Cracking (chemistry)
process breaking down complex organic molecules into simpler ones
In petrochemistry, petroleum geology and organic chemistry, cracking is the process whereby complex organic molecules such as kerogens or long-chain hydrocarbons are broken down into simpler molecules such as light hydrocarbons, by the breaking of carbon–carbon bonds in the precursors. The rate of cracking and the end products are strongly dependent on the temperature and presence of catalysts. Cracking is the breakdown of large hydrocarbons into smaller, more useful alkanes and alkenes. Simply put, hydrocarbon cracking is the process of breaking long-chain hydrocarbons into short ones. This process requires high temperatures.
More loosely, outside the field of petroleum chemistry, the term "cracking" is used to describe any type of splitting of molecules under the influence of heat, catalysts and solvents, such as in processes of destructive distillation or pyrolysis.
Fluid catalytic cracking produces a high yield of petrol and LPG, while hydrocracking is a major source of jet fuel, diesel fuel, naphtha, and again yields LPG.
History and patents
A thermal cracking process was applied to animal fats and other organic substances by William Henry in 1805. In 1865 James Young cracked paraffin oil and obtained a patent for a cracking process for oil. Among several variants of thermal cracking methods (variously known as the "Shukhov cracking process", "Burton cracking process", "Burton–Humphreys cracking process", and "Dubbs cracking process") Vladimir Shukhov, a Russian engineer, invented and patented one of the first in 1891 (Russian Empire, patent no. 12926, November 7, 1891).
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