alkanes

Alkanes

-saturated hydrocarbons, single carbon carbon bonds

-CnH2n+n

Fractional distillation

-crude oil- mixture of hydrocarbons

-extracted and transported to oil refinery

-products with short carbon chains have lower boiling points so rise up higher the column and are collected a the top

-can be broken down further with cracking

Reforming

-where alkanes are converted into chain lanes and cyclic hydrocarbons as they combust more efficiently

-often uses platinum catalyst

Cracking

-long carbon chains are broken down into smaller more useful ones

-require harsh conditions

Thermal cracking

-produces a high proportion of alkanes and alkanes

-high temp around 1200L and pressure around 7000kPa

-form alkanes and alkanes

Catalytic cracking

-produces aromatic compounds

-lower temperature with normal pressure and zeolite catalyst

Incomplete combustion

-car engine due to lack of o2

-form soot and include toxic cases like co, no and volatile organic compounds

Catalytic converters

-precious metals coated on a honeycomb to provide a large surface area

-2CO + O2 — 2CO2

2CO + 2NO — 2CO2 + N2

-nitrogen oxide is reduced on surface of hot catalyst

-not good at removing sulfur- should be removed before fuel is burned

Alternative fuels

-renewable

-biodiesel- made by refining renewable fats and oils

-bioethanol- fermentation

-biogas- made when organic waste breaks down

Benefits of biofuels

-carbon neutral

-as plats grow they absorb co2

-reduce amount of waste going to landfill as the waste can be used to produce them

-provide money for less developed countries as they have space to grow required crops

Drawbacks of biofuels

-expensive

-many developed countries don’t have space to make enough plats to make biofuels