A refinery in Northwest Pennsylvania produces asphalt as an important product th

Question

A refinery in Northwest Pennsylvania produces asphalt as an important product that brings revenue, particularly during the summer months. In late fall this refinery switches operations to produce more fuel oil from VDR for the coming winter months, producing still some asphalt, but in lower quantity. Explain which of the following switches will take place in the refinery in late fall, and why? Switch the deasphalting solvent from propane to pentane. Switch the deasphalting solvent from pentane to propane. Would the summer, or winter asphalt product be "heavier"? Explain why.

Explanation / Answer

In late fall the deasphalting solvent will be changed to propane from pentane.

The boiling point of propane is -42 oC.

The boiling point of pentane is 36.1 oC.

As the boiling point of propane is sufficiently low it can be easily used as the deasphalting solvent in higher temperature of late fall.

In summer the asphalt produced will be heavier as the lighter fractions of the asphalt will vaporize in summer to leave off heavier fractions in asphalt.

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