Crude Oil (Module 3) a) explain the method used in the separation of the components of crude oil b) discuss the

uses of the components of crude oil as fuels and as raw materials for the petro-chemical industry (also refer to catalytic cracking, fractional distillation and reforming techniques) c) assess the impact of the petroleum industry on the environment First the crude oil is pumped from the earth or the sea and then it undergoes fractional distillation to obtain the separate fractions or components. Essentially the crude oil is heated in a long column containing trays. Each tray has a number of bubble caps.

The way the distillation works is by becoming progressively cooler from the base to the top. All the hydrocarbon fractions start off in gas form, as they have been heated to that point. The gases then rise up the tower.

The gas mixture then encounters a barrier through which there are only openings called bubble caps. The gas mixture is then forced to go through a liquid before continuing upwards. The liquid in the first tray is at a cool enough temperature to get the heaviest gas fractions to condense into liquid form, while the lighter fractions stay gaseous. In this way the heaviest hydrocarbon fractions are separated out from the mixed gas. The remaining gas continues its journey up the tower until it reaches another barrier. Here the bubble cap process is repeated but at a lower temperature than before, which then filters out the next lightest set of fractions. This process continues until only the very lightest fractions, those of 1-4 carbon atoms, are left. These stay in gas form and are collected at the top of the tower. Some fractions are in heavier demand than other, for example the fractions diesel and petrol are required in extremely large amounts while the heavier fraction are not in such high demand. A process called cracking is then used to fragment the large molecules into smaller molecules (forming even more diesel and petrol fractions). The gasoline produced then undergoes reforming techniques to improve its octane rating. Iso-octane or 2,2,4trimethylpentane is the standard used to determine octane rating i.e. octane is reformed into 2,2,4trimethylpentane. In the final stages blending of fuels with different octane ratings occurs to produce the retail gasoline for selling to customers to meet certain specifications. Not only are the fractions used for the purposes as shown in the diagram above but are also used as feedstock for the petrochemical industry to produce plastics, detergents, solvents and fabrics. Safety concerns in an oil refinery 1. Air pollution (release of several contaminants during the refinery process) as well as a persistent and unpleasant odour 2. Fire and explosions due to flammable gases in a refinery 3. Noise pollution to the industrial equipment. 4. Risk of leaks on land or in the water (water leaks more relevant for underwater drilling) Refer to BP incident April 2010