Lab work Objective

This lab aims to introduce students to the techniques of characterization and separation of petroleum products, which are essential in the fields of refining and petrochemistry. Through three separate experiments, students will gain practical skills in analyzing physical properties of these products, determining the refractive index, and performing separation by distillation.

Lab work 1: Characterization of Petroleum Products

- Objective: Determine the density of various petroleum product samples.

- Methods: Use of a pycnometer and hydrometer to measure density, helping evaluate the quality and nature of petroleum products.

Lab work 2: Determination of Refractive Index

- Objective: Measure the refractive index of different petroleum products.

- Methods: Use of a refractometer to determine the refractive index, a parameter that identifies the composition and optical properties of the products.

Lab work 3: Fractional Distillation

- Objective: Separate a complex mixture of petroleum products into different fractions.

- Methods: Perform fractional distillation to observe the evaporation behavior of volatile components and obtain distinct fractions based on their boiling points.