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2.2 Sources of Alkanes

Alkanes, primarily sourced from crude petroleum oil and natural gas, are crucial as fuels and are processed through primary and fractional distillation. Catalytic cracking and reforming techniques are employed to optimize the production of lighter alkanes for fuel efficiency and to prevent engine knocking. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), particularly propane, is favored for its ease of liquefaction and safe transportation for various uses.

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13 views8 pages

2.2 Sources of Alkanes

Alkanes, primarily sourced from crude petroleum oil and natural gas, are crucial as fuels and are processed through primary and fractional distillation. Catalytic cracking and reforming techniques are employed to optimize the production of lighter alkanes for fuel efficiency and to prevent engine knocking. Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), particularly propane, is favored for its ease of liquefaction and safe transportation for various uses.

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nafurrahman2004
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Course: 0531-1201

Organic Chemistry

Alkanes – Saturated Hydrocarbons

Sources
Source of Alkanes
The most important feature of the alkanes is their use as fuels
(mixtures of alkanes). The source of these fuels is either
• crude petroleum oil or
• natural gas
The basic process by which petroleum is turned into useful chemicals with a
whole variety of properties is known as primary distillation.

Primary distillation is industrial version of Fractional distillation

Fractional distillation of Crude petroleum oil

• Petroleum is boiled and the vapors are cooled and liquefied at


particular temperatures
• The liquid collected over each range of temperature is known as a
fraction
• This process provides several fractions which can be used in further,
more precise, fractional distillation process to give a pure yield of a
particular alkane
Fractional Distillation
Making the most of crude oil, how?
Catalytic cracking process
Lighter fractions produced during the fractional distillation of
crude oil are in great demand both as fuels and as the raw
materials for the chemical industry

Scientists developed way of treating the heavier long chain


fractions of crude oil and breaking them down (cracking) to
produce more of the lighter compounds. To do so catalytic or
cat cracking process is used Crystalline aluminosilicates
(zeolites) are commonly used as catalyst in the process.
Making the most of crude oil, how?
Catalytic Reforming
The alkanes in gasoline (petrol) are used in producing power in engine cylinders by
the explosive combustion

Smooth running of a car avoiding knocking needs gasoline mixtures high in branched
chain alkanes (efficient fuels) than mixtures high in straight chain alkanes

The proportion of branched to straight chain molecules in different mixtures is given


an octane rating

Octane rating of 2,2, 4 – trimethylpentane is set at 100 and it is 0 for straight chain
heptane

Research octane number is set by measuring the performance of the fuel under set
conditions in research engine

Tetraethyl lead (IV) was added to gasoline to prevent knocking but it causes lead
pollution
Catalytic reforming (plat forming – platinum catalyst is used) is used to produce
gasoline mixtures artificially high in a branched chain alkanes.
Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG)
A great advantage of propane over methane is that it
can be liquefied readily under pressure and at low
temperature

So that a large quantity of gas can be stored and


transported relatively easily and safely

LPG is transported in enormous refrigerated ships and


is then transferred to pressurized cylinders to be used
for cooking or heating room
Check List
Check List

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