PARAFFINIC HYDROCARBONS

Paraffinic hydrocarbons used for producing petrochemicals range from the simplest hydrocarbon, methane, to heavier hydrocarbon gases and liquid mixtures present in crude oil fractions and residues.

  Paraffins are relatively inactive compared to olefins, diolefins, and aromatics. Few chemicals could be obtained from the direct reaction of paraffins with other reagents. However, these compounds are the precursors for olefins through cracking processes. The C₆–C₉ paraffins and cycloparaffins are especially important for the production of aromatics through reforming. This section reviews some of the physical and chemical properties of C₁–C₄ paraffins.