Does a person need to "consume" 551 kilograms of oil in his lifetime? Let's talk about the "panacea" in food, clothing, housing and transportation

Science Times reporter epic

When it comes to oil, don't think that it is just an ordinary black liquid. Your three meals a day, four seasons, your poetry and the distant places are all inseparable from oil! This unknown "all-rounder" is hidden in every corner of our lives, playing an unexpected role. From the exhibition board of the "Blood of the Republic - Carrying Forward the Daqing Spirit" exhibition, we know that a person will "eat" 551 kilograms of oil, "wear" 290 kilograms of oil, and "live" will use 3790 kilograms of oil. As for transportation, at least 3838 kilograms of oil will be used in a lifetime... Today, we will reveal the secrets of oil in food, clothing, housing and transportation.

A person consumes 551 kg of oil in his lifetime

Can you eat that black oil? Eat one and show me!

Can oil be eaten? I'm sure everyone has this question.

Oil is absolutely unacceptable, but the main ingredient of fertilizers used for crops, ammonia, comes from oil. Fertilizers supplement nutrients so that crops can grow vigorously. The colorful creams in cakes and other delicacies are added with edible flavors and pigments. The reason why chewing gum does not break down is because of the gum base ingredients in it, which also comes from oil.

Even the commonly used "benzene" in pharmaceuticals is made from petroleum. Zhang Huaqiang, deputy director of the Lanzhou Center of the China Petrochemical Research Institute, told the Science Times reporter that propionic acid is a downstream product of petroleum refining. It has strong bactericidal effects, good body metabolism regulation, and excellent high temperature resistance. Therefore, it is widely used in medicine, pesticides and other fields. When we are in pain occasionally, we often take ibuprofen, the main raw material of which is propionic acid.

A person will "wear" 290 kilograms of oil in his lifetime

You never thought that petroleum is the secret "weapon" of the fashion industry. More than 90% of the chemical fibers (nylon, acrylic, polyester) used in textiles come from petroleum. Zhang Huaqiang introduced that the clothes and shoes we wear are all synthetic fibers, which are made from petroleum, natural gas, coal and agricultural and sideline products.

Compared with pure cotton fabrics, polyester sportswear is more elastic, quick-drying and non-sticky. With the development of the times and technology, the performance of synthetic fibers has become more and more diverse. Now there are special shirts that are waterproof, oil-proof and stain-proof, which is simply "good news for lazy people"!

Petroleum products are also on the "podium"! At the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics and Paralympics, 70% of the thermal insulation core of the ski suits and award-winning uniforms of some Chinese Winter Olympic athletes is made of new materials, namely multi-dimensional heat storage and thermal insulation flocs. Professor Wang Dong of Wuhan Textile University said: "It looks like an ordinary ball of gray flocs, but it will heat up immediately when you touch and rub it with your hands."

There are also diapers that are familiar to new parents. Its "incredible" water-absorbing and leak-proof functions are protected by the petroleum product - polyacrylic acid.

The raw materials for medical supplies such as masks, protective clothing, gauze, syringes, etc. are all petroleum products, so petroleum also plays a vital role in the development of human medical and health.

A person consumes 3,790 kilograms of oil in his lifetime

When you decorate your home into a "dream room", whether it is doors and windows, walls, decorative materials, home appliances, lamps and other appliances, they are all made of synthetic resins, which come from petroleum. Televisions, refrigerators, computers, integrated cabinets, etc. are all "related" to petroleum, and more than 95% of the raw materials of their shells come from petroleum.

Liu Xinmei, the author of "The Gorgeous Transformation of a Drop of Oil", said that plastics can be found everywhere in our lives. Toothbrushes, takeout boxes, plastic cups, packaging bags, toys, plastic wrap, etc. are all plastic products. Although these items have different shapes, their main components are synthetic resins. Resin materials are transformed from olefins refined from petroleum.

Petroleum is also the "cleaning master" of the housekeeping world. The surfactants and solvents "sent" by petroleum are added to detergents and laundry detergents to treat various stubborn oil stains and make the home clean.

You may not imagine that many skin care products and cosmetics also contain petroleum byproducts, such as mineral oil and petroleum jelly, which can moisturize the skin and make you more beautiful. Household cleaners often contain petroleum-based solvents, which can easily remove stubborn stains and make your home look brand new.

A person will use up 3,838 kilograms of oil in his lifetime.

Without petrochemical products, you may not be able to move forward. Oil plays an extremely important role in the daily journey of thousands of miles.

Yang Zhenqing, director of the Petroleum Light National Science Education Base of China University of Petroleum (Beijing), told the Science Popularization Times reporter that in addition to the gasoline and diesel consumed by vehicles and the aviation kerosene consumed by airplanes, the asphalt used for road paving also comes from petroleum. Asphalt is the residue left after crude oil is refined into products such as gasoline, diesel and kerosene.

The "China Speed" is also inseparable from the continuous progress of lubricant technology. In 2017, Kunlun Lubrication High-speed Rail Gearbox Oil was fully equipped on the "Fuxing" EMU, becoming the veritable "China High-speed Rail No. 1 Oil". Yang Zhenqing told reporters that lubricating oil and grease are widely used for lubrication of various machines. Without lubrication, almost all machines cannot operate normally. Most of the ingredients in lubricating oil and grease (butter) are base oils refined from petroleum, and 90% of the ingredients in many lubricating oils are petroleum.

Not only that, oil also adds color to the road surface. The "high appearance" of the Xiamen International Marathon's colored track is due to the efforts of colored asphalt. "Colored asphalt has high viscosity, strong adhesion, high wear resistance and is more durable." Yang Zhenqing said.