ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
Figure
|
Source of Figure
|
Figure 1
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http://www.pythagorasandthat.co.uk/
|
Hydrocarbon:
Hydrocarbon; as the name suggests; are the simplest type of
organic compounds made up of the elements of Hydrogen and Carbon. They may be
as simple as methane, CH4, form long chains of carbon and hydrogen
atoms.
Crude Oil; the
source of Hydrocarbons:
Crude oil is the natural source of hydrocarbons. The
unrefined oil is a black, sticky and thick fluid which cannot be used. It is
therefore, refined by the process of Fractional Distillation.
Fractional
Distillation of Crude Oil:
Crude oil is refined to yield its various useful fractions.
Crude oil is boiled to 600°C; and its various fractions are separated because
of the difference in boiling points. The figure below illustrates the process
and the fractions at their respective boiling points.
Figure 1:
Percentage
composition of Crude oil fractions obtained and demanded:
Table 1:
Fraction
|
Percentage
Composition Obtained
|
Percentage
Composition Demanded
|
L.P.G
|
2
|
5
|
Petrol
|
5
|
25
|
Naphtha
|
10
|
5
|
Paraffin
|
13
|
10
|
Diesel
|
20
|
25
|
Lubricating Oil/ Bitumen
|
50
|
30
|
Pie-chart 1:
Pie-chart 2:
Note: some highly demanded fraction are NOT obtained in the same composition from petroleum refineries. Some lesser demanded fractions are obtained in large quantities from raw crude oil. So how to fill this demand and supply gap? The answer is Cracking.
©Tanzeela Zafar Siddiqui