Chinese scientists have developed a groundbreaking technique for refining oil that significantly reduces energy consumption by about 90%. If successfully scaled for industrial use, this method could lower production costs and emissions while increasing precision and product value.
Currently, crude oil cannot be directly converted into petrol or plastics. Refineries must separate it into various components, which is highly energy-intensive. The traditional method is distillation, which involves repeated vaporization and condensation based on slight differences in boiling points. This process is both energy-consuming and relatively inaccurate.
In contrast, the new technique operates at the molecular level, allowing for the selective processing of compounds. This innovation aims to optimize resource utilization effectively.
