* Distillation: This is the initial step in the refining process, where crude oil is heated and separated into different fractions based on their boiling points. Gasoline is one of the fractions obtained from this process.
* Cracking: This process involves breaking down heavier hydrocarbon molecules into lighter ones, including gasoline. There are two main types of cracking processes: thermal cracking and catalytic cracking. Thermal cracking uses heat to break down the molecules, while catalytic cracking uses a catalyst to speed up the process.
* Reforming: This process converts low-octane gasoline into high-octane gasoline. Octane is a measure of a gasoline's resistance to knocking in an engine. Higher octane gasoline burns more smoothly and efficiently. Reforming is done by heating gasoline in the presence of a catalyst, which causes the molecules to rearrange into higher-octane forms.
After these processes, various additives are blended into the gasoline to improve its performance and quality, such as detergents, antioxidants, and octane boosters. The final product is gasoline, which is then transported to gas stations and sold to consumers.
