Petroleum crude conversion

The character and hydrocarbon-type composition of several syncrudes have been investigated by adaptation of methods developed for heavier fractions of petroleum crude oils. The methods are reviewed briefly, and results are summarized for five coal liquids and a hydrotreated shale oil Refining requirements for removal of heteroatoms, especially nitrogen, and conversion of polynuclear aromatics are discussed in relation to the composition of the syncrudes and the character of refined products to be expected. A preliminary report is given on the preparation of liquid samples from coals of widely different rank to permit more systematic correlation of hydrocarbon character with coal source in relation to refining. 

Busch, L. E., Hettinger, W. P., Zandona, 0, J., "Reduced Crude Conversion An Inexpensive Route to High Octane Gasoline," National Petroleum Refiners Association 80th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas, March 21-23, 1982. 

The interest in coal conversion processes, however, is increasing due to the order of magnitude higher price for the petroleum crude as compared to the pre-1970s prices. 

Conventional crude oils Conventional petroleum Convergence methods Conversion processes Convertal... 

The separation processes separate the constituents of crude-oil based on physical proper Conversion of one molecule into another greatly extends the usefulness of petroleum by extending [hi ige of hydrocarbon products. 

The reaction mixture was removed from the vessel and distilled at a pressure of 30-60 mm, and a bath temperature of 30°C to 50°C until the methanol had all been removed. The extremely viscous tarry residue remaining in the still pot was given a very crude distillation, the distillate boiling at B2°C to 1 32°C/2 mm. In an attempt to purify this distillate by a more careful distillation, 5.3 g of a liquid distilling from 53°C to 150°C/5 mm was collected. At this point, much solid sublimate was noted not only in this distillate but in the condenser of the still. 7 g of the solid sublimate was scraped out of the condenser of the still. Recrystallization of the sublimate from ethyl acetate containing a small amount of petroleum ether gave beautiful crystals melting at 175°C to 177°C (5 g). Infrared analysis confirmed that this compound was hydroquinone (9% conversion). 

American Chemical. Society. (1996). A Mational Histone Chemical Landmark The Houdry Process for the Catalytic Conversion of Crude Petroleum to I ligh-Octane Gasoline. Washington, DC American Chemical Society. Buonora, P. T. (1998). Aimer IVicAfee at Gulf Oil. Chemical Heritage 16(2) 5-7, 44—4G. 

The co-processing of coal with heavy crude oil or its heavier fractions is being developed to lower capital requirements for coal hquefaction and to integrate processing of the products of coal conversion into existing petroleum refineries. This development appears to represent the main route by which coal-based liquid fuels will supplement and perhaps someday displace petroleum-based fuels. 

RCC [Reduced crude oil conversion] A process for converting reduced crude oil (a petroleum fraction), and other petroleum residues, into high-octane gasoline and other lighter fuels. Based on the FCC process, but adapted to accommodate higher levels of metal contaminants which can harm the catalyst. Developed by Ashland Oil Company and UOP and... 

RCD Unibon [Reduced crude desulfurization] Also known as the Black oil conversion process (BOC). A process for removing organic sulfur-, nitrogen-, and metal-compounds from heavy petroleum fractions. Different catalysts are used for different oils. Developed and licensed by UOP. 

Pure xylan is not employed in industry. but crude xylan or pentosans are of industrial importance. Xylan has been proposed as a textile size but is not employed as yet for this purpose.130 Perhaps the largest use of pentosans is in their conversion to furfural, which has many applications and serves as the source of other furan derivatives. At the present time, large quantities of furfural are used in the extractive purification of petroleum products, and recently a large plant has been constructed to convert furfural by a series of reactions to adipic acid and hexamethylene-diamine, basic ingredients in the synthesis of nylon. In commercial furfural manufacture, rough ground corn cobs are subjected to steam distillation in the presence of hydrochloric acid. As mentioned above, direct preferential hydrolysis of the pentosan in cobs or other pentosan-bearing products could be used for the commercial manufacture of D-xylose. 

Although the superior properties of PEN have been known for many years, the unavailability of the naphthalate monomer has delayed the development of commercial markets, until relatively recently (1995) when the Amoco Chemical Company offered high purity naphthalene-2,6-dimethyl dicarboxylate (NDC) in amounts of up to 60 million pounds per year. This diester is produced by a five-step synthetic route, starting from the readily available compounds, o-xylene and 1,4-butadiene [3], Prior to this, the NDC diester was obtained by extraction of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene (DMN) from petroleum streams, where it was present in relatively low abundance. Oxidation of DMN to crude 2,6-naphthalene dixcarboxylic (NDA) is conducted by a similar process to that used for conversion of p-xylcnc to purified terephthalic acid (TA), crude NDA is esterified with methanol, and is then distilled to yield high purity NDC. Other companies (e.g. the Mitsubishi Gas Chemical Company) followed Amoco s introduction with lesser amounts of NDC. Teijin [4] has manufactured PEN for many years for its own captive uses in films. 

Accurate determination of the density or specific gravity of crude oil is necessary for the conversion of measured volumes to volumes at the standard temperature of 15.56°C (60°F) (ASTM D1250 IP 200 Petroleum Measurement Tables). The specific gravity is also a factor reflecting the quality of crude oils. 

Natural gas is a hydrocarbon of low molecular weight consisting of about 85% methane (CH ), which is recovered as an underground gas in areas where petroleum is found. It is also economically produced by conversion of crude oil to gas. Possible future sources of a hydro-gen-based fuel are large frozen methane deposits recently found on ocean bottoms. 

Hydrogen sulfide is a by-product of many industrial operations, eg, coking and the hydrodesulfurization of crude oil and of coal. Hydrodesulfurization is increasing in importance as the use of high sulfur crude oil becomes increasingly necessary (see Petroleum, refinery processes). A large future source of hydrogen sulfide may result if coal liquefaction attains commercial importance (see Coal CONVERSION processes). 

This consideration as well as those concerning cost, convenience of use, and availability leads to the conclusion that petroleum fuels will be used for transportation purposes in preference to other fuels as long as crude petroleum is available. Although liquid fuels can be produced from gas, coal, or shale oil, the high energy losses involved in the conversion make such operations unattractive from an energy conservation point of view. Obviously, the direct utilization of gas and coal as produced and of the type of crude oil which can be produced from oil shale by simple retorting is the most desirable procedure and should be followed until petroleum is so scarce or expensive to find that the free play of economic forces dictates the synthesis of liquid fuels. 

Liquid Fuels via Methanol Synthesis and Conversion. Methanol is produced catalytically from synthesis gas. By-products such as ethers, formates, and higher hydrocarbons are formed in side reactions and are found in the crude methanol product. Whereas for many years methanol was produced from coal, after World War II low cost natural gas and light petroleum fractions replaced coal as the feedstock. 

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