The liquids are adsorbed on the surface of the desiccant such as silica gel. Desiccants are added to many products, such as medicines, to keep them dry. The table on the right indicates the distribution of natural gas liquids in the marketplace. The major product uses are for petrochemical and refinery feed stocks to produce products like ethylene, propylene, butylene, and gasoline. The main use of propane is in fuel applications such as home heating in places that are not served by natural gas pipelines and fuel for outdoor cooking.
Natural gas is used in a number of markets as illustrated in the pie chart on the right.
Industrial uses of natural gas represented the largest market with fuel and raw material applications. Natural gas is used to dry potato chips and automobile paint finishes. Natural gas is converted into fertilizer, methanol, and gasoline blending compounds. Natural gas is used in the residential and commercial sector for home heating and cooking. A growing market for natural gas is a fuel to produce electricity.