Lecture no.

(2): Crude oil –chemistry and composition

Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI
5. Crude oil Chemistry
The crude oil mixture is composed of the following groups:
1. Hydrocarbon compounds
2. Non hydrocarbon compounds
3. Organo-metallic compounds and inorganic salts
The chemical properties (physical also) of crude oil depends
on its unique mixture of molecule.
5.1 Hydrocarbon compounds:-
Hydrocarbons may be gaseous, liquid, or solid at normal temperature
and pressure, depending on the number and arrangement of the
carbon atoms in their molecules.

Those with up to 4 carbon atoms are gaseous; those with 20 or more

are solid; those in between are liquid.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI
The principal constituents of most crude oils are hydrocarbon
compounds.

All hydrocarbon classes are present in the crude mixture, except

alkenes and alkynes.
Alkanes (paraffins) are saturated hydrocarbon. They have only single
bonds such as CH4, C2H6, C3H8, with general formula CnH2n+2.
The naming according to IUPAC ended with ane which means single.
Alkenes (Olefins) are unsaturated hydrocarbon. They have double
bonds such as Ethene (Ethylene) C2H4, propene C3H6, butene C4H8 with
general formula CnH2n.
The naming according to IUPAC ended with ene which means double.

Alkynes are unsaturated hydrocarbon. They have triple bonds such as

Ethyne (acetylene) C2H2, propyne C3H6, with general formula CnH2n - 2.
The naming according to IUPAC ended with yne which means triple.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI
The following is a brief description of the different hydrocarbon
classes found in all crude oils.

5.1.1 Alkanes (paraffins)

Methane, Ethane, propane and butane are gaseous hydrocarbons at
ambient temperatures and atmospheric pressure. They are usually
found associated with crude oils in a dissolved state.

Normal alkanes (n-alkanes, n-paraffins) are straight-chain

hydrocarbons having no branches.

Branched alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons with an alkyl

substituent or a side branch from the main chain.
A branched alkane with the same number of carbons and hydrogen
as an n-alkane is called an isomer.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2
NTI
For example, butane (C4H10) has two isomers, n-butane and
2-methyl propane (isobutane).

As the molecular weight of the hydrocarbon increases, the

number of isomers also increases.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2
NTI
Pentane (C5H12) has three isomers; hexane (C6H14) has five.
The following shows the isomers of hexane:

Crude oils contain many short, medium, and long-chain normal

and branched paraffins.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI
5.1.2 Cycloparaffins (Naphthenes)
Saturated cyclic hydrocarbons, normally known as naphthenes,
are also part of the hydrocarbon constituents of crude oils. Their
ratio, however, depends on the crude type.
The cycloalkanes contain only single bonds, and have the
general formula CnH2n.
Cyclomethane and cycloethane obviously cannot exist, but
cyclopropane, cyclobutane, cyclopentane etc can exist.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI
The lower members of naphthenes in crude oil are
cyclopentane, cyclohexane, and their mono-substituted
compounds.
Cyclohexanes, substituted cyclopentanes,and
cyclohexanes substituted are important
hydrocarbons. precursors for aromatic

The examples shown here are for three naphthenes of special

importance.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI

If a naphtha fraction contains these compounds, the first two

can be converted to benzene C6H6, and the last compound can
dehydrogenate to toluene C7H8 during processing.
Heavier petroleum fractions such as kerosine and gas oil may
contain two or more cyclohexane rings bonded through two
neighboring carbons.

The content of cycloparaffins in petroleum varies up to 60% of

the total hydrocarbons.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2
NTI
5.1.3 Aromatic Compounds

Aromatic hydrocarbons are unsaturated hydrocarbons which

have one or more benzene ring, to which hydrogen atoms are
attached according to the formula CnHn.

Benzene ring is hexagonal ring arrangement found in benzene

and other aromatic compounds, consisting of six carbon atoms
with alternating single and double bonds between them, and
with each carbon atom bonded to a hydrogen atom, or to other
atoms or groups of atoms in derivatives of benzene.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI
Toluene (C7H8) and xylene (C8H10) are also mononuclear aromatic
compounds found in variable amounts in crude oils.

Benzene, toluene (C7H8), and xylenes (C8H10) (BTX) are

important petrochemical intermediates as well as valuable
gasoline components.

Separating BTX aromatics from crude oil distillates is not

feasible because they are present in low concentrations.

Enriching a naphtha fraction with these aromatics is possible

through a catalytic reforming process.
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2
NTI
Properties of oil Lecture NO.2 NTI

The table shows the percentage by weight of hydrocarbons in

the crude oils

Table 2.1 Composition by weight of hydrocarbons in the crude oil

Hydrocarbons Average
Paraffins 30 %
Napthenes 49 %
Aromatics 15 %
Asphaltic 6%