xxiv
Preface
of this book have been deleted—unavailability of the source for the general scientific researcher and
the current lack of substantiated sources (other than the files collected by the author) have been the
root cause of such omissions.
Therefore, this book aims to provide the reader with a detailed overview of the chemistry and
technology of petroleum as it evolves into the twenty-first century. With this in mind, many of the
chapters that appeared in the fourth edition have been rewritten to include the latest developments
in the refining industry. Updates on the evolving processes and new processes as well as the various
environmental regulations are presented. However, the text still maintains its initial premise, that
is, to introduce the reader to the science and technology of petroleum, beginning with its formation
in the ground and culminating in the production of a wide variety of products and petrochemical
intermediates. The text will also prove useful for those scientists and engineers already engaged in
the petroleum industry as well as in the catalyst manufacturing industry who wish to gain a general
overview or update of the science of petroleum.
As always, I am indebted to my colleagues in many different countries who have continued to
engage me in lively discussions and who have offered many thought-provoking comments. Thanks
are also due to those colleagues who have made constructive comments on the previous editions,
which were of great assistance in writing this edition. For such discussions and commentary, I continue to be grateful.
I am particularly indebted to those colleagues who have contacted me from time to time to
ask whether I would change anything fundamental in the still-popular fourth edition of this book.
Preparing this updated and revised fifth edition gave me that chance. Since the first publication of
this book in 1980, researchers have made advances in areas relating to the use of petroleum and the
environmental aspects of petroleum use. However, and there are those who will sorely disagree with
me, very little progress has been made on the so-called average structure of the petroleum asphaltene fraction because the complex asphaltene fraction does not have an average structure, nor can
an average structure explain with any degree of certainty the actual chemical and physical behavior
of this complex fraction.
As the studies of the average structure of the asphaltene fraction evolved, it became clear that the
asphaltene fraction of petroleum is a complex fraction in which the character of the constituents varies in terms of the range of molecular weight and range of structures and polarity of the constituent,
to mention only two parameters. However, the tendency by researchers to postulate average structures raised its head again in the 1990s and has continued to this day (at the time of writing). As a
result, sections relating to the determination of the average structure of the asphaltene fraction have
not been expanded to any great extent—even being reduced in content—whereas sections relating
to the use of petroleum have been expanded in this book.
The book has been adjusted, polished, and improved for the benefit of new readers as well as for
the benefit of readers of the four previous editions.
Preface
of this book have been deleted—unavailability of the source for the general scientific researcher and
the current lack of substantiated sources (other than the files collected by the author) have been the
root cause of such omissions.
Therefore, this book aims to provide the reader with a detailed overview of the chemistry and
technology of petroleum as it evolves into the twenty-first century. With this in mind, many of the
chapters that appeared in the fourth edition have been rewritten to include the latest developments
in the refining industry. Updates on the evolving processes and new processes as well as the various
environmental regulations are presented. However, the text still maintains its initial premise, that
is, to introduce the reader to the science and technology of petroleum, beginning with its formation
in the ground and culminating in the production of a wide variety of products and petrochemical
intermediates. The text will also prove useful for those scientists and engineers already engaged in
the petroleum industry as well as in the catalyst manufacturing industry who wish to gain a general
overview or update of the science of petroleum.
As always, I am indebted to my colleagues in many different countries who have continued to
engage me in lively discussions and who have offered many thought-provoking comments. Thanks
are also due to those colleagues who have made constructive comments on the previous editions,
which were of great assistance in writing this edition. For such discussions and commentary, I continue to be grateful.
I am particularly indebted to those colleagues who have contacted me from time to time to
ask whether I would change anything fundamental in the still-popular fourth edition of this book.
Preparing this updated and revised fifth edition gave me that chance. Since the first publication of
this book in 1980, researchers have made advances in areas relating to the use of petroleum and the
environmental aspects of petroleum use. However, and there are those who will sorely disagree with
me, very little progress has been made on the so-called average structure of the petroleum asphaltene fraction because the complex asphaltene fraction does not have an average structure, nor can
an average structure explain with any degree of certainty the actual chemical and physical behavior
of this complex fraction.
As the studies of the average structure of the asphaltene fraction evolved, it became clear that the
asphaltene fraction of petroleum is a complex fraction in which the character of the constituents varies in terms of the range of molecular weight and range of structures and polarity of the constituent,
to mention only two parameters. However, the tendency by researchers to postulate average structures raised its head again in the 1990s and has continued to this day (at the time of writing). As a
result, sections relating to the determination of the average structure of the asphaltene fraction have
not been expanded to any great extent—even being reduced in content—whereas sections relating
to the use of petroleum have been expanded in this book.
The book has been adjusted, polished, and improved for the benefit of new readers as well as for
the benefit of readers of the four previous editions.