Naphtha Characterization (PIONA, Density, Distillation Curve and Sulfur Content): An Origin Comparison

Aline Pioli Silva (), Juliana Otavia Bahú, Renato Soccol, Leonardo Rodríguez-Urrego, William Stive Fajardo-Moreno, Hiram Moya, Jeffrey León-Pulido and Víktor Oswaldo Cárdenas Concha
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Aline Pioli Silva: School of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Nicolau S., Jd. Pitangueras, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil
Juliana Otavia Bahú: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Albert Einstein Av., Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas 13083-852, Brazil
Renato Soccol: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Albert Einstein Av., Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas 13083-852, Brazil
Leonardo Rodríguez-Urrego: Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Universidad EAN, Street 71 #9-84, Bogota 111311, Colombia
William Stive Fajardo-Moreno: Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Universidad EAN, Street 71 #9-84, Bogota 111311, Colombia
Hiram Moya: Department of Manufacturing and Industrial Engineering, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, TX 78541, USA
Jeffrey León-Pulido: Faculty of Engineering, Chemical Engineering Program, Universidad EAN, Street 71 #9-84, Bogota 111311, Colombia
Víktor Oswaldo Cárdenas Concha: School of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Nicolau S., Jd. Pitangueras, Diadema 09913-030, Brazil

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 8, 1-12

Abstract: Naphtha is an important distillation product of crude oil, and is used as a raw material for first-generation products such as ethylene, propylene, gasoline, xylene (BTX), and others. However, due to the different sources of crude oil, differences in naphtha composition impact the quality of conversion processes. Parameters such as pressure, charge flow, and temperature need to be adjusted for conversion efficiency. This work aims to compare naphtha samples from different origins, through the analysis of distillation curve (ASTM D86), density (ASTM D4052), total sulfur (ASTM D4294), and n -paraffins, iso-paraffins, olefins, naphthene, and aromatics (PIONA, ASTM D5134). Among these parameters evaluated in naphtha, the ones that showed the greatest correlation with the type of oil and its origin was the amount of total sulfur, number of aromatics, and paraffins. The three imported evaluated naphtha presented values greater than 200 mg/kg of total sulfur, aromatics above 9%w, and paraffins (P + I) below 76%w, while the national naphtha presented sulfur contents of at most 141 mg/kg, aromatics below 7%w, and paraffins (P + I) above 78%w. Finally, the study of this type of hydrocarbon enables the understanding of the needs of Latin American refineries and the world in relation to its treatment. National petrochemical companies have more difficulty in processing this product, causing an increase in naphtha importation by 108.51% from 2020/2021 in Brazil. Given this scenario, the Brazilian government should invest more in its petrochemical plants to reduce these imports, which, in the long term, would have a positive impact on the quality and value of naphtha byproducts.

Keywords: naphtha; PIONA; sulfur; characterization; properties (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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