Hydrocarbons

by Sérgio Granato de Araújo

  

Hydrocarbons (HC) are a group of organic compounds made up of carbon & hydrogen, the main components of petroleum (crude oil) & natural gas (NG).  They're widely used as fuels & lubricants, as well as feedstocks for the petrochemical industry.  Key HC-based raw materials include olefins (ethylene, propylene, butadiene), aromatics (BTX: benzene, toluene, xylene), and methane (for methanol and ammonia production), which serve as building blocks for plastics, synthetic fibers, rubbers, solvents, explosives, fertilizers, and a wide range of industrial chemicals.

 

High calorific value

  

Hydrocarbons have a high calorific value and burn easily, releasing significant heat, which makes them excellent fuels.  However, they can be highly unstable and may spontaneously ignite in hot, dry conditions.  Many hydrocarbons are also toxic and carcinogenic, such as benzene (C6H6).

  

Essential for the today's economy, but

  

Our economy is still primarily dependent on hydrocarbons and other fossil fuels such as oil.  In the form of fuel, hydrocarbons continue to be the main engine of human activities.  C6–C12 alkanes and isomeric cycloalkanes are the main components of gasoline & naphtha, while jet fuel typically contains C8–C16 hydrocarbons and diesel consists mainly of C10–C22 hydrocarbons.  Unfortunately, extracting and using these fuels pollutes the soil, ocean, and atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

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The decline of hydrocarbons

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World energy outlook shows a drop in demand for hydrocarbons from 2020 to 2050 (Figure 1).