CRUDE OIL Oindri Mandal

WHAT IS CRUDE OIL

oA finite non-renewable resource
oContain many different hydrocarbons, ranging in size
oProperties:
As the size of the molecule increases, the –
 Boiling point increases
Liquids become less volatile As the size increases,
the IM force
Liquids become more viscous increases

 Liquids become darker

Burn less easily
 SEPERATING CRUDE OIL –
FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION
Refinery
oFirst, the crude oil is vaporized in a heater. 40 C gases

oThe vapors are passed into a column known as the fractionating column.
Gasoline
oThe fractionating column is cooler at the top and hotter at the bottom, having a
temperature gradient ranging from (40 C - 400 C) Kerosene
o The vapors rise up the fractionating column and condense when they reach their
respective condensation points. Diesel
o How far up a particular hydrocarbon travels depends on its boiling point i.e., larger oil
hydrocarbons have higher condensation point and condense at the hotter bottom part
Fuel
of the column while smaller hydrocarbons travel upward. They condense that part of
oil
the test tube where the temperature is below their condensation points
CRUDE OIL
400 C Bitumen
HEATER FRACTIONATIN
G COLUMN
USES OF THE DIFFERENT
FRACTIONS
o Refinery gases: used as LPG, for domestic heating and cooking
oGasoline(Petrol): used as a fuel in cars
oKerosene: fuel for jet aircrafts and lamps
oDiesel: fuel for buses, lorries and trucks
oFuel oil: fuel for ships, industrial heating
oBitumen: mixed with small pieces of rock to create a coating for roads
INDUSTRIAL CRACKING
oCracking is a chemical process by which large alkanes are broken down into smaller
alkanes and alkenes.
oIn industries, cracking is carried out at a temperature of 600 C – 700 C
oIt is caried out in the presence of alumina or silica, as a catalyst.
oCracking is carried out because:
To produce more smaller alkanes which are better fuels and are in more demand, crude oil
may contain more of larger alkanes and less of the more useful smaller alkanes
To produce more alkenes that can undergo polymerization and be converted to plastics.
oExample of cracking equation : (g) + (g) + (l)