ALKANES

INTRODUCING ALKANES
Petroleum and natural gas contain lots of hydrocarbons, most of
2
which are alkanes.

ALKANES are hydrocarbons with the general formula CnH2n+2.

Space-filling models of methane, ethane, propane and butane.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ALKANES

Physical properties of some straight-chain alkanes.

Melting point, boiling point and density
 5

(a) LPG (consisting of lower alkanes)

burns with a non-sooty blue flame. (b) A candle (consisting of higher
alkanes) burns with a sooty
yellow/orange flame.
Viscosity
The viscosity of liquid alkanes increases with a greater
number of carbon atoms.
6
Solubility
Alkanes are insoluble in water. On the other hand, alkanes
are soluble in many non-aqueous solvents (e.g.
methylbenzene).

CHEMICAL PROPERTIES OF ALKANES

Alkanes are saturated hydrocarbons. They are quite unreactive.
production first step
second step
 first process

CO2 H2S
Stream CO (mol/s) (mol/s) H2 (mol/s) N2 (mol/s) (mol/s) Ash (mol/s)
Inlet 0.033031 0.023316 0.023316 0.0145725 0.0291 5.7354e-4

Outlet 3.92347155 0 0.98540121 0.0165155 0 0

second process

Stream CO C2H4 CO2 H2 N2 H2S Ash

(kg/s) kg/s (kg/s) (kg/s) (kg/s) (kg/s) (kg/s)
Inlet 109.8425 0 0 1.970802 0.462924 0 0
76
Outlet 21.96851 87.87406 0 0.394160 0.462924 0 0
52 08 4
 first process
Stream Flow rate (kg/s) Enthalpy (kJ/kg) Energy output
(kW)
CH4 0.925868 -802.2 -25.95
CO 109.842576 -283.6 -262.87
CO2 1.025824 -393.5 -403.76
H2 1.970802 -241.8 -476.14
N2 0.40866 -17.22 -7.03
H2S 0.98814 -20.0 -19.76
Ash 0.034524 -94.55 -3.27
Jacket - - 10,965.63
Total -
second process
- 9,792.8

Component Energy Required (kW)

Boiler 3059.1
Condenser 2361.3
Thanks