Thermal and catalytic cracking

Thermal Cracking Definition: Thermal cracking is a process in which hydrocarbons present

in crude oil are subject to high heat and temperature to break the molecular bonds and
breaking down long-chained, higher-boiling hydrocarbons into shorter-chained, lower-boiling
hydrocarbons.
Products: The liquid products of this process are highly olefinic (also called alkene,
compound made up of hydrogen and carbon that contains one or more pairs of carbon atoms
linked by a double bond), aromatic (organic compounds containing one or more aromatic
rings) and have high Sulphur content.
Simple products: alkanes (saturated hydrocarbons) and alkenes (unsaturated hydrocarbons).
Aromatic ring: hydrocarbons which contain benzene, or some other related ring structure.
Benzene, C6H6
Formula:

Thermal cracking does not produce hydrogen as a primary product. However, hydrogen gas
can be obtained as a byproduct or through separate processes in the overall petroleum
refining scheme.

Thermal cracking tends to yield a higher percentage of alkenes compared to catalytic

cracking.
However, Catalytic cracking tends to yield more useful gas oils
Pros of thermal cracking:
Simplicity: Thermal cracking does not require a catalyst, making it a simpler process.
Flexibility: It can crack a wide range of hydrocarbon feedstocks.
High alkene yield: It produces a higher proportion of alkenes, which are valuable for various
applications.
Cons of thermal cracking:
Energy-intensive: The process requires high temperatures, leading to increased energy
consumption.
Lower product selectivity: Thermal cracking may produce a less controlled product
distribution compared to catalytic cracking.

Catalytic cracking definition: process in which petroleum vapor passes through a low-
density bed of catalyst, which causes the heavier fractions to 'crack' producing lighter more
valuable products.

Products:
Alkanes: Smaller hydrocarbon molecules.
Alkenes: Unsaturated hydrocarbon molecules.
Hydrogen production: Catalytic cracking produces hydrogen gas as one of its primary
products, making it a valuable source of hydrogen in petroleum refining. Released as
Molecular hydrogen gas (H2)

Pros of catalytic cracking:

Selectivity: The use of catalysts enables better control over the product distribution.
Hydrogen production: It is an important source of hydrogen gas, which has numerous
industrial applications.
Lower energy requirements: Catalytic cracking operates at lower temperatures compared to
thermal cracking, resulting in lower energy consumption.

Cons of catalytic cracking:

Catalyst requirements: The need for catalysts can add complexity and cost to the process.
Limited feedstock range: Catalytic cracking may be less effective with certain feedstocks
compared to thermal cracking.