Liquid Fossil Fuels from Petroleum

The major source of liquid fossil fuels is crude petroleum; other sources are shale and tar sands. Synthetic hydrocarbon fuels—gasoline and methanol—can be made from coal and natural gas. Ethanol, some of which is used as an automotive fuel, is derived from vegetable matter. Properties of fuels reflect the characteristics of the crude. Paraffinic crudes have a high concentration of straight-chain hydrocarbons, which may leave a wax residue with distillation. Aromatic and naphthenic crudes have concentrations of ring hydrocarbons. Asphaltic crudes have a preponderance of heavier ring hydrocarbons and leave a residue after distillation. Kerosene is used mainly in wick-fed illuminating lamps and kerosene burners. The most important requirements of aircraft jet fuel relate to freezing point, distillation range, and level of aromatics. The chapter lists the properties of a residual fuel oil (DMF) from one shale pilot operation and of a shale crude oil. Keywords: crude petroleum; hydrocarbon fuels; kerosene; liquid fossil fuels; shale crude oil