Naphtha production Department of Chemical Engineering NIT Calicut Menon karthik suresh – B130430CH Midatana Ramu – B130326ch Azaan Nazer - B130035CH

RAWMATERIALS : Crude oil

PROPERTIES: Molecular weight -- 100-215 g/mol Density -- 750-785 kg/m3 Boiling point -- 160–220 °C (320–428 °F) Vapour pressure -- less than 666 Pa

Process Description : Petroleum naphtha is an intermediate hydrocarbon liquid stream derived from the refining of crude oil. It is most usually desulfurized and then catalytically reformed, which re-arranges or re-structures the hydrocarbon molecules in the naphtha.

Removal of sulfur compounds: Most uses of petroleum refinery naphtha requires the removal of sulfur compounds down to very low levels (a few parts per million or less). That is usually accomplished in a catalytic chemical process called hydro desulfurization which converts the sulfur compounds into gaseous hydrogen sulfide that is then removed from the naphtha by distillation. The hydrogen sulfide gas is subsequently captured in amine gas treating units and converted into byproduct elemental sulfur.

The first unit process in a petroleum refinery is the crude oil distillation unit. The overhead liquid distillate from that unit is called virgin or straight-run naphtha and that distillate is the largest source of naphtha in most petroleum refineries. The naphtha is a mixture of very many different hydrocarbon compounds. It has an initial boiling point (IBP) of about 35 °C and a final boiling point (FBP) of about 200 °C, and it contains paraffin, naphthene and aromatic hydrocarbons ranging from those containing 4 carbon atoms to those containing about 10 or 11 carbon atoms.

The virgin naphtha is often further distilled into two streams: A virgin light naphtha with an IBP of about 30 °C and a FBP of about 145 °C containing most (but not all) of the hydrocarbons with 6 or less carbon atoms A virgin heavy naphtha containing most (but not all) of the hydrocarbons with more than 6 carbon atoms. The heavy naphtha has an IBP of about 140 °C and a FBP of about 205 °C.

Applications: Industrial solvents and cleaning fluids A commonly available general purpose solvent designated as "VM&P" naphtha, which stands for "varnish makers' and painters'“. An ingredient in shoe polish A fuel for portable stoves and lanterns, sold in North America as White gas, camp fuel or Coleman fuel A fuel for fire spinning, fire juggling, or other fire performance equipment which creates a brighter and cleaner yet shorter burn. To lightly wear the finish (polish) off guitars when preparing "relic" instruments.