Naphtha (/nf/ or /np/) normally refers to a number of flammable liquid mixtures of hydrocarbons, i.e.

a component of natural gas condensate or a distillation product from petroleum, coal tar, or peat boiling in a certain range and containing certain hydrocarbons. It is a broad term covering among the lightest and most volatile fractions of the liquid hydrocarbons in petroleum. Naphtha is a colorless to reddish-brown volatile aromatic liquid, very similar to gasoline. In petroleum engineering, full range naphtha is defined as the fraction of hydrocarbons in petroleum boiling between 30 C and 200 C.[1] It consists of a complex mixture of hydrocarbon molecules generally having between 5 and 12 carbon atoms. It typically constitutes 1530% of crude oil, by weight. Light naphtha is the fraction boiling between 30 C and 90 C and consists of molecules with 56 carbon atoms. Heavy naphtha boils between 90 C and 200 C and consists of molecules with 612 carbons. Naphtha is used primarily as feedstock for producing high octane gasoline (via the catalytic reforming process). It is also used in the bitumen mining industry as a diluent, the petrochemical industry for producing olefins in steam crackers, and the chemical industry for solvent (cleaning) applications. Common products made with it include lighter fluid, fuel for camp stoves, and some cleaning solvents. Light Naphtha is also used directly as a blending component in the production of gasoline

Properties[edit]
Physical[edit]
Naphtha's molecular weight is 100215 g/mol. Its density is 750785 kg/m3, and boiling point is 160220 C (320428 F). Vapor pressure is less than 666 Pa (5 torr; 5 mmHg). Naphtha is colorless (kerosene odor) or red-brown (aromatic odor) liquid and is insoluble in water. It is incompatible with strong oxidizers.[citation needed]

Production in refineries[edit]
Naphtha is obtained in petroleum refineries as one of the intermediate products from the distillation of crude oil. It is a liquid intermediate between the light gases in the crude oil and the heavier liquid kerosene.[12] Naphthas are volatile, flammable and have a specific gravity of about 0.7. The generic name 'naphtha' describes a range of different refinery intermediate products used in different applications. To complicate the matter further, similar naphtha types are often referred to by different names. The different naphthas are distinguished by:

Density (g/ml or specific gravity) PONA, PIONA or PIANO analysis, measured by detailed capillary gas chromatography (usually in volume percent but can also be in weight percent): o Paraffin content (volume percent)

o o o o

Isoparaffin content (only in a PIONA analysis) Olefins content (volume percent) Naphthenes content (volume percent) Aromatics content (volume percent)

Different types[edit]
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Paraffinic[edit]
Generally speaking, less dense ("lighter") naphthas will have a higher paraffin content. These are therefore also referred to as paraffinic naphtha. The main application for these naphthas is as a feedstock in the petrochemical production of olefins. This is also the reason they are sometimes referred to as "light distillate feedstock" or LDF (These naphtha types can also be called "straight run gasoline"/SRG or "light virgin naphtha"/LVN). When used as feedstock in petrochemical steam crackers, naphtha is heated in the presence of water vapour and the absence of oxygen or air until the hydrocarbon molecules break apart. The primary products of the cracking process are olefins (ethylene / ethene, propylene / propene and butadiene). When naphtha is used as a feedstock in catalytic reforming the primary products are aromatics including benzene, xylene, and toluene. The olefins are used as feedstocks for derivative units that produce plastics (polyethylene and polypropylene for example), synthetic fiber precursors (acrylonitrile), industrial chemicals (glycols for instance) while the aromatics are used for octane boosting in fuel blending as well as polyethylene terephthalate PET feedstock and paint and coating solvents.

Heavy[edit]

White gas, by Coleman Camp Fuel, is a common naphtha fuel used in many lanterns and torches The "heavier" or rather denser types are usually richer in naphthenes and aromatics and therefore also referred to as N&As. These can also be used in the petrochemical industry but more often are used as a feedstock for refinery catalytic reformers where they convert the lower octane naphtha to a higher octane product called reformate. Alternative names for these types are Straight Run Benzene (SRB) or Heavy Virgin Naphtha (HVN).

Other applications[edit]

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2010) Naphthas are also used in other applications such as:

An unprocessed component (in contrast to reforming above) in the production of petrol/motor gasoline Industrial solvents and cleaning fluids A commonly available general purpose solvent designated as "VM&P" naphtha, which stands for "varnish makers' and painters'" An oil painting medium The sole ingredient in the home cleaning fluid Energine, which has been discontinued An ingredient in shoe polish An ingredient in some lighter fluids for wick type lighters such as Zippo lighters An adulterant to petrol A fuel for portable stoves and lanterns, sold in North America as White gas, camp fuel or Coleman fuel Historically, as a probable ingredient in Greek fire (together with grease, oil, sulfur, and naturally occurring saltpeter from the desert) A fuel for fire spinning, fire juggling, or other fire performance equipment which creates a brighter and cleaner yet shorter burn To lightly wear the finish (polish) off guitars when preparing "relic" instruments As a coating for elemental lithium metal, to prevent oxidation (mineral oil is also used for this purpose) As a fuel in gas turbine unit As the working fluid (and sometimes, fuel) in the (external combustion) naphtha engine. As a cleaning solution for watch parts during servicing.

In medieval times, pots containing naphtha were used in battle as a form of primitive grenade. In Ancient China, monks used forms of naphtha to prepare in religious ceremonies such as Chimbohduh.[citation needed] Naphtha is used in the furniture industry on "works in progress" to see temporarily (until the naphtha evaporates) how the patina will look when the piece is oiled and/or aged. It is useful in matching adjacent boards for a join, primarily with tabletops, panels and shelves