What are petroleum derivatives?

What is oil derivatives?

Petrochemical industries, transportation, defense industries, technology, industry, trade, research and development and many other aspects of human activities are directly or indirectly related to the use of oil or its by-products. It provides fuel for heat and lighting, machinery lubricants, and raw materials for a number of manufacturing industries. In general, the uses of crude oil and petroleum derivatives are as follows:

1. Shipment

Oil is the key source of energy for transportation. Nearly two-thirds of transportation fuels are obtained from oil. Transportation fuels that consist of petroleum derivatives include gasoline, diesel, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), jet fuel, and marine fuel. While gasoline is used in cars, motorcycles, light trucks, and boats, diesel is used as fuel by trucks, buses, trains, boats, and ships. Jet planes and some types of helicopters use kerosene, which is a byproduct of oil refining.

2. Production of electricity

Although oil is mainly used in transportation, it is also used in electricity generation. A fossil fuel power plant uses oil or natural gas to generate electricity (through a turbine). Electricity generation from oil still makes a significant contribution to the energy mix of many countries, even though coal is the main source of electricity generation, however, oil-fired power plants cause significant environmental pollution. Oil plants also consume large amounts of water.

1. Lubricants

Lubricants, which are derived from petroleum, are used in many machines in almost all industries. Lubricants are used in all kinds of cars and industrial machines to reduce friction. In addition, they are used in cooking, biological applications on humans, ultrasound and medical examinations. Lubricants usually contain 90% base oil, which are usually petroleum derivatives.

1. Pharmaceutical applications

Petroleum by-products such as mineral oil and crude oil applications are used in the manufacture of creams and topical medications. Although most drugs are composed of complex organic molecules, their basis is linked to simple organic molecules, which are mostly petroleum byproducts.

1. Application of petroleum products in agriculture

Among the applications of crude oil, it is used in the production of ammonia, which is used as a source of nitrogen in agricultural fertilizers. To achieve this product, pesticides are widely used in the agricultural sector. Most of the pesticides are produced from oil and in addition, the machines for agricultural work also use oil. In this way, agriculture is one of the major consumers of oil.

1. Chemical Industries

Petroleum products are used as raw materials by many chemical companies. Applications of crude oil are used in the manufacture of chemical fertilizers, synthetic fibers, synthetic rubber, nylon, plastics, pesticides and insecticides, perfumes, dyes, etc. Refinement of crude oil leads to the production of several by-products that are used in the manufacture of various products for domestic and industrial use. Major petroleum by-products include plastics, detergents, naphtha, grease, vaseline, wax, butadiene, etc.