The Burton process uses thermal cracking to break down crude oil into simpler molecules, producing gasoline and other fuels. It was patented in 1913 and doubled gasoline production. It has since been replaced by catalytic cracking, but is still used for producing fuel oils.
The Burton process is a thermal cracking method that involves breaking down complex organic molecules into simpler molecules, especially gasoline, diesel and other related fuels. This is accomplished by exposing crude oil to temperatures above 1,472°F (800°C) and pressures of approximately 100 PSI (700 kilopascals). Under such conditions, crude oil molecules are broken into molecules of gasoline and other valuable substances. This method was patented in the year 1913 and was instrumental in doubling the production of gasoline in that year. The Burton process has since been replaced by catalytic cracking in most applications, although it remains an important method for producing fuel oils such as petroleum.
During the early days of petroleum refining, the most common method used to produce usable fuel from crude oil was fractional distillation under regular atmospheric pressure. This method was both expensive and inefficient, and proved unable to keep up with the growing demand for gasoline. In the late 20th century, a handful of chemists were tasked with developing a better method for refining crude oil. This led to the invention of the Shukhov cracking method in Russia during the early 20th century and the Burton process in the United States in the 1890 year. These thermal cracking methods were responsible for a significant increase in the percentage of gasoline obtained from each barrel of crude oil.
Thermal cracking is a process that can be used to reduce complex molecules into simpler components. This general principle is at the heart of the Burton process, which effectively breaks down crude oil molecules into useful gasoline and diesel molecules through thermal cracking. To do this, crude oil is first fed into a pressure vessel. The oil is then heated and at the same time the pressure inside the still is increased. To successfully break up crude oil molecules, the minimum pressure required is about 75 PSI (517 kPA) and the temperature must be at least 850°F (about 450°C), although much higher pressures and temperatures can be used .
Between the years of 1913 and 1937, the Burton process was the primary method of making gasoline. After 1937, it was largely replaced by the more efficient catalytic cracking method. Fluid catalytic cracking results in a higher percentage of gasoline by volume than the Burton process and also results in higher value by-products. However, the Burton process is still useful in refining fuel oil, which is produced at different temperatures and pressures than gasoline.
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