Introduction
Deoxygenation is a process which is used in refining of petroleum and other related products. It involves removal of oxygen from the hydrocarbons to produce a product with lower oxygen content. Deoxygenation is an important process in producing gasoline, jet fuel and diesel fuel from crude oil. It is also used in other applications such as reducing the oxygen content in liquid petroleum products and removing the sulphur compounds from the finished product.
There are a number of different deoxygenation processes that can be used. These processes include reforming, hydrocracking, distillation, and catalytic reforming. Each of these processes has its own advantages and drawbacks, and it is important to understand the differences between them in order to select the one that will be the most suitable for a particular application.
Reforming
Reforming is a deoxygenation process which uses heating and pressure to convert hydrocarbon molecules into shorter, less complex molecules. This process creates a product which is low in oxygen, but it may contain small amounts of impurities such as sulphur and nitrogen. Reforming is usually used for the production of gasoline and other light straight-run products.
Hydrocracking
Hydrocracking is a deoxygenation process in which hydrocarbons are cracked under extremely high pressure to form lower-boiling fractions. The process breaks down larger molecules into smaller ones which are more desirable for gasoline and diesel production. This process is also used to reduce the oxygen content of finished fuel products.
Distillation
Distillation is a deoxygenation process which involves the separation of components in a mixture. In this process, the mixture is heated to its boiling point, and the individual components of the mixture rise to the top of the vessel and are collected. This process is used to purify finished fuel products and to separate out impurities such as oxygen and sulphur compounds.
Catalytic reforming
Catalytic reforming is a deoxygenation process which uses a catalyst to speed up the process. In this process, the feedstock is heated to a high temperature, and a catalyst is used to increase the rate of the reaction. This process is used in the production of gasoline and other light petroleum fractions from heavier feedstocks.
Conclusion
Deoxygenation is an important process in the refining of petroleum and other related products. There are a number of different processes which can be used for deoxygenation, including reforming, hydrocracking, distillation, and catalytic reforming. Each of these processes has its own advantages and drawbacks, and it is important to select the one most suitable for a particular application. Reforming is usually used for the production of gasoline and other light straight-run products, while hydrocracking and catalytic reforming are used to reduce the oxygen content of finished fuel products and to purify them. Distillation is also used to separate out impurities such as oxygen and sulphur compounds.
