Handbook of Petrochemicals Production Processes (McGraw-Hill Handbooks)
Although described as a handbook, this work is more an encyclopedic description of 53 industrial process technologies for producing 18 different petrochemicals.  Each process is described in a separate chapter by a different author or authors from one of 18 different companies from North America, Europe, or Japan.  The descriptions are mostly brief (averaging 13 pages) and include the following information: general process description, process chemistry, process perspective, process description, product specifications, wastes and emissions, and process economics.  The amount of detail varies, but the most common elements are the chemistry and flow diagram of each process, with other details being mostly of a qualitative or descriptive nature.  The reader should be aware that there are many other large companies that have patented processes for a number of the chemicals included (notably absent is ICI, one of the largest, so the compilation should be considered representative rather than extensive.  This excellent introduction and summary of typical plant operations is recommended as a valuable reference for any technical library that includes industrial chemistry and/or chemical engineering.Summing Up:Highly recommended.  Upper-division undergraduates; professionals; two-year technical program students. --R. Darby, emeritus, Texas A&M; University(Choice)