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

F-block elements, electronic cofiguration of f-block elements

electronic cofiguration of f-block elements

Wheat Flour, How can decrease alcohlic acidity in wheat flour.

How can decrease alcohlic acidity in wheat flour.

Half-reaction at the anode, During the electrolysis of water, what are the ...

During the electrolysis of water, what are the two half-reactions taking place? HALF-REACTION AT THE ANODE: HALF-REACTION AT THE CATHODE: What is the relative ratio betwee

Explain the bromonium ion, Explain The bromonium ion The bromonium ion...

Explain The bromonium ion The bromonium ion derived from the reaction of cyclopentene with bromine undergoes backside substitution by water to give the trans-bromohydrin, whic

Hittorf method.., determination of transport number by hittorfs method.

determination of transport number by hittorfs method.

Solid , please give me a complete information about solid and extra informa...

please give me a complete information about solid and extra information

Oxoacids, examples of oxoacids and their definitions

examples of oxoacids and their definitions

Important applications of indium, Q. Important applications of indium? ...

Q. Important applications of indium? The most important applications of indium are in protection of bearings against wear and erosion in low melting alloys and in electronic de

write a shortnote on electrorefining of copper? , Electro refining of Copp...

Electro refining of Copper • Electrolyte - Aqueous copper sulphate solution (acidified) • Cathode - Pure copper metal (thin rod) • Anode - Impure copper metal (thick block) • Disso

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