Formation of Coal and Petroleum

Formation of Coal and Petroleum

• Coal: Formed from plant remains, mainly from ancient swamps and forests, under high pressure and temperature over millions of years.
• Petroleum: Formed from marine organisms, such as plankton and algae, buried under sedimentary rocks and subjected to heat and pressure over time.

Types of Coal

• Anthracite: Highest rank, hardest, and most carbon-rich (95% carbon).
• Bituminous: Most common type, 45-86% carbon.
• Sub-bituminous: 35-45% carbon.
• Lignite: Softest and most moisture-rich, 25-35% carbon.

Refining of Petroleum

• Crude Oil: Unrefined petroleum, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons.
• Refining Process:
  1. Separation of crude oil into fractions based on boiling points.
  2. Various refining processes, such as cracking and reforming, to produce different petroleum products.

Petroleum Products

• Gasoline: Used as a fuel for vehicles.
• Diesel Fuel: Used as a fuel for vehicles and machinery.
• Jet Fuel: Used as a fuel for aircraft.
• Lubricants: Used to reduce friction and wear in machinery.
• Petrochemicals: Used to produce plastics, fertilizers, and other chemicals.

Environmental Impact

• Air Pollution: Burning of coal and petroleum products releases pollutants, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
• Water Pollution: Extraction, transportation, and refining of coal and petroleum can contaminate water sources.
• Land Degradation: Mining and drilling activities can lead to land degradation and habitat destruction.

Formation of Coal and Petroleum

• Coal is formed from plant remains, mainly from ancient swamps and forests, under high pressure and temperature over millions of years.
• Petroleum is formed from marine organisms, such as plankton and algae, buried under sedimentary rocks and subjected to heat and pressure over time.

Types of Coal

• Anthracite is the highest rank of coal, hardest, and most carbon-rich (95% carbon).
• Bituminous is the most common type of coal, containing 45-86% carbon.
• Sub-bituminous coal contains 35-45% carbon.
• Lignite is the softest and most moisture-rich type of coal, containing 25-35% carbon.

Refining of Petroleum

• Crude oil is an unrefined petroleum, a complex mixture of hydrocarbons.
• The refining process involves separating crude oil into fractions based on boiling points, followed by various refining processes, such as cracking and reforming, to produce different petroleum products.

Petroleum Products

• Gasoline is used as a fuel for vehicles.
• Diesel fuel is used as a fuel for vehicles and machinery.
• Jet fuel is used as a fuel for aircraft.
• Lubricants are used to reduce friction and wear in machinery.
• Petrochemicals are used to produce plastics, fertilizers, and other chemicals.

Environmental Impact

• Burning of coal and petroleum products releases pollutants, contributing to air pollution and climate change.
• Extraction, transportation, and refining of coal and petroleum can contaminate water sources.
• Mining and drilling activities can lead to land degradation and habitat destruction.

Learn about the formation of coal and petroleum from ancient plants and marine organisms, and the different types of coal.