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# Crude Oil Refining and Its Products Crude oil is a fossil fuel formed by the decomposition of dead organisms millions of years ago. It's extracted from the ground or sea and is a thick, black, viscous liquid. It's found in large quantities in various countries, including Iran, the North Sea, the...

# Crude Oil Refining and Its Products Crude oil is a fossil fuel formed by the decomposition of dead organisms millions of years ago. It's extracted from the ground or sea and is a thick, black, viscous liquid. It's found in large quantities in various countries, including Iran, the North Sea, the USA, and Russia. Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons. The composition, including the types of hydrocarbons present, depends on where it was found. ## Fractional Distillation Fractional distillation is a process used to separate crude oil into its components based on the differences in their boiling points. This process is crucial because crude oil in its raw form isn't very useful for different applications. The principle behind this separation is the varying boiling points of the hydrocarbons. Higher boiling point components condense lower in a fractionating tower. Lighter hydrocarbons with lower boiling points rise higher in the column. Different fractions collected at various heights include: * LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) - $C_1$-$C_4$ * Petrol/Gasoline - $C_5$-$C_{12}$ * Kerosene/Jet Fuel - $C_{11}$-$C_{15}$ * Light/Naphtha fuel - $C_{15}$-$C_{18}$ * Diesel - $C_{20}$-$C_{30}$ * Lubricating oils, waxes, and polishes - $C_{20}$-$C_{30}$ * Bitumen - $C_{30+}$ and up. ## Stages in Fractional Distillation The process occurs in a tall fractionating tower: 1. Crude oil is heated to high temperatures and fed into the tower at the bottom. 2. The bottom of the fractionating tower stays hot. 3. As the crude oil rises up the tower, the temperature decreases. 4. Components reach their boiling points and turn into liquids (condensing on trays). 5. Heavier hydrocarbons condense first, lower in the tower. 6. Lighter hydrocarbons condense higher in the column.