NAPHTHA
NAPHTHA
Through our established refinery partnerships, we are strategically positioned to offer competitive pricing on Petroleum naphtha. This intermediate hydrocarbon liquid stream, derived from crude oil refining and identified by CAS-no 64742-48-9, undergoes desulfurization and catalytic reforming. These processes modify the hydrocarbon molecules, resulting in a high-octane gasoline component.
ORIGIN
Non-Russian/Non-Sanctioned OPEC Member countries, or EU
PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The first unit operation (after being desalinated) 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 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 paraffins, naphthenes (cyclic paraffins) and aromatic hydrocarbons ranging from those containing 4 carbon atoms to those containing about 10 or 11 carbon atoms.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
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The virgin naphtha is often further distilled into two streams:[7]
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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 six or fewer carbon atoms
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a virgin heavy naphtha containing most (but not all) of the hydrocarbons with more than six carbon atoms. The heavy naphtha has an IBP of about 140 °C and a FBP of about 205 °C.
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The virgin heavy naphtha is usually processed in a catalytic reformer, because the light naphtha has molecules with six or fewer carbon atoms—which, when reformed, tend to crack into butane and lower molecular weight hydrocarbons that are not useful as high-octane gasoline blending components. Also, the molecules with six carbon atoms tend to form aromatics, which is undesirable because the environmental regulations of a number of countries limit the amount of aromatics (most particularly benzene) in gasoline.
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Specifications and Standards
ASTM International
The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) provides multiple standards related to naphtha fuel, primarily focused on test methods rather than end-product specifications.-
ASTM D5134: This standard outlines a test method for the detailed hydrocarbon analysis of petroleum naphthas using gas chromatography. It helps quantify the composition of paraffins, naphthenes, and mono aromatics in olefin-free naphthas, which is important for quality control.
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ASTM D86: A standard test method for the distillation of petroleum products. This is used to determine the boiling range of naphtha and other fuels, which is a key characteristic for categorizing naphtha as light or heavy.
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Naphtha is used as a component of motor gasoline, a primary feedstock for petrochemicals like ethylene and propylene, and as a fuel for portable appliances such as cigarette lighters, portable stoves, and lanterns. It also serves as a clean-burning supplementary fuel for coal-fired boilers and in some advanced internal combustion engines, as well as a solvent for paints, varnishes, and cleaning agents.
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Comparison to Gasoline
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Higher Volatility:Naphtha has higher volatility and lower fuel reactivity than gasoline.
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Low Octane:Naphtha has a lower octane rating compared to gasoline.
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Lower Cost:It is potentially cheaper to produce than gasoline on an energy basis.
Comparison to Diesel
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Longer Ignition Delay:Naphtha has a longer ignition delay than diesel, allowing for better control in advanced combustion strategies.
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Lower Soot:Naphtha significantly reduces soot emissions (up to 99%) compared to diesel fuel.
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Advanced Combustion Potential:Its properties make it suitable for improving thermal efficiency and reducing emissions in engines designed for low-temperature combustion.
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