tortoiseshell, became scarce due to industrialised goods production. This led to the development of semi-synthetic materials, such as cellulose nitrate, which was patented as Parkesine by Alexander Parkes in 1862. However, the birth of the modern plastics era is often attributed to the invention of Bakelite by Leo Baekeland in 1907. Bakelite was the first fully synthetic plastic, derived from fossil fuels rather than plants or animals. Since then, the plastics industry has grown exponentially, with most plastic today being derived from crude oil, natural gas, and coal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First synthetic polymer invented | 1869 |
| Inventor of first synthetic polymer | John Wesley Hyatt |
| Material used for first synthetic polymer | Cellulose derived from cotton fibre |
| First manufactured plastic | Parkesine |
| Inventor of Parkesine | Alexander Parkes |
| Year Parkesine was invented | 1862 |
| First fully synthetic plastic | Bakelite |
| Inventor of Bakelite | Leo Baekeland |
| Year Bakelite was invented | 1907 |
| Year bioplastics were developed | 1970s |
| Percentage of oil and gas reserves used for plastic production in Europe | 4-6% |
| Year plastic production surged in the US | 1950s |
| Year plastic debris in oceans was first observed | 1960s |
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What You'll Learn
- The first plastic was Parkesine, made from cotton fibres, nitric and sulphuric acids, and vegetable oil in 1862
- The first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, made from coal tar in 1907
- Plastic is made from crude oil, natural gas, and coal
- Plastic is a polymer, made through polymerization
- Plastic is derived from fossil fuels
The first plastic was Parkesine, made from cotton fibres, nitric and sulphuric acids, and vegetable oil in 1862
Plastic is typically either synthetic or biobased. Synthetic plastics are derived from fossil fuels such as crude oil, natural gas, or coal. On the other hand, biobased plastics are derived from renewable sources such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, bacteria, and other biological substances. The majority of plastic in use today is synthetic due to the ease of manufacturing methods involved in processing crude oil.
The first plastic was Parkesine, invented by Birmingham-born artisan-cum-chemist Alexander Parkes and patented in 1862. It was made from cellulose nitrate, derived from cotton fibres or wood flour dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids, and then mixed with vegetable oils. This combination made a dough-like substance that could be textured, painted, dyed, or carved. Parkesine was a cheap and colourful substitute for ivory or tortoiseshell, used in items like combs and billiard balls, making them more affordable and accessible to the general public.
Parkesine was not a commercial success for Parkes, but it laid the foundation for the development and production of plastic by others, including his former factory manager, Daniel Spill, and businessman John Wesley Hyatt, who founded the Celluloid Manufacturing Company in the US. Hyatt simplified the creation process and formed celluloid, which became the raw material for the film industry.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw a revolution in plastic production, with the creation of entirely synthetic plastics. In 1907, Belgian-born American chemist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic derived from fossil fuels, specifically phenol, an acid derived from coal tar. Bakelite sparked a consumer boom, making previously expensive items like cameras, telephones, and radios more affordable and desirable to the masses.
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The first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, made from coal tar in 1907
Plastic is a synthetic polymer derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. The first synthetic polymer was invented in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt, who sought to create a substitute for ivory. However, the birth of the modern plastics era is attributed to the invention of Bakelite by Belgian-born American Leo Baekeland in 1907.
Bakelite was the first fully synthetic plastic, meaning it contained no molecules found in nature. Baekeland sought to create a synthetic substitute for shellac, a natural electrical insulator, to meet the needs of the rapidly electrifying United States. Shellac was derived from a resin secreted by the East Asian lac bug and was used to insulate electrical cables in the early 20th century.
Baekeland's creation of Bakelite was a significant advancement over earlier plastics that were based on modified natural materials. It was made from phenol and formaldehyde, two compounds derived from coal tar and wood alcohol (methanol), respectively. Baekeland successfully controlled the phenol-formaldehyde condensation reaction to produce the first synthetic resin. By stopping the reaction while the resin was still in a liquid state, he created a usable plastic that could be shaped or molded into almost anything.
The invention of Bakelite revolutionized the plastics industry and led to the development of numerous synthetic plastics, including polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and nylon. Bakelite's excellent insulating properties made it a commercial success, replacing shellac and hard rubber in the electric power industry and home appliances. It was widely used in the 1920s for knobs, dials, circuitry panels, and radio cabinets.
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Plastic is made from crude oil, natural gas, and coal
Plastic is derived from fossil fuels, which are mainly crude oil, natural gas, and coal. These fossil fuels are composed of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and other minerals. The generally accepted theory is that these hydrocarbons are formed from the remains of living organisms called planktons (tiny plants and animals) that existed during the Jurassic era. Over time, the remains of these organisms were buried beneath the Earth's mantle, compressed by heat and pressure, and transformed into the fossil fuels we extract today.
Crude oil, natural gas, and coal are extracted from the Earth and serve as the primary feedstock for plastic production. In the case of crude oil, it undergoes a refining process where it is heated in a furnace and then sent to a distillation unit. This process separates the heavy crude oil into lighter components called fractions, with naphtha being a crucial compound for plastic production. Polymerisation is then employed, where light olefin gases like ethylene and propylene are converted into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, the building blocks of plastic.
Natural gas, a by-product of processing crude oil, has also played a significant role in the history of plastics. In the early 20th century, companies like Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) utilised ethylene gas to create plastics. This marked a pivotal step in the development of the plastics industry.
Coal, another fossil fuel, has contributed to the creation of synthetic plastics. In 1907, Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first synthetic plastic derived from phenol, an acid derived from coal tar. This invention opened the door to a wave of now-common synthetic plastics, including polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and nylon.
While synthetic plastics derived from crude oil, natural gas, and coal have dominated the market, there is a growing demand for bio-based plastics derived from renewable resources. The finite nature of oil and gas reserves has spurred the exploration of alternatives like waste biomass and animal-waste products. Bioplastics, such as those made from bacteria or plant-based sources, offer promising solutions to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels for plastic production.
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Plastic is a polymer, made through polymerization
Plastic is a synthetic polymer derived from fossil fuels such as crude oil, natural gas, and coal. It can also be produced from renewable bio-based sources such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats, oils, and bacteria. The term "polymer" refers to a substance or material composed of large molecules or macromolecules formed by covalently joining many monomer-units together in chains. Monomers are molecules that serve as the basic building blocks of polymers.
The process of forming polymers through the joining of monomers is known as polymerization. There are different types of polymerization processes, including condensation polymerization, which involves joining two or more different monomers by removing small molecules like water. This process requires a catalyst and is known as step growth, as it allows for the addition of existing chains to create longer chains. Common examples of condensation polymers include polyester and nylon.
The properties of polymers can be modified by changing various parameters, such as using different elements, altering the type of monomers, or rearranging them in different patterns. This flexibility in design allows plastics to be tailored for specific applications. For instance, the addition of plasticizers can modify the glass-transition temperature (Tg) and increase polymer flexibility.
The development of plastic can be traced back to the mid-19th century when inventors sought alternatives to scarce animal-derived materials. One of the earliest examples of plastic was Parkesine, invented by Alexander Parkes in 1862. It was a synthetic material made from cellulose nitrate, cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids, and mixed with vegetable oil. However, the breakthrough that marked the birth of the modern plastics era came in 1907 with the invention of Bakelite by Leo Baekeland. Bakelite was the first synthetic plastic derived entirely from fossil fuels, specifically coal tar.
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Plastic is derived from fossil fuels
Plastic is all around us, from cheap toys to the packaging on our food. It is hard to imagine a world without it. But where does plastic come from?
Plastic can be synthetic or biobased. Synthetic plastics are derived from fossil fuels, specifically hydrocarbons obtained from crude oil, natural gas, and coal. Fossil fuels are themselves made up of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur, oxygen, and other minerals. The generally accepted theory is that these hydrocarbons are formed from the remains of living organisms, or plankton, that existed during the Jurassic era. Over time, these organisms were buried beneath the Earth's surface, where they decomposed without oxygen and transformed into tiny pockets of oil and gas.
The first synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented by Leo Baekeland in 1907. Baekeland used phenol, an acid derived from coal tar. This invention paved the way for the creation of now-familiar synthetic plastics, including polystyrene, polyester, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polythene, and nylon.
Today, most plastic in use is still synthetic, due to the ease of manufacturing methods involved in processing crude oil. However, the finite nature of oil reserves has driven a need for newer plastics derived from renewable resources. Biobased plastics, for example, are made from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, and bacteria.
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Frequently asked questions
The first plastic, Parkesine, was invented in 1862 by British inventor Alexander Parkes. It was made from cellulose, cotton fibres dissolved in nitric and sulphuric acids and then mixed with vegetable oil.
The first fully synthetic plastic was Bakelite, invented in 1907 by Leo Baekeland. It was derived from coal tar, a fossil fuel.
The first bioplastic was created by Maurice Lemoigne in 1926. It was made from bacteria, specifically polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from the bacterium Bacillus megaterium.
Most plastic today is synthetic, derived from crude oil, natural gas, or coal. However, bioplastics are made from renewable products such as carbohydrates, starch, vegetable fats and oils, and bacteria.
Plastic was a revolutionary material as it allowed humans to create materials not constrained by the limits of nature. It also helped to address the scarcity of natural resources, such as ivory and tortoise shell, and made material wealth more accessible.
