Chapter 1 – Feedstocks

Publisher Summary The modern refining era is said to have commenced in 1862 with the first appearance of petroleum distillation. The story of the discovery of the character of petroleum is somewhat circuitous but worthy of mention. Even though the term petroleum and its derivatives have been used for centuries, it is only in the last decade or so that an attempt has been made to standardize related nomenclature and terminology, so confusion still exists. Biomass is a term used to describe any material of recent biological origin, including plant materials such as trees, grasses, agricultural crops, and even animal manure. This chapter helps clarify the classification of petroleum terminology. Not all the terminology used over time has survived, but the most commonly used terms are illustrated here. Particularly troublesome, and most confusing, are those terms that are applied to the more viscous materials, for example, bitumen and asphalt. A petrochemical is any chemical derived from petroleum and natural gas and used for a variety of commercial purposes as distinct from fuels that are burned to release energy. Petroleum products and fuels, in contrast to petrochemicals, are those bulk fractions that are derived from petroleum and have commercial value as a bulk product. A brief mention of the properties of these fuels is useful here as it helps focus on the future needs and direction of the petroleum industry.