Fractional Distillation of Crude Oil

Understanding Crude Oil

Crude oil is a non-renewable fossil fuel formed over millions of years from the remains of ancient plants and animals under pressure and heat.
It is a mixture of a very large number of compounds.
Most of the compounds in crude oil are hydrocarbons, which are compounds made up only of carbon and hydrogen.
The hydrocarbons in crude oil are mostly alkanes.

Hydrocarbons have different properties depending on their size.
Shorter hydrocarbon molecules are generally gases or liquids at room temperature and have lower boiling points.
Longer hydrocarbon molecules are generally more viscous, form solids at room temperature and have higher boiling points.

Crude oil can be separated into fractions using the process of fractional distillation.
In this process, crude oil is heated and fed into a distillation tower. The different fractions condense at different levels in the tower according to their boiling points.
Fractions towards the bottom of the tower have higher boiling points and are often used for products like bitumen and lubricating oil.
Fractions towards the top of the tower have lower boiling points and are used in products like gasoline and naphtha.

Burning fossil fuels such as crude oil releases carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.
Oil spills during extraction and transport of crude oil can have devastating environmental impacts.
The extraction of crude oil can also lead to habitat destruction and pollution.

Alternatives to crude oil include renewable energy sources such as wind, solar and tidal energy, as well as biofuels.
Transitioning to these alternatives is critical to combat climate change, but comes with its own challenges, such as the need for large-scale infrastructure and potential impacts on land use.