What is derived from coal and oil and how is it used?

If you ask yourself what you get from coal and oil, you can come to the conclusion that very much. These two fossils serve as the main sources of hydrocarbons. You should consider everything in order.

Oil

Oil is a combustible fossil, characterized by a dark brown color and high density. At its core, it is a complex mixture of substances, mainly liquid hydrocarbons. The composition of the oil is naphthenic, paraffinic and aromatic. However, the most common product is a mixed product. In addition to hydrocarbons, oil contains impurities of organic sulfur and oxygen compounds, as well as water with magnesium and calcium salts dissolved in it.

The content of mechanical impurities in the form of clay and sand is not excluded. If we talk about how oil is better than coal, then we can say about the value of this raw material for obtaining different types of motor fuel of the highest quality. After purification from water and other unwanted impurities, the processing of this type of fossil is performed. This is mainly done by distillation. It is based on the difference in the boiling point of the hydrocarbons that make up its composition.

How is distillation carried out?

Since hundreds of different substances are contained in oil, many of which have sufficiently close boiling points, it is almost impossible to separate individual hydrocarbons. Therefore, by distillation, oil is separated into fractions that boil over a very wide temperature range. At ordinary oil temperature, by distillation, it is divided into four fractions: diesel (180-350 ^о С), kerosene (120-315 ^о С), gasoline (30-180 ^о С) and residual fuel oil as a residue after the procedure. If we continue to talk about what is obtained from coal and oil, it is worth noting that each of these components can be divided into even smaller fractions with more thorough distillation. For example, from the petrol part you can get petroleum ether, naphtha and, in fact, gasoline. The first substance contains hexane and pentane, making it an excellent solvent for resins and fats.

Components

In the composition of gasoline there are unbranched limiting hydrocarbons from deans to pentanes, cycloalkanes and benzene. After appropriate processing it is used for automotive and aviation internal combustion engines as a fuel. Naphtha, which contains kerosene and hydrocarbons, is used as a fuel for lighting and heating appliances for household use. In large quantities, kerosene is used as fuel for rockets and jet aircraft.

If you continue to understand what is obtained from coal and oil, then it is worth mentioning about the diesel fraction of refinery, which usually serves as fuel for diesel engines. The composition of fuel oil includes high-boiling hydrocarbons. By distillation under reduced pressure from the fuel oil, various lubricating oils are usually obtained. The remainder, which is after processing of fuel oil, is usually called tar. From it, a substance such as bitumen is obtained. These products are intended for use in road construction. Fuel oil is also often used as fuel oil.

Other ways of processing

To understand what oil is better than coal, it is necessary to understand what other treatments they are subjected to. Oil is processed through cracking, that is, the thermocatalytic transformation of its parts. Cracking can be one of the following:

• Thermal. In this case, hydrocarbons are decomposed under the influence of elevated temperatures.
• Catalytic. It is carried out under conditions of high temperature, but the catalyst is also added, so that it is possible to control the process, and also to drive it in a certain direction.

If we talk about how oil is better than coal, then it should be said that in the cracking process, unsaturated hydrocarbons are formed , which are widely used in the industrial synthesis of organic substances.

Coal

Processing of this type of raw materials is carried out in three directions: hydrogenation, coking and incomplete combustion. Each of these types assumes the use of a special technological process.

Coking implies the presence of raw materials in coke ovens at a temperature of 1000-1200 ^о С, where there is no access to oxygen. This process allows to carry out the most complicated chemical transformations, which will result in the formation of coke and volatile products. The first one in the cooled state is sent to the enterprises of metallurgy. The volatile products are cooled, after which ammonia water and coal tar are obtained. There are still many uncondensed substances. If we talk about why oil is better than coal, then it should be noted that much more finished products are obtained from the first type of raw materials. Each of the substances is sent to a certain production.

At the moment, even the production of oil from coal, which allows you to get much more valuable fuel.