Petroleum/fossil fuel

Of all the fossil fuels, petroleum is considered the least sustainable fuel option (most finite and fastest rate of depletion), which is the main reason for the development of alternative fuels. Resources of natu-... 

As we have seen, the primary sources of hydrocarbons are the fossil fuels petroleum and coal. Aliphatic hydrocarbons are obtained primarily from petroleum, which is a mixture of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, together with some organic compounds containing sulfur and nitrogen (Fig. 18.15). Coal is another major source of aromatic hydrocarbons. 

An important task will be to develop a more efficient and clean use of fossil fuels -petroleum, natural gas, and coal and the generation of alternative clean energy resources. 

Industrial civilization was built by the consumption of fossil fuels. Currently, well over 80% of world energy comes from the three main fossil fuels petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Because these are nonrenewable resources, there will come a time when these energy bank accounts are exhausted. Experts disagree on how soon the depletion of fossil fuels will occur, but eventually it will be necessary to find other energy sources. 

Polymers prepared from these kinds of monomers are desirable in principle for two reasons. First, the monomers come from renewable sources such as com, wheat, rice, or even agricultural waste. (The fossil fuels petroleum,... 

Sources of hydrocarbons include wood, the products that result from the fermentation of plants, and fossil fuels. However, one fossil fuel— petroleum—is the main source of the hydrocarbons that are used for fuels and many other products, such as plastics and synthetic fabrics. 

Our society demands a regular supply of fossil fuels. Petroleum is transported from oil-rich countries to the rest of the world. If an oil tanker carrying petroleum has an accident, the resulting oil spill can be disastrous to the environment. 

Use renewable feedstocks Use raw materials and feedstocks that are renewable rather than depleting. Renewable feedstocks are often made from agricultural and forest products or are the wastes of other processes depleting feedstocks are made from fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, or coal) or are mined. Another advantage of renewable feedstocks is that often the oxidation state of the feedstock is often close to that of the desired product. This simplifies and reduces the number and extent of chemical transformations necessary in a synthetic pathway. 

Use renewable rather than depleting raw materials and feedstock. Renewable feedstocks are often made from agricultural products, or they are wastes from other processes depleting feedstocks are made from fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, or coal) or are mined. 

A single, present-day phosphorus furnace produces from 60 to 160 tonnes of phosphorus per day, almost the same as the annual production figures of the early arc furnaces, and requires a power supply of about 90,000 kW for a single, 160 tonne/day furnace. Power consumption per tonne of phosphorus produced varies with the % calcium phosphate in the rock (% BPL level) and furnace size among other factors but ranges around 12,000-14,000 kWh/ tonne (Table 10.4). Hence, power is a major cost component of electric furnace phosphorus production. This realization has prompted a reexamination of fossil-fueled (petroleum coke-based) sources of heat for rotary kiln combustion to provide the energy of the endotherm of the reaction [15]. 

Fossil fuels > Petroleum refining > Coal gasification > Coal fired power plant > Natural gas fired power plant > steam methane reforming > Steam coal gasification... 

NCREASING USE OF FOSSIL FUELS (petroleum, coal, and gas) will continue to load the atmosphere with carbon dioxide beyond the apparent capacity of the plant and oceanic sinks to absorb the gas. There has been an estimated 15% increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide since the turn of the century (/). An active response to this worldwide problem is to capture and chemically convert the carbon dioxide at its source of production. Ironically, these conversion processes must be powered by nonfossil fuel sources (solar or nuclear) to achieve a net reduction in atmospheric carbon dioxide. 

The most studied open-chain diterpenoid is phytol (C20H40O) which was isolated from chlorophyll hydrolysate by Willstatter in 1909, and shown to be an allylic alcohol by Fischer. Since then, both phytane (C20H42) and pristane (C19H40) have been identified in all fossil fuels (petroleum, coals, asphalts, bitumens, etc.). 

Using coal as an example, the other two fossil fuels, petroleum and natural gas, are not necessarily free from blame even though there is the threat to outlaw coal in some countries (Coal and Synfuels... 

Economic geology is the study of the origin and distribution of mineral deposits of metals, other useful materials (such as building stone and salt), and fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas, and coal). The economic geologist explores for these materials, predicts the mineral reserves of known deposits, and assesses the economics for the extraction of the ore. For instance, for an iron ore deposit, the geologist needs to assess the kinds and amount of iron minerals present, the depth of the deposit, the location of the deposit, and the ownership of the land so that estimates for the possibility of mining the iron ore profitably may be made. 

Fossil Fuels. Petroleum, natural gas, and coal are the main fossil fuels. Much of the coal is burned to provide electrical power. Much of the natural gas is burned to provide heat in homes and industry. Petroleum products such as gasoline are used in providing power for automobiles and trucks. 

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