09-09-2017, 01:36 PM
Petroleum products are materials derived from crude oil (petroleum) as they are processed in oil refineries. Unlike petrochemicals, which are a collection of normally well-defined chemical compounds, petroleum products are complex mixtures. Most oil is converted into petroleum products, which includes various kinds of fuels.
Depending on the composition of crude oil and depending on market demands, refineries can produce different parts of petroleum products. The largest proportion of petroleum products is used as "energy carriers", ie several grades of fuel oil and gasoline. These fuels include or can be mixed to give it gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and heavier fuel oils. Heavier (less volatile) fractions can also be used to produce asphalt, tar, paraffin wax, lubricants and other heavy oils. Refineries also produce other chemicals, some of which are used in chemical processes to produce plastics and other useful materials. Since oil often contains a small percentage of sulfur-containing molecules, elemental sulfur also often occurs as an oil product. Carbon, in the form of petroleum coke, and hydrogen can also be produced as petroleum products. The produced hydrogen is often used as an intermediate for other petroleum refining processes such as hydro-cracking and hydrodesulphurisation.
Depending on the composition of crude oil and depending on market demands, refineries can produce different parts of petroleum products. The largest proportion of petroleum products is used as "energy carriers", ie several grades of fuel oil and gasoline. These fuels include or can be mixed to give it gasoline, jet fuel, diesel fuel, heating oil and heavier fuel oils. Heavier (less volatile) fractions can also be used to produce asphalt, tar, paraffin wax, lubricants and other heavy oils. Refineries also produce other chemicals, some of which are used in chemical processes to produce plastics and other useful materials. Since oil often contains a small percentage of sulfur-containing molecules, elemental sulfur also often occurs as an oil product. Carbon, in the form of petroleum coke, and hydrogen can also be produced as petroleum products. The produced hydrogen is often used as an intermediate for other petroleum refining processes such as hydro-cracking and hydrodesulphurisation.