Crude Oil What is crude oil?

Crude oil is a complex mixture of naturally occurring hydrocarbons found within the earths surface. It is the decayed remains of microscopic plants and animals. Fractional distillation of crude oil: The components of crude oil all have different boiling points and this is the principle upon which its separation is based. The crude oil is passed into a fractioning column consisting of a number of horizontal trays. Heat is applied from the bottom of this tray, as such the tray above it is slightly cooler than the one below it. The vapour rises and condenses on where the temperature is lower its boiling point. The more volatile fractions (which also have low boiling points) are found higher in the column while those that are less volatile are found further down. The crude oil components are therefore separated into different fractions each with a particular boiling range.

Cracking and reforming crude oil fractions What Is Cracking? This is the process by, which large fractions of crude oil can be broken to form smaller more widely used fraction. It may be either THERMAL, or CATALYTIC Thermal Thermal cracking usually involves rapidly heating the hydrocarbon to approximately 800oC. The carbon carbon single bond undergoes homolytic fission. The radical formed can undergo homolytic further reactions

Thermal Cracking Mechanism Catalytic The reaction is usually catalysed by Al2O3 or SiO3 at about 500oC. The carbon carbon single bond undergoes heterolytic fission Catalytic Cracking Mechanism Reforming The process by which a straight chain is converted into a highly branched hydrocarbon. Isomerization: Example; Butane to 2-Methylpropane Alkylation: Alkanes are combined with alkenes to make longer branched chain alkenes. This reaction occurs at room temperature using a concentrated sulphuric acid as a catalyst Catlytic reforming: The process converts straight chain alkane molecules of the NAPTHA fraction into cyclohexanes and aromatic hydrocarbons.The naphtha vapour is heated to about 500oC at a pressure of 20 atm and then passed over a catalyst made of Pt and Al203 Benzene is an e.g. of a product of catalytic reforming Tulene is used to increase the octane number in gasoline

Octane number of gasoline The octane number of gasoline refers to the value ascribed to gasoline based on its antiknocking properties. It is ranked between 2,2,4Trimethylpentane (100) and heptane(0) Crude oil and industry: oil spills Approaches to Oil Spills include: Placing a boon around the oil Igniting the oil within the boon Adding sand to the spill Solvents: breakdown and disperse oil Bacteria: use oil as food

Crude oil and industry: Impact on Health Carbon Monoxide: reduces the bloods ability to bind with oxygen as little as 400pm is fatal Sulphur dioxide, Nitrogen oxides: result in acid rain BTEX compounds: Carcinogenic, when resulting in reproductive and developmental problems and may aggravate asthma.