OVERVIEW

Naphtha

Naphtha refers to a range of volatile and flammable liquids produced by the distillation of petroleum. Various qualifiers have been added to the term Naphtha by different sources in an effort to make it more specific. Light Naphtha is the fraction boiling between 30 °C and 90 °C and consists of molecules with 5–6 carbon atoms. Heavy Naphtha boils between 90 °C and 200 °C and consists of molecules with 6–12 carbon atoms.

Applications

Naphtha has various applications in the refining process, the main one as a feedstock for gasoline and the manufacture of olefins by the petrochemical industry. Naphtha can be fed to steam crackers for the production of ethylene, and other olefins.

Other application of Naphtha is to dilute heavy crude oil to reduce its viscosity and facilitate transport.