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Which crude-oil products are obtained from light to heavy during distillation?
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hydrocarbon
Structures assumed by hydrogen (H) and carbon (C) molecules in four common hydrocarbon compounds.
During the fractional distillation of crude oil, hydrocarbon components are separated based on their boiling points, with the lightest constituents rising to the top and the heaviest remaining at the bottom. The products are generally obtained in the following order, from lightest to heaviest:
- Light straight-run naphtha: The overhead product, with a boiling range of 20–95 °C (70–200 °F).1
- Heavy naphtha: The top sidestream, boiling at 90–165 °C (195–330 °F).1
- Crude kerosene: The second sidestream, boiling at 150–245 °C (300–475 °F).1
- Light gas oil: The third sidestream, boiling at 215–315 °C (420–600 °F).1
- Heavy gas oil: Withdrawn from the stripping section, boiling at 285–370 °C (545–700 °F).1
- Residue: The material remaining at the base of the column, which is used for industrial fuels or further processed into lubricating oils.1