Thesis (Ph. D.)--Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available in electronic version. Access restricted to campus users.

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The objective of the research was to determine the role which South African trade policy played in shaping the development of the domestic petrochemical industry. The focus of the study falls on the domestic development of the petrochemical industry in general, and the polymer industry in particular. Three broad stages are distinguished in the domestic development of the petrochemical industry. Prior to the early 1970's development occurred primarily on an ad hoc basis, with the establishment of domestic production plants for most major petrochemicals. The development of the domestic petrochemical industry over the period from the early 1970's to the early 1980's was characterised by rapid growth in the domestic production of petrochemicals, while the period from the early 1980's to the early 1990's saw a significant slowdown in the annual growth rate for the domestic production of petrochemicals. The role of trade policy in the industry's development over each of these three periods could not be established conclusively. In each period a number of factors were identified which may have impacted on the industry's development. However, two factors do appear to have played particularly important roles in the industry's development prior to the early 1980's, namely strong growth in domestic petrochemical demand and the provision of a substantial degree of protection through quantitative import controls and tariffs. with regard to the industry's development over the period from the early 1980's to the early 1990's, a number of factors were identified which may have influenced trends in domestic petrochemical production, including the withdrawal of quantitative import controls and the progressive lowering of import tariffs, the depreciation of the rand in the mid-1980's, a slowdown in the growth of the domestic demand for petrochemicals, the fall in the international prices of petrochemicals in the early 1980's, and the fall in the international oil price in the mid-1980's. In view of the small size of the domestic petrochemical market it is recommended that local petrochemical producers should continue to expand their focus beyond that of producing solely for the requirements of the domestic market. In light of the key role played by the petrochemical industry in a modern economy, it is also recommended that the industry in South Africa receive more attention from policy makers than it has in the past.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemistry) -Dept. of Chemistry, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xxiv, 349 leaves : ill. ; 31 cm / The primary objective of this study was to determine the levels of liquid hydrocarbon contamination present in the soil within the SAPREF refinery. The secondary objective arising from this was the development of a gas chromatographic (GC) method using a fifty metre PONA (Paraffin, Olefin, Naphthalene and Aromatic) capillary column and the split injection technique, for the analysis. Toluene was the solvent selected, with the Standard method for the BÜCHI extraction system, to extract the hydrocarbons present in the soil samples taken at the five different tank farm sites in the refinery. The main purpose of the analysis and evaluation was to enable the refinery to establish environmental control measures to reduce the contamination of the soil in the area.

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Thesis (Ph. D.)(Chemistry)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Tech.: Chemistry) -Dept. of Chemistry, Durban Institute of Technology, 2004 xxiv, 349 leaves : ill. ; 31 cm / The primary objective of this study was to determine the levels of liquid hydrocarbon contamination present in the soil within the SAPREF refinery. The secondary objective arising from this was the development of a gas chromatographic (GC) method using a fifty metre PONA (Paraffin, Olefin, Naphthalene and Aromatic) capillary column and the split injection technique, for the analysis. Toluene was the solvent selected, with the Standard method for the BÜCHI extraction system, to extract the hydrocarbons present in the soil samples taken at the five different tank farm sites in the refinery. The main purpose of the analysis and evaluation was to enable the refinery to establish environmental control measures to reduce the contamination of the soil in the area.

Transition metal organometallic chemistry is a rapidly expanding field, which has an important relationship to industrial problems of petrochemical catalysis. This thesis describes studies of fundamental organometallic reaction processes, such as C-H and C-C bond formation and cleavage, and investigations of the structure and bonding of organometallic compounds. A number of techniques were used to pursue these studies, including synthesis, X-ray crystallography, and semi-empirical molecular orbital calculations. [continued in text ...]

Thesis (M.Eng.(Control Engineering)--University of Pretoria, 2003. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

M.Ing. (Mechanical Engineering) / Considering the high cost of maintenance, effective maintenance management have the potential to contribute to the profit of a petrochemical business. The complexity of the maintenance domain in the petrochemical business demands the use of information systems for the management of maintenance. The availability of correct, easily interpretable information about maintenance can therefore contribute to the profit of a petrochemical business. Management decisions are based on available information. The quality (accuracy and timeliness) of the information create more room for creative decisions in the maintenance department. A computerized information management system is a tool employed in the optimization of maintenance cost and a requirement for world class maintenance. This system depends on information of a high quality. It should be kept in mind that this systems is an aid to maintenance management and would never be able to replace the maintenance manager. The role played by high quality information in the success of a computerized maintenance management system point towards the importance of the personnel that maintain the system and those that provide input to the system. These personnel need to be highlytrained and should have the most recent technology available. Continuing development of the computerized maintenance management system within a company is necessary for the system to succeed.