Abstract

Fossil hydrocarbons form a continuous series whose"heavy"members--heavy oils, bitumens, oil shale kerogens, and coal--are important sources of conventional lighter fuels. These hydrocarbons are much more abundant and easier to extract than natural gas and oil. This book discusses the origins and compositions of fossil hydrocarbons and shows how the"heavies"can be chemically transformed into environmentally clean gas, liquid transportation fuels, and an almost unlimited range of petrochemicals.
Dr. Berkowitz explodes the entrenched dichotomy between"petroleum hydrocarbons"and coal that has shaped popular perceptions of energy, showing that it is feasible to develop new technologies that capitalize on the availability of"synthetic"natural gas and light oils.
Fossil Hydrocarbons: Chemistry and Technology is a comprehensive treatment of fossil hydrocarbons, covering the source materials, biosources, metamorphic histories, geochemistry, classification, and molecular structure. It discusses the use of fossil hydrocarbons as a viable energy source in our future, detailing the preparation, processing and conversion technologies, as well as discussing the environmental issues that arise from production, processing, and use of various fossil hydrocarbons.

• Approaches various fossil hydrocarbons as chemically related entities, thus dispelling the unwarranted distinctions between crude oils and coal
• Explains how heavy fossil hydrocarbons can be processed by much the same methods as crude oils for good economic and environmental purpose
• Illustrates how bitumens, oil shales, and coals are convertible into synthetic natural gas and oils
• Shows a path for reasonable energy self-sufficiency, through conversion of heavy hydrocarbons into synthetic natural gas and oils
• Augments each chapter with end-of-chapter notes and a detailed bibliography
• Provides more than 200 useful tables, schematics, and figures

"Berkowitz integrates material often found in standard professional handbooks on this subject, with discussion and examples that make for a readable work for professionals and students...a major goal of the book, and one that Berkowitz is successful in delivering, is for the reader to recognize that the future of heavy hydrocarbons is not merely a function they can be prepared, processed, and converted into products." --J.J. Winebrake, James Madison University CHOICE

"[The book] is comprehensive and deals with all aspects of the origin, chemical and physical properties of and industrial uses for fossil hydrocarbons...From a chemist's viewpoint, the text brings together wide-ranging facets of the overall subject and is a very useful reference text. However, it is not just a book aimed at one particular discipline and the breadth of the subject is such that anyone who wants to know how fossil hydrocarbons are formed and how they are used will find this book unbeatable. The ideas are presented in a most readable style, and the case for giving coal more serious consideration as a source of hydrocarbons is well made." --Graham J. Hutchings, Chemistry Department at University of Wales Cardiff, CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY

"Berkowitz has written both an excellent text and reference book on the origins of fossil hydrocarbons and on the processing of petroleum products. ...an important contribution to illustrating the relationship among the full spectrum of hydrocarbons. The book also provides original materials on the processing and enhancement of fossil hydrocarbons, and on universal environmental issues. The net result is a valuable text book that fills an important information gap in understanding fossil hydrocarbons." --Michael J. King, The Hydrodynamics Group, ENVIRONMENTAL & ENGINEERING GEOSCIENCE, May 2000