Bitumen - Revision history

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			[[Category:Done 2026-08-01]]
	[[category:371 topics]]		[[category:371 topics]]
	~~[[Category:Done 2018-06-15]]~~
	[[File:Bitumen2.jpg\|400px\|framed\|right\|Figure 1. Bitumen is a thick, black crude oil.<ref>Wikimedia Commons.(May 14, 2015). ''Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bitumen#/media/File:Bitumen2.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Bitumen2.jpg\|400px\|framed\|right\|Figure 1. Bitumen is a thick, black crude oil.<ref>Wikimedia Commons.(May 14, 2015). ''Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bitumen#/media/File:Bitumen2.jpg</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Bitumen''' is ~~a low-grade~~ of [[crude oil]] ~~which is~~ composed of complex~~, heavy~~ [[hydrocarbon]]s. In an oil [[reservoir]], bitumen is a thick, viscous [[fluid]] and must be extracted from the ground.</onlyinclude> ~~When extracting it, a lot~~ of [[heat]] and ~~effort must be used~~ to ~~upgrade it to a better product~~. Although bitumen is hard to extract from the ground, it can bubble naturally to the surface of the Earth in petroleum seeps. These seeps are places where ~~fossil fuels and~~ petroleum ~~products leak out of~~ the Earth instead of ~~being~~ trapped deep ~~below the ground~~. In these seeps, bitumen~~, asphalt, and tar bubble up into~~ pools. Additionally, bitumen is the main [[fossil fuel]] component of [[oil sands]]. ~~When bitumen combines with~~ asphaltines ~~a solid is formed that is~~ useful for paving roads.<ref name="prod">W.Leffler, M.Raymond. (May 14, 2015). ''Oil and Gas Production in Nontechnical Language'', 1st ed. Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.: PennWell, 2006.</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Bitumen''' is an extremely heavy, highly viscous form of [[crude oil]] composed of complex [[hydrocarbon]]s. In an oil [[reservoir]], bitumen is a thick, viscous [[fluid]] and must be extracted from the ground.</onlyinclude> Extracting and upgrading bitumen require significant amounts of [[heat]] and energy to produce lighter petroleum products. Although bitumen is hard to extract from the ground, it can bubble naturally to the surface of the Earth in petroleum seeps. These seeps are places where petroleum or natural gas naturally leaks to the Earth's surface instead of remaining trapped deep underground. In these seeps, bitumen or crude oil can accumulate in naturals pools at the surface. Additionally, bitumen is the main [[fossil fuel]] component of [[oil sands]]. Bitumen contains asphaltines, which contribute to its strength and adhesive properties, making it useful as the binder in asphalt used for paving roads.<ref name="prod">W.Leffler, M.Raymond. (May 14, 2015). ''Oil and Gas Production in Nontechnical Language'', 1st ed. Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.: PennWell, 2006.</ref>

	==Production==		==Production==
	In addition to being found naturally in seeps and the oil sands, bitumen can ~~be produced~~ by removing lighter fractions from crude oil during the [[fractional distillation\|refining process]]. ~~Fractions that are~~ removed ~~are liquid~~ petroleum gas, [[gasoline]], and [[diesel]].<ref name="RE1">Eurobitume. (~~May 14, 2015~~). ''~~What is bitumen?~~'' [Online]. Available: ~~http~~://~~www.~~eurobitume.eu/bitumen/~~what-bitumen~~</ref>		In addition to being found naturally in seeps and the oil sands, bitumen can remain by removing lighter fractions from crude oil during the [[fractional distillation\|refining process]]. Some of the lighter fractions removed during refining include liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), [[gasoline]], and [[diesel\|diesel fuel]].<ref name="RE1">Eurobitume. (2025). ''Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: https://eurobitume.eu/bitumen/</ref>

	Once crude oil has been extracted from the ground, ~~the production of~~ bitumen can ~~begin~~. The crude oil is pumped from the storage tanks and through a system that increases the temperature of the crude oil to 200[[Celsius\|°C]]. The oil then moves to a furnace, where it is heated even higher to approximately 300°C ~~where it is~~ vaporized ~~partially into~~ a distillation column. Here, the separation of the different components of the crude oil occurs. As lighter components rise to the top, ~~heavy components—including~~ the ~~bitumen—fall to~~ the bottom of the column. This process is known as [[fractional distillation]]. Finally, the bitumen is obtained by further distilling the residue in a vacuum distillation column. This type of bitumen is known as '''straight run bitumen'''. The grade of the bitumen depends on how much volatile material remains ~~in the distilled bitumen—with~~ more ~~volatiles resulting in~~ a less ~~pure, more liquid~~ product.<ref>~~Bitumina~~. (~~May 15, 2015~~). ''~~Bitumen Production~~'' [Online]. Available: ~~http~~://www.~~bitumina~~.~~co.uk~~/~~bitumen~~-~~production.html~~</ref>		Once crude oil has been extracted from the ground, refinery bitumen can be obtained during the refining process. The crude oil is pumped from the storage tanks and through a system that increases the temperature of the crude oil to 200[[Celsius\|°C]]. The oil then moves to a furnace, where it is heated even higher to approximately 300°C and partially vaporized before entering a distillation column. Here, the separation of the different components of the crude oil occurs. As lighter components rise toward the top, the heavier fractions remain near the bottom of the column. This process is known as [[fractional distillation]]. Finally, the bitumen is obtained by further distilling the residue in a vacuum distillation column. This type of bitumen is known as '''straight-run bitumen'''. The grade of the bitumen depends on how much volatile material remains after distillation, with more volatile components producing a softer, less viscous product.<ref>U.S. Energy Information Administration. (2025). ''Refining crude oil – the refining process'' [Online]. Available: https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/oil-and-petroleum-products/</ref>

	==Use==		==Use==
	Most refined bitumen is used in the construction industry. ~~Mainly, it serves its use~~ in paving and roofing applications. 85% of ~~all~~ bitumen is used as a binder in asphalt for roads, runways, parking lots, and ~~foot paths~~. Gravel and crushed rock are mixed with ~~thick~~ bitumen, ~~holding it~~ together ~~and it~~ is ~~then~~ applied to roadways. 10% of ~~the~~ bitumen ~~used worldwide~~ is used in ~~the~~ roofing ~~industry as~~ its waterproofing ~~qualities help make roofs function well~~. 5% ~~of bitumen~~ is used ~~for~~ sealing ~~and insulating purposes~~ in ~~various~~ building materials such as carpet tile backing and paint.<ref name="RE1"/>		Most refined bitumen is used in the construction industry. It is primarily used in paving and roofing applications. Approximately 85% of bitumen is used as a binder in asphalt for roads, runways, parking lots, and footpaths. Gravel and crushed rock are mixed with bitumen, which acts as a binder to hold the aggregate together before the mixture is applied to roadways. Approximately 10% of bitumen is used in roofing materials because of its waterproofing properties. The remaining 5% is used in a variety of industrial applications, including sealing, insulation applications in building materials such as carpet tile backing and paint.<ref name="RE1"/>

	In addition to these main uses, bitumen also has many minor uses. Other ~~examples are~~ soundproofing, explosives, mildew protection, ~~a binder in~~ briquettes, a backing ~~to mirrors~~, shoe soles, fence post ~~coating~~ and soil stabilization.<ref>~~Bitumen UK~~. (~~May 15, 2015~~). ''~~Uses of~~ Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: ~~http~~://www.~~bitumenuk~~.~~com~~/~~images~~/~~library~~/~~files/reach_list_of_bitumen_applications_uses[~~1].pdf</ref>		In addition to these main uses, bitumen also has many minor uses. Other applications include soundproofing, explosives, mildew protection, binders for briquettes, mirror backing, shoe soles, fence post coatings, and soil stabilization.<ref>Asphalt Institute. (2025). ''The Bitumen Industry: A Global Perspective'', 4th ed. [Online]. Available: https://www.asphaltinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Bitumen-Industry-A-Global-Perspective-IS-230-4th-edition-1.pdf</ref>

	==For Further Reading==		==For Further Reading==

Jmdonev: 1 revision imported

2018-06-25T14:30:24Z

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Jmdonev at 21:50, 4 June 2018

2018-06-04T21:50:52Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:50, 4 June 2018
Line 1:		Line 1:
	[[category:371 topics]]		[[category:371 topics]]
	[[Category:Done ~~2015~~-06-11]]		[[Category:Done 2018-06-15]]
	[[File:Bitumen2.jpg\|400px\|framed\|right\|Figure 1. Bitumen is a thick, black crude oil.<ref>Wikimedia Commons.(May 14, 2015). ''Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bitumen#/media/File:Bitumen2.jpg</ref>]]		[[File:Bitumen2.jpg\|400px\|framed\|right\|Figure 1. Bitumen is a thick, black crude oil.<ref>Wikimedia Commons.(May 14, 2015). ''Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bitumen#/media/File:Bitumen2.jpg</ref>]]
	<onlyinclude>'''Bitumen''' is a low-grade of [[crude oil]] which is composed of complex, heavy [[hydrocarbon]]s. In an oil [[reservoir]], bitumen is a thick, viscous [[fluid]] and must be extracted from the ground.</onlyinclude> When extracting it, ~~much~~ [[heat]] and effort must be used to upgrade it to a better product. Although bitumen is hard to extract from the ground, it can bubble naturally to the surface of the Earth in petroleum seeps. These seeps are places where fossil fuels and petroleum products leak out of the Earth instead of being trapped deep below the ground. In these seeps bitumen, asphalt, and tar bubble up into pools. Additionally, bitumen is the main [[fossil fuel]] component of [[oil sands]]. When bitumen combines with asphaltines a solid is formed that is useful for paving roads.<ref name="prod">W.Leffler, M.Raymond. (May 14, 2015). ''Oil and Gas Production in Nontechnical Language'', 1st ed. Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.: PennWell, 2006.</ref>		<onlyinclude>'''Bitumen''' is a low-grade of [[crude oil]] which is composed of complex, heavy [[hydrocarbon]]s. In an oil [[reservoir]], bitumen is a thick, viscous [[fluid]] and must be extracted from the ground.</onlyinclude> When extracting it, a lot of [[heat]] and effort must be used to upgrade it to a better product. Although bitumen is hard to extract from the ground, it can bubble naturally to the surface of the Earth in petroleum seeps. These seeps are places where fossil fuels and petroleum products leak out of the Earth instead of being trapped deep below the ground. In these seeps, bitumen, asphalt, and tar bubble up into pools. Additionally, bitumen is the main [[fossil fuel]] component of [[oil sands]]. When bitumen combines with asphaltines a solid is formed that is useful for paving roads.<ref name="prod">W.Leffler, M.Raymond. (May 14, 2015). ''Oil and Gas Production in Nontechnical Language'', 1st ed. Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.: PennWell, 2006.</ref>

	~~Although a form of crude oil, bitumen is used widely. Estimates say that approximately 102 million [[tonne]]s of bitumen are used yearly.~~

	==Production==		==Production==
	In addition to being found naturally in seeps and the oil sands, bitumen can be produced by removing lighter fractions from crude oil during the [[fractional distillation\|refining process]]. Fractions that are removed are liquid petroleum gas, [[gasoline]], and [[diesel]].<ref name="RE1">Eurobitume. (May 14, 2015). ''What is bitumen?'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eurobitume.eu/bitumen/what-bitumen</ref>		In addition to being found naturally in seeps and the oil sands, bitumen can be produced by removing lighter fractions from crude oil during the [[fractional distillation\|refining process]]. Fractions that are removed are liquid petroleum gas, [[gasoline]], and [[diesel]].<ref name="RE1">Eurobitume. (May 14, 2015). ''What is bitumen?'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eurobitume.eu/bitumen/what-bitumen</ref>

	Once crude oil has been extracted from the ground, the production of bitumen can begin. The crude oil is pumped from the storage tanks and through a system that increases the temperature of the crude oil to 200[[Celsius\|°C]]. The oil then moves to a furnace, where it is heated even higher to approximately 300°C where it is vaporized partially into a distillation column. Here, the separation of the different components of the crude oil occurs. As lighter components rise to the top, heavy ~~components - including~~ the ~~bitumen - fall~~ to the bottom of the column. This process is known as [[fractional distillation]]. Finally, the bitumen is obtained by further distilling the residue in a vacuum distillation column. This type of bitumen is known as '''straight run bitumen'''. The grade of the bitumen depends on how much volatile material remains in the distilled ~~bitumen - with~~ more volatiles resulting in a less pure, more liquid product.<ref>Bitumina. (May 15, 2015). ''Bitumen Production'' [Online]. Available: http://www.bitumina.co.uk/bitumen-production.html</ref>		Once crude oil has been extracted from the ground, the production of bitumen can begin. The crude oil is pumped from the storage tanks and through a system that increases the temperature of the crude oil to 200[[Celsius\|°C]]. The oil then moves to a furnace, where it is heated even higher to approximately 300°C where it is vaporized partially into a distillation column. Here, the separation of the different components of the crude oil occurs. As lighter components rise to the top, heavy components—including the bitumen—fall to the bottom of the column. This process is known as [[fractional distillation]]. Finally, the bitumen is obtained by further distilling the residue in a vacuum distillation column. This type of bitumen is known as '''straight run bitumen'''. The grade of the bitumen depends on how much volatile material remains in the distilled bitumen—with more volatiles resulting in a less pure, more liquid product.<ref>Bitumina. (May 15, 2015). ''Bitumen Production'' [Online]. Available: http://www.bitumina.co.uk/bitumen-production.html</ref>

	==Use==		==Use==
	Most refined bitumen is used in the construction industry. Mainly, it serves its use in paving and roofing applications. 85% of all bitumen ~~used~~ is used as a binder in asphalt for roads, runways, parking lots, and foot paths. Gravel and crushed rock are mixed with thick bitumen, holding it together and it is then applied to roadways. 10% of the bitumen used worldwide is used in the roofing industry as its waterproofing qualities help make roofs function well. 5% of bitumen is used for sealing and insulating purposes in various building materials such as carpet tile backing and paint.<ref name="RE1"/>		Most refined bitumen is used in the construction industry. Mainly, it serves its use in paving and roofing applications. 85% of all bitumen is used as a binder in asphalt for roads, runways, parking lots, and foot paths. Gravel and crushed rock are mixed with thick bitumen, holding it together and it is then applied to roadways. 10% of the bitumen used worldwide is used in the roofing industry as its waterproofing qualities help make roofs function well. 5% of bitumen is used for sealing and insulating purposes in various building materials such as carpet tile backing and paint.<ref name="RE1"/>

			In addition to these main uses, bitumen also has many minor uses. Other examples are soundproofing, explosives, mildew protection, a binder in briquettes, a backing to mirrors, shoe soles, fence post coating and soil stabilization.<ref>Bitumen UK. (May 15, 2015). ''Uses of Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: http://www.bitumenuk.com/images/library/files/reach_list_of_bitumen_applications_uses[1].pdf</ref>

	In addition to these main uses, bitumen also has many minor uses. Some examples of where bitumen is used is in soundproofing, explosives, mildew protection, as a binder in briquettes, as a backing to mirrors, on shoe soles. As well, bitumen is used as a fence post coating and is used in soil stabilization.<ref>Bitumen ~~UK. (May 15, 2015). ''Uses of Bitumen''~~ [~~Online~~]~~. Available~~: ~~http://www.bitumenuk.com/images/library/files/reach_list_of_bitumen_applications_uses[1~~]~~.pdf</ref>~~		==For Further Reading==
			*[[Bitumen upgrading]]
			*[[Crude oil]]
			*[[Fossil fuel formation]]
			*[[Fractional distillation]]
			*Or explore a [[Special:Random\| random page]]

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}
	[[Category:Uploaded]]		[[Category:Uploaded]]

J.williams: 1 revision imported

2015-08-26T21:30:49Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 21:30, 26 August 2015
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J.williams at 16:49, 12 August 2015

2015-08-12T16:49:05Z

New page

[[category:371 topics]]
[[Category:Done 2015-06-11]]
[[File:Bitumen2.jpg|400px|framed|right|Figure 1. Bitumen is a thick, black crude oil.<ref>Wikimedia Commons.(May 14, 2015). ''Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Bitumen#/media/File:Bitumen2.jpg</ref>]]
<onlyinclude>'''Bitumen''' is a low-grade of [[crude oil]] which is composed of complex, heavy [[hydrocarbon]]s. In an oil [[reservoir]], bitumen is a thick, viscous [[fluid]] and must be extracted from the ground.</onlyinclude> When extracting it, much [[heat]] and effort must be used to upgrade it to a better product. Although bitumen is hard to extract from the ground, it can bubble naturally to the surface of the Earth in petroleum seeps. These seeps are places where fossil fuels and petroleum products leak out of the Earth instead of being trapped deep below the ground. In these seeps bitumen, asphalt, and tar bubble up into pools. Additionally, bitumen is the main [[fossil fuel]] component of [[oil sands]]. When bitumen combines with asphaltines a solid is formed that is useful for paving roads.<ref name="prod">W.Leffler, M.Raymond. (May 14, 2015). ''Oil and Gas Production in Nontechnical Language'', 1st ed. Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.A.: PennWell, 2006.</ref>

Although a form of crude oil, bitumen is used widely. Estimates say that approximately 102 million [[tonne]]s of bitumen are used yearly.

==Production==
In addition to being found naturally in seeps and the oil sands, bitumen can be produced by removing lighter fractions from crude oil during the [[fractional distillation|refining process]]. Fractions that are removed are liquid petroleum gas, [[gasoline]], and [[diesel]].<ref name="RE1">Eurobitume. (May 14, 2015). ''What is bitumen?'' [Online]. Available: http://www.eurobitume.eu/bitumen/what-bitumen</ref>

Once crude oil has been extracted from the ground, the production of bitumen can begin. The crude oil is pumped from the storage tanks and through a system that increases the temperature of the crude oil to 200[[Celsius|°C]]. The oil then moves to a furnace, where it is heated even higher to approximately 300°C where it is vaporized partially into a distillation column. Here, the separation of the different components of the crude oil occurs. As lighter components rise to the top, heavy components - including the bitumen - fall to the bottom of the column. This process is known as [[fractional distillation]]. Finally, the bitumen is obtained by further distilling the residue in a vacuum distillation column. This type of bitumen is known as '''straight run bitumen'''. The grade of the bitumen depends on how much volatile material remains in the distilled bitumen - with more volatiles resulting in a less pure, more liquid product.<ref>Bitumina. (May 15, 2015). ''Bitumen Production'' [Online]. Available: http://www.bitumina.co.uk/bitumen-production.html</ref>

==Use==
Most refined bitumen is used in the construction industry. Mainly, it serves its use in paving and roofing applications. 85% of all bitumen used is used as a binder in asphalt for roads, runways, parking lots, and foot paths. Gravel and crushed rock are mixed with thick bitumen, holding it together and it is then applied to roadways. 10% of the bitumen used worldwide is used in the roofing industry as its waterproofing qualities help make roofs function well. 5% of bitumen is used for sealing and insulating purposes in various building materials such as carpet tile backing and paint.<ref name="RE1"/>

In addition to these main uses, bitumen also has many minor uses. Some examples of where bitumen is used is in soundproofing, explosives, mildew protection, as a binder in briquettes, as a backing to mirrors, on shoe soles. As well, bitumen is used as a fence post coating and is used in soil stabilization.<ref>Bitumen UK. (May 15, 2015). ''Uses of Bitumen'' [Online]. Available: http://www.bitumenuk.com/images/library/files/reach_list_of_bitumen_applications_uses[1].pdf</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Uploaded]]