Oil in your life
Also called agricultural diesel ‘B’, it is mainly used in heavy farming vehicles. As a fuel, its composition is similar to that of automotive diesel, the difference being that agricultural diesel often benefits from a lower tax rate. For this reason, its use is limited by legal rules and regulations.
Obtained from distilling crude oil, asphalt (or bitumen) is not a single product but a broad family of heavy materials containing multiple components. Asphalt is best known for its use as a binder in road paving materials
One of asphalt’s main characteristics is that it is waterproof, making it the favoured product for sealing terraces, roofs and patios. Asphalt membranes, manufactured using bitumen or asphalt, is what makes asphalt waterproof.
Also referred to as ‘diesel fuel’ or ‘gas oil A’, like gasoline, automotive diesel is a mix of hydrocarbons obtained from distilling crude oil and blending components from several process units. It is slightly heavier than gasoline and is used to fuel road diesel engines.
Kerosene is obtained from distilling gasoline and is the basis of fuel used in jet engines.
Nylon is another synthetic fibre derived from oil. Due to its durability, it is the main material used in medical bandages.
These types of fuel consist mainly of gas and fuel oils and are among the heaviest fractions of crude oil. In order to meet the required commercial specifications, bunker fuels must undergo various treatments at the refinery prior to being brought to market. The shipping industry is a major user of bunker fuels.
Butane is the other main ‘Liquefied Petroleum Gas’ (LPG). It is a light product derived from distilling crude oil. The key difference between butane and propane is that butane begins to liquefy at around 0º C and therefore must be stored indoors or in warm temperatures during the winter. It is mainly used for such household applications as cooking, heating and hot water.
As a result of the many electrical appliances we use every day, it is no surprise that electricity is one of the most highly consumed energy sources. It is generated by transforming various types of non-electric energy into electric power.
These substances are used to enrich soil and support plant growth. They can generally be classified into two types: organic and mineral.
Petrochemical derivatives include a wide array of products which, once mixed and treated, are used to manufacture other transformable products. One common example is fibreglass. Due to its excellent thermal insulation and ability to withstand acid and high temperatures, fibreglass is the perfect material for manufacturing sail boat hulls.
These chemical substances are used to control, prevent and destroy weeds, fungi and other harmful substances that damage crops.
Gasoline, also known as petrol, is a mixture obtained from blending many light components from several refinery process units. Gasoline and diesel are the most commonly used fuels in the motor vehicle industry. As a product, gasoline must comply with a number of specifications. The octane number you see listed at the pump is one of these specifications, measuring the fuel’s overall performance.
Also called heating oil ‘C’, this fuel is used in heating systems and hot water boilers. Certain additives are used to increase its heating power in comparison to other diesel fuels.
Industrial oil is a lubricant containing specific additives in accordance with standards established by international governing bodies and original equipment manufacturers. These standards require that a specific lubrication is adapted for a particular piece of equipment, system or mechanism. For example, co-generation motors, gears, turbines, hydraulic devices and compressors all require a specific industrial oil.
Lubricants consist of a base oil generally derived from mixing crude oil and additives. Compounds are added in small amounts until a lubricating oil forms, matching the desired level of quality and type of application. Lubricants are used for reducing friction and wear caused when two surfaces rub together. Lubricants also play an essential role in sealing, cooling, protecting and cleaning machinery – guaranteeing their effective operation and longevity.
Medical equipment also benefits from refining products. From saline solution bags to medical tubing, the high compatibility and protective properties of the plastics derived from oil help ensure our safety against germs and bacteria.
Natural gas is a gaseous hydrocarbon that exists naturally in underground oil and gas deposits. Its main component is methane gas. As an energy source it has a broad range of applications. In our homes we use natural gas in our kitchens, hot-water boilers and heaters. In the industrial sector it fuels co-generation plants and heats furnaces and foundries.
Paint is a chemical product used to cover or decorate all kinds of surfaces. A broad range of paint types are available on the market, with various industrial, artistic and household uses. All paints are comprised of pigments and solvents, which are basic petrochemicals produced in refineries.
Paraffin is typically recognised for its highly elastic, solid, glutinous, inert and waterproof characteristics – and for its ability to be handled at room temperature. It is also biodegradable and does not release any harmful gases when burned. Thanks to its low cost and wide array of applications, paraffin today has replaced the use of beeswax. One of its best known applications is in the production of candles.
Of all types of plastic, one of the most common is polyethylene terephthalate (PET), most commonly used in the production of soft drink bottles.This product is favoured for its unique properties, including transparency, strength, and suitability for packaging food products. As an added bonus, PET plastic is also easy to recycle.
Many of the pills we take are cased in capsules made from the derivatives of refined crude oil. Without this smooth coating, swallowing pills would be much more difficult, and suppositories would have difficulty reaching their targets. More so, without this coating it would be nearly impossible to package, preserve and use many pharmaceutical materials that we now take for granted.
Plastics come from the compounds derived from crude oil and natural gas. One common use for plastics is in the production of toys. This is because plastics are highly resistant to mechanical and physical stress, in addition to offering a cost-effective solution. The general category of plastics includes specific chemical products such as polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene, among others.
Although strong, polycarbonate plastics are remarkably easy to mould, giving them the flexibility to be used in a broad range of products. For example, in electronics, polycarbonates serve as the raw material for making CDs, DVDs and a number of computer components.
Propane is one of the main ‘Liquefied Petroleum Gases’ (LPG). It is a light product that results from either distilling crude oil or by extracting it from the oil or gas streams found in the ground. Propane has considerable heating power and is typically stored outdoors, even in cold temperatures, because it easily liquefies and remains a gas in temperatures as low as –42 ºC. It has a variety of uses, including household heating and hot water, and in various farming and industrial services. It can also be used to fuel vehicles.
Soap is the most commonly used washing detergent. However, as the fats needed to produce soap were extremely scarce during World War II, chemical syntheses were developed to produce similar products capable of performing the same functions. Today, the most commonly used raw material for the production of biodegradable detergents is linear alkyl benzene (LAB).
One of the main raw materials used in the production of synthetic fibres is crude oil. The crude oil is first distilled, which creates the substances that the various fibres used in the textile industry are derived from. These resulting synthetic fibres can be used either alone or in combination with natural fibres such as cotton, wool and linen. For example, one method for manufacturing synthetic textile fibres is through a process that produces resins which, once spun and solidified, become flexible, light and strong. One of the most common synthetic fibres is polyester.