How long is the process from the oil extracted from the ground to plastic?

Answer 1

Depends from the distance and transit time from the extraction site of the petroleum and the refining site. The base for plastic materials normally is produced directly in the refining process so the time could be very short.

Answer 2

Oil is distilled (fractionated) into components from heavy to light. Light is naphtha, about the consistency of gasoline. Feeding naphtha vapor and water vapor into an oven produces ethylene, propylene, butadiene, isoprene, benzene, toluene, xylenes, and much more good stuff. Initiation of polymerization of ethylene gives polyethylene for garbage bags and food wrap. Propylene gives polypropylene for solid appliance parts. Butadiene and isoprene give rubbers, which can be everything from soft latex rubber to hard rubber auto bumpers. Ethylene can also be oxidized to ethylene oxide, which in turn can be hydrolyzed to ethylene glycol. para-Xylene can be oxidized to terephthalic acid. Ethylene glycol can be copolyesterified with terephthalic acid to make polyester, which can be fabricated into shirts or pop bottles. Benzene reacts with ethylene to form styrene, which becomes clear polystyrene fake wine goblets or white foam coffee cups. The number of steps is few. The process takes days. Every plastic that you've ever heard of results.