Distillation, of crude petroleum

Water may be found in the crude either in an emulsified form or in large droplets. The quantity is generally limited by pipeline companies and by refiners, and steps are normally taken at the wellhead to reduce the water content as low as possible. However, after a spill, water can be introduced by climatic conditions, and the relevant tests (ASTM D96, D954, D1796 IP, 2004) are regarded as important in crude oil analyses. Prior to analyses, it is often necessary to separate the water from a crude oil sample, and this is usually carried out by one of the procedures described in the preliminary distillation of crude petroleum (IP 24). Overall, there are several methods that can be employed for organic semivolatile sample preparation and cleanup procedures (Table 6.4). 

Large amounts of tar or pitch by-products are produced by industrial processes. The distillation of crude petroleum (qv) yields a pitch-like residue termed bitumen or asphalt (qv). In the United States, these terms are interchangeable, but in Europe the term asphalt is generally restricted to naturally occurring rock or lake asphalt, whereas the residual product of crude-oil distillation is termed bitumen. Although these are important industrial materials produced in millions of metric tons annually, they are not included herein (see Asphalt Petroleum, products). 

PETROLEUM REFINING AND UPGRADING 1.4.1. Distillation of Crude Petroleum... 

Table 1.6. Fractions of typical distillation of crude petroleum...

Thus, in the distillation of crude petroleum, light naphtha and gases are removed as vapor from the top of the tower, heavy naphtha, kerosene, and gas oil are removed as sidestream products, and reduced crude (atmospheric residuum) is taken from the bottom of the tower. 

Bitumen brown or black viscous residue from the vacuum distillation of crude petroleum—includes asphalt and tar. 

The first step in refining petroleum is a careful fractional distillation. The products of that distillation are not pure alkanes but mixtures of alkanes with useful ranges of boiling points. Table 3-3 shows the major fractions obtained from the distillation of crude petroleum. 

A heterogeneous catalytic process involves more than one phase usually the catalyst is a soHd and the reactants and products are in liquid or gaseous form. Much of the benzene produced in this country today is manufactured from the dehydrogenation of cyclohexane (obtained from the distillation of crude petroleum) using platinum-on-alumina as the catalyst ... 

Paraffin is manufactured by the distillation of crude petroleum or shale oil, followed by purification by acid treatment and filtration. Paraffins with different properties may be produced by controlling the distillation and subsequent congealing conditions. 

The first step in the manufacture of asphalt-based coatings consists of the distillation of crude petroleum, which results in distillate fractions (gasoline, naptha, kerosene, diesel fuel, and gas oil). The fraction of crude oil that boils above approximately 300 C is not distilled, but is withdrawn from the bottom of the distillation... 

Physical Description Fumes generated during the production or application of asphalt (a dark-brown to black cement-like substance manufactured by the vacuum distillation of crude petroleum oil). ... 

ASTMD 2892-84 Standard Test Method for Distillation of Crude Petroleum (15-Theoretical Plate Colunm). 

ASTM. 201 Ic. Test Method for Distillation of Crude Petroleum (15 Theoretical Plate Column) (ASTM D2892). Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Section 05.02. American Society for Testing and Materials, West Conshohocken, PA. 

Distillation. In the distillation process, a volatile vapor phase and a liquid phase that vaporizes are involved. An example is distillation of an ethanol—water solution, where the vapor contains a concentration of ethanol greater than in the liquid. Another example is distillation of an ammonia-water solution to produce a vapor richer in ammonia. In the distillation of crude petroleum, various fractions, such as gasoline, kerosene, and heating oils, are distilled off. 

Distillation is applied at small scales on a batch or continuous basis to separate and purify specialty chemicals. At the other extreme it is the basic method fior separating comnoodify chemicals on a tonnage basis, a familiar example being the distillation of crude petroleum to obtain a number of hydrocarbon fractions. 

These guidelines are not for distillation of crude petroleum or very complex liquid mixtures at input. Experts in petroleum refineries should be consulted for such requirements. 

Pitch is the residue left after distillation of crude petroleum or coal tar. It has a high carbon content and is a cheap starting material. Pitch consists of a mixture of high molecular mass aromatic and cyclic aliphatic hydrocarbons. 

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