The chemical structure of petroleum is heterogeneous, composed of hydrocarbon chains of different lengths. Because of this, petroleum may be taken to oil refineries and the hydrocarbon chemicals separated bydistillation and treated by other chemical processes, to be used for a variety of purposes. See Petroleum products.
Fuels
The most common distillation fractions of petroleum are fuels. Fuels include (by increasing boiling temperature range):
| Fraction | Boiling Range oC |
|---|---|
| Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) | -40 |
| Butane | -12 to -1 |
| Gasoline (Petrol) | -1 to 180 |
| Jet fuel | 150 to 205 |
| Kerosene | 205 to 260 |
| Fuel oil | 205 to 290 |
| Diesel fuel | 260 to 315 |
Other derivatives
Certain types of resultant hydrocarbons may be mixed with other non-hydrocarbons, to create other end products:
- Alkenes (olefins) which can be manufactured into plastics or other compounds
- Lubricants (produces light machine oils, motor oils, and greases, adding viscosity stabilizers as required).
- Wax, used in the packaging of frozen foods, among others.
- Sulfur or Sulfuric acid. These are a useful industrial materials. Sulfuric acid is usually prepared as the acid precursor oleum, a byproduct of sulfur removal from fuels.
- Bulk tar.
- Asphalt
- Petroleum coke, used in speciality carbon products or as solid fuel.
- Paraffin wax
- Aromatic petrochemicals to be used as precursors in other chemical production.
Agriculture
Since the 1940s, agricultural productivity has increased dramatically, due largely to the increased use of energy-intensive mechanization, fertilizers and pesticides. Nearly all pesticides and many fertilizers are made from oil.
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