Refining of petroleum, Chemistry

Assignment Help:

Refining of petroleum:

Petroleum (crude) extracted from earth's crust is an intimate mixture of many organic compounds. Crude petroleum needs to be purified and its components are to be separated. This process of purification of crude petroleum and separation of its constituents into useful products is called refining of petroleum. The process of petroleum refining involves three steps.


1) Separation of water: Crude petroleum consists of salt water mixed with components of petroleum. Water is separated by allowing crude oil to flow between two highly charged electrodes. Water gets separated and settles on electrodes which is later removed.

2) Removal of sulphur compounds: Crude oil free from water is treated with copper oxide sulfur present in crude oil reacts with copper oxide and precipitates copper sulphate which is removed by filtration.

3) Fractionation: The crude oil which is free from water and sulphur is heated to 400°C in an iron tank. All components of crude oil get evaporated leaving behind a residue called 'asphalt' The vapours are passed through a tall, cylindrical fractionating column. Fractionating column contains large number of horizontal stainless steel trays. Each tray consists of a chimney which is covered with a loose cap. The crude oil vapours go up in the fractionating column and the components are cooled and condensed at different heights depending on boiling points of the components. The components with height boiling points are condensed at the lower trays and the components with lower boiling points are condensed at higher trays.
The products obtained after fractionation are
(a) uncondensed gas - used as fuel
(b) petroleum ether - used as solvent
(c) naptha - used as solvent and fuel
(d) kerosene - used as motor fuel
(e) diesel - fuel for diesel engines
(f) heavy oil - as lubricant
(g) residue - as road tar.


Related Discussions:- Refining of petroleum

Saytzeff rule - elimination reaction, Saytzeff rule - Elimination Reaction ...

Saytzeff rule - Elimination Reaction As per to that principle, major part is the most substituted alkene that is , major product is obtain by elimination of H

Equilibrium-octahedral complexes have geometric isomers , 1. A 50.0-L react...

1. A 50.0-L reaction vessel contains 1.00 mol N2, 3.00 mol H 2 , and 0.500 mol NH 3 . Will more ammonia, NH 3 , be formed or will it dissociate when the mixture goes to equilibrium

Organic, Sketch the various n-butane and discuss their relative stabilities...

Sketch the various n-butane and discuss their relative stabilities.Draw the potential energy curve as a function of torsion angles.

First ionization potential and nuclear charge problem, The first ionization...

The first ionization potentials for Na, K, and Rb are 5.138, 4.341, and 4.166 eV, respectively. Assume that the energy level of the outer electron can be represented by a hydrogenl

LATTICE OR CRYSTAL LATTICE, What are laws of crystallography?How it helps u...

What are laws of crystallography?How it helps us in the study of crystal structure

Mention the soya bean products, Soya bean products Soya bean and its f...

Soya bean products Soya bean and its flours are used in the preparation of a variety of fermented and non-fermented products in Asian countries. However in India, food use of

Matter, name any 10 chemical compound used at homewith their molecular form...

name any 10 chemical compound used at homewith their molecular formula

What are the properties of nitrogen, Q. What are the Properties of Nitrogen...

Q. What are the Properties of Nitrogen? Ans. Physical Properties of Nitrogen Nitrogen is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas. It is particularly unreactive at roo

Ionisation energy, Calculate energy of Rb per atom if light of wave length ...

Calculate energy of Rb per atom if light of wave length 5.4(10^-8)m produces electron with a speed of 2.450(10^6)

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd