When people hear the word petroleum, they usually think of fuel for cars, trucks, and airplanes. This association is common, and it makes sense. But it leaves out a central point: petroleum derivatives go far beyond transportation and are present in even a basic part of the products used daily.
What are petroleum derivatives?
Petroleum by-products are all products obtained after processing crude oil in refineries, with petroleum as the main raw material. The best known are fuels, but the list goes far beyond that. Various by-products are used in the production of chemical inputs and everyday objects, often without the consumer realizing their origin.
Known as "black gold," petroleum is one of the most valuable raw materials in the global economy. After extraction, it undergoes distillation and conversion processes that separate its different components. These components are used directly or indirectly in the manufacture of petroleum derivatives.
Crude oil is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons formed from the remains of plants and animals that lived millions of years ago. It is a fossil fuel found in underground reservoirs, in pores of sedimentary rocks, and also near the surface, such as in tar sands. From it, and also from hydrocarbons present in natural gas, fuels, lubricants, and petrochemical inputs are produced. In some cases, similar derivatives can also be obtained from coal, natural gas, and biomass.
After extraction, crude oil is transported to refineries, where its components are transformed into usable products. These include gasoline, diesel, aviation kerosene, fuel oils, lubricants, waxes, asphalt, and raw materials for the petrochemical industry.
What are the main petroleum derivatives?
Petroleum products range from fuels to industrial inputs. They include gasoline, diesel, kerosene and aviation fuel; bitumen, paraffin and lubricating oils; as well as reagents used in the manufacture of plastics, solvents, paints, synthetic rubber, fertilizers, pesticides, textiles and pharmaceuticals.
The list below organizes some derivatives according to their approximate molecular weight and boiling point, from lightest to heaviest:
- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), composed mainly of methane.
- Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), composed mainly of propane and butane.
- Light solvents and naphtha fractions.
- Naphtha, the basis for the petrochemical industry.
- Gasoline.
- Kerosene, including aviation fuel.
- Diesel.
- Lubricating fractions used in the production of base oils.
- Paraffin and waxes.
- Heavy fuel oil, commonly used in maritime transport.
- Sulfur, obtained as a byproduct of refining.
- Petroleum coke.
- Bitumen, also known as asphalt.
How are petroleum derivatives produced?
The production of refined products involves several industrial steps, mainly carried out in refineries and petrochemical plants.
Exploration and extraction
The process begins with the identification of oil reservoirs, on land or at sea. After confirmation of economic viability, crude oil is extracted by drilling and transported to refineries via pipelines, ships, trucks, or rail.
Pretreatment
Before refining, the oil undergoes a desalting and cleaning process, which removes water, salts, and other impurities. This step is essential to prevent corrosion and damage to industrial equipment.
Fractional distillation
In fractional distillation, crude oil is heated in a distillation column. As the temperature increases, the components separate according to their boiling points. This results in fractions such as gases, naphtha, kerosene, diesel, and heavy residues, which serve as the basis for different derivatives.
Conversion processes
Some fractions undergo additional steps to improve the yield and quality of the final products. Among the main processes are cracking, which transforms heavy molecules into lighter products; hydrocracking, which reduces the sulfur content; reforming, which improves the octane rating of gasoline; and isomerization, which rearranges molecular structures to increase fuel performance.
Treatment and mixing
The byproducts undergo final treatments to remove contaminants and meet environmental standards. Then, different streams are blended to achieve the specifications required by the market and legislation.
Petrochemical processing
Part of the byproducts, especially naphtha and natural gas liquids, is destined for petrochemical plants. There, these inputs are converted into basic products such as ethylene, propylene, and benzene, used in the manufacture of plastics, synthetic fibers, resins, and various chemical products.
Where petroleum derivatives are present
Petroleum derivatives are part of countless everyday items. Synthetic fiber clothing, plastic packaging, medical syringes, cell phones, household appliances, detergents, cosmetics, and even some food additives depend on petrochemical inputs. Modern agriculture also uses petroleum derivatives in fertilizers, pesticides, and machinery fuel.
Although between 65% and 75% of petroleum is used for fuel production, the remainder is transformed into plastics, synthetic rubbers, and chemical products. It is estimated that more than 6 commonly used items contain petroleum derivatives in their composition at some stage.
Without these products, our current way of life would undergo profound changes. They underpin entire production chains and help explain why oil remains one of the world's most strategic resources.
The list is extensive. And the examples help to illustrate this dependency.
1 – Aspirin: one of the most widely used medications in the world to relieve pain, inflammation, and fever. Its composition includes derivatives of benzene, a hydrocarbon obtained from petroleum.
2 – Shaving cream: many products contain isopentane, a derivative of crude oil that helps remove oil from the skin and facilitates blade glide. Formulas of this type also often contain polyethylene glycol, used to reduce friction and irritation.
3 – Chewing gum: the base of chewing gum is made with petroleum wax. Paraffin, obtained in the same process, is also used in food coatings and in commonly used medicines.
4 – Clothing: Synthetic fabrics such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, and elastane are derived from petroleum and natural gas. They dominate the fashion industry because they offer durability and low cost, but raise environmental concerns, especially due to the release of microplastics.
5 – Dental prostheses: current models use acrylic resins derived from hydrocarbons, combined with porcelain, metal, and nylon. The result is lighter, stronger, and more adaptable pieces.
6 - Makeup: lipsticks and other cosmetics use paraffin, a synthetic wax also found in candles and industrial products.
7 – Shampoo: In the case of dry shampoo, liquefied petroleum gases, such as propane and butane, act as propellants. The plastic packaging of these products is also made from petrochemical derivatives.
8 - Toothpaste: Toothpastes may contain poloxamer 407, a petroleum derivative that helps mix oily ingredients with water, ensuring a uniform texture.
Alutal and industrial control in oil production.
Alutal is a Brazilian company specializing in the manufacture of industrial equipment used in the oil, gas, and petroleum products industry. Its operations are linked to essential processes in the petroleum supply chain, where precise control of variables such as temperature is fundamental to ensuring quality and safety in the production of petroleum derivatives.
The equipment manufactured by Alutal is used in refining units, petrochemical plants, and industrial facilities that handle crude oil processing. These environments require instruments capable of operating in extreme conditions, such as high temperatures, pressure variations, and corrosive atmospheres, common in the production and transformation stages of petroleum.
By providing industrial measurement and control solutions, Alutal contributes to ensuring that petroleum is processed within appropriate technical parameters, reducing operational risks and guaranteeing process stability. This control is crucial for obtaining derivatives such as fuels, lubricants, and petrochemical inputs, which depend on rigorous conditions during refining.
With domestic production, the company meets the demands of Brazilian industry and other markets, integrating itself into the supply chain of the oil and derivatives sector and reinforcing the importance of local manufacturing in supporting industrial operations.
Discover our products for the oil refining.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):
Petroleum-derived products are not limited to fuels. Many of our everyday items are also derived from petroleum. In addition to gasoline and diesel, plastics (such as bottles and containers), synthetic fabrics (such as polyester and nylon), chemicals in cosmetics, and even asphalt for roads are examples of petroleum-derived products.
Not directly. Petroleum is not used as a food ingredient. However, some food additives, such as certain colorings, flavorings, and preservatives, can be produced from petroleum-derived chemicals through complex processes. These additives are rigorously purified and controlled to ensure safety for consumption.
Yes. Plastics are made from polymers derived primarily from naphtha (a petroleum product). Many perfumes contain alcohol and synthetic aromatic compounds, also derived from petroleum. Lipstick, on the other hand, often contains petroleum jelly and mineral oils, which are petroleum products.
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