Natural sources of hydrocarbons: general characteristics and use

It should be noted that hydrocarbons in nature are widely distributed. Most organic substances are derived from natural sources. In the process of synthesis of organic compounds, natural and associated gases, stone and brown coal, oil, oil shales, peat, animal and vegetable products are used as raw materials.

Natural sources of hydrocarbons: natural gases.

Natural gases are natural mixtures of hydrocarbons of different structures and some impurities of gases (hydrogen sulphide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide) that fill rocks of rocks in the earth's crust. These compounds are formed as a result of the hydrolysis of organic substances at great depths in the earth's thickness. They are found in a free state in the form of huge accumulations - gas, gas condensate and oil and gas deposits.

The main structural component of combustible natural gases is CH4 (methane - 98%), C2H6 (ethane 4.5%), propane (C3H8- 1.7%), butane (C4H10- 0.8%), pentane (C5H12-0 , 6%). The associated petroleum gas forms part of the oil in a dissolved state and is released from it due to a reduction in pressure when the oil is lifted to the surface. In oil and gas fields, one tonne of oil contains between 30 and 300 square kilometers. M of gas. Natural sources of hydrocarbon are valuable fuel and raw materials for the industry of organic synthesis. The gas is supplied to gas processing enterprises, where it can be processed (oil, low-temperature adsorption, condensation and rectification). It is divided into separate components, each of which is used for certain purposes. For example, hydrogen, synthesis gas, which is the base material for the production of other hydrocarbons, acetylene, methanol, methanal, chloroform, is obtained from methane.

Natural sources of hydrocarbons: oil.

Oil is a complex mixture, which consists mainly of naphthenic, paraffinic and aromatic hydrocarbons. The composition of the oil includes asphalt-resinous substances, naphthenic acids, mono- and disulphides, mercaptans, thiophene, thiophene, hydrogen sulphide, piperidine, pyridine and its homologues, as well as other substances. On the basis of petroleum refining products with the help of petrochemical synthesis methods, more than 3,000 different products are obtained, incl. Ethylene, benzene, propylene, dichloroethane, vinyl chloride, styrene, ethanol, isopropanol, butylenes, a variety of plastics, chemical fibers, dyes, detergents, drugs, explosives, etc.

Natural sources of hydrocarbons: peat.

Peat is a sedimentary rock of plant origin. This substance is used as fuel (mainly for thermal power plants), chemical raw materials (for the synthesis of many organic substances), antiseptic litter on farms especially at poultry farms, a component of fertilizers for truck farming and field crop cultivation.

Natural sources of hydrocarbons: xylem or wood.

Xylem is a tissue of higher plants, through which water and dissolved nutrients come from the root of the system to the leaves, as well as to other organs of the plant. It consists of cells with a stiffened membrane, which have a vascular conductive system. Depending on the type of wood in it contains a different amount of pectic substances and mineral compounds (mainly calcium salts), lipids and essential oils. Wood is used as fuel, it can be used to synthesize methyl alcohol, acetylene acid, cellulose, and other substances. Some types of wood produce dyes (sandalwood, kampeshevo), tannins (oak), resins and balms (cedar, pine, spruce), alkaloids (plants of the family Solanaceae, poppy, buttercup, umbrella). Some alkaloids are used as medicines (chitin, caffeine), herbicides (anabasin), insecticides (nicotine).