The problem with crude oil is that it contains hundreds of different types of hydrocarbons, and these materials are all mixed together. Different types of hydrocarbons need to be separated to extract useful materials from them. Fortunately, there is a simple way to separate these substances, which is oil refining. The petroleum refining process begins with a fractionation column. As the length of the hydrocarbon chain increases, the boiling point thereof also gradually increases, so that it can be completely separated by distillation. This is what happens in the refinery-in one part of the refining process, the crude oil is heated and separates the hydrocarbon chains of different lengths at different evaporation temperatures. Each chain of different lengths has different properties and thus corresponds to different uses. To understand the diversity of crude oil components and why oil refining is so important to society, take a look at the products listed below using crude oil:

LPG

Used to heat, cook and manufacture plastics, small molecular alkanes (1-4 carbon atoms), commonly known as methane, ethane, propane and butane, boiling range = less than 40℃, often liquefied into LPG (liquefied LPG).

Naphtha or light oil

An intermediate product which will be further processed into gasoline, a mixture of alkanes containing from 5 to 9 carbon atoms, boiling range = 60-100℃.

Gasoline

Engine fuel, liquid, a mixture of alkanes and cycloalkanes (5-12 carbon atoms), boiling range = 40-205℃.

Kerosene

Fuel for jet engines and tractors; raw materials for the manufacture of other products, liquids, mixtures of alkanes (10-18 carbon atoms) and aromatics, boiling range = 175-325℃.

Diesel or fractionated diesel

Used as a diesel fuel or heating oil; a raw material for the manufacture of other products, an alkane having a liquid carbon number of 12 or more,

Boiling range = 250-350℃.

Lubricant

For engine oils, greases and other lubricants, liquids, long chains (20-50 carbon atoms) of alkanes, naphthenes and aromatics, boiling range = 300-370℃.

Heavy oil or fuel oil

Used as industrial fuel; raw material for the manufacture of other products, liquid, long chain (20-70 carbon atoms) of alkanes, cycloalkanes and aromatics, boiling range = 370-600℃.

Residue

Coke, bitumen, tar and wax; raw materials for the manufacture of other products, solids, polycyclic compounds with a carbon number of 70 or higher, boiling range = above 600℃.