What process is used to convert heavy hydrocarbons into lighter, more useful ones?

The process used to convert heavy hydrocarbons into lighter, more useful ones is catalytic cracking. This method involves breaking down larger, more complex hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable ones, such as gasoline and diesel fuel. The process typically uses heat and a catalyst to facilitate the reactions, which makes it more efficient compared to thermal cracking methods.

In catalytic cracking, the heavy fractions of crude oil, which are less desirable and have higher boiling points, undergo a chemical reaction that reduces their molecular weight and increases the yield of lighter products. This is particularly important in the petroleum industry, where demand for lighter, high-octane fuels is significant.

Hydrogenation, while a useful process for adding hydrogen to unsaturated hydrocarbons to produce saturated hydrocarbons or to convert unsaturated fats to saturated fats, does not specifically convert heavy hydrocarbons into lighter ones. Fractional distillation is a separation process based on different boiling points and is used to separate components of a mixture rather than convert them. Fermentation, on the other hand, is a biological process used to convert sugars into alcohol and other products, which is not applicable to the conversion of hydrocarbons.