An organic compound with just two elements—hydrogen and carbon—is called a hydrocarbon. Derivatives of different hydrocarbons are made by substituting an atom or a set of other elements for the hydrogen in the molecule. Acknowledged as the father of hydrocarbon chemistry, German chemist Xiao Laima discovered hydrocarbons like butane. Hydrocarbons come in a wide variety of forms, with over 2000 recognized structures. It is separated into two categories: cyclic hydrocarbons and chain hydrocarbons, based on the carbon bond connection mechanism. A chain connecting the former carbon atoms has been formed. Hydrocarbons can be further divided into two groups based on the extent to which a hydrogen atom has saturated the valence bond: unsaturated hydrocarbons and saturated hydrocarbons. Alkanes like ethane and methane are examples of saturated hydrocarbons; olefins and alkynes, with ethylene and acetylene serving as common examples, are unsaturated hydrocarbons. Both aromatic and alicyclic hydrocarbons are members of the closed ring formed by the carbon bonds in cyclic hydrocarbon molecules. Chain hydrocarbons and alicyclic hydrocarbons have a lot in common. In general, cyclic alkenes and cycloalkynes are similar to olefins and alkynes, respectively, and cycloalkanes are similar to alkanes. A hydrocarbon containing a benzene ring structure is mostly referred to as an aromatic hydrocarbon. Since many of these open-chain compounds were present in the oils identified in the original investigation, chain hydrocarbons are also known as aliphatic hydrocarbons. Because of the similarities between their properties and those of aliphatic hydrocarbons, alicyclic hydrocarbons got their name.

Since aromatic hydrocarbons have distinct features from other hydrocarbons and since some of the earliest chemicals discovered had scents, they were given names and are still in use today. Hydrocarbons are mostly found in coal, oil, and natural gas. Petroleum cracking and reforming can produce a variety of olefins, alicyclic hydrocarbons, and aromatic hydrocarbons; petroleum refining can provide a variety of alkane mixes, such as gasoline, kerosene, diesel, etc. Numerous aromatic compounds, including benzene and naphthalene, are found in coal tar.

Plants contain many higher hydrocarbons as well; hydrocarbons are found in colors like tomatoes and carrots. Higher alkanes are also present in a large number of animal and plant waxes. For example, beeswax contains C27H56 and C31H64, spinach leaves include C33H68, C35H72, and C37H76, while cabbage leaves contain C29H60. Polyisoprene, the primary constituent of natural rubber, is likewise a hydrocarbon. Hydrocarbons are used extensively as chemical raw materials and as fuel. Basic organic industrial raw materials like ethylene, propylene, butadiene, benzene, toluene, xylene, and naphthalene can be obtained from the secondary processing of petroleum. These raw materials can then be used to prepare additional chemicals like styrene, ethanol, and acetone. These basic ingredients can be processed to create a range of polymers, fine chemical compounds, synthetic rubber, and synthetic textiles. Certain bacteria can also eat hydrocarbons, and they can use the petroleum (protein) these bacteria excrete as nourishment.

A country’s degree of economic and technological progress can be inferred from the scope and intensity of its hydrocarbon compound processing. A chemical that is more complicated than a hydrocarbon molecule when one or more hydrogen atoms are replaced with other atoms or groups of atoms is referred to as a hydrocarbon derivative. A halogenated hydrocarbon is a compound that has been generated through substitution; an alcohol or phenol is a substance that has been substituted with a hydroxyl group; and a carboxylic acid is a compound that has been replaced with a carboxyl group. Compounds formed from the substitution of a corresponding atomic group for a hydrogen atom in a hydrocarbon molecule include ester, acid halide, acid anhydride, amide, aldehyde, ketone, amine, nitrile, and the like.

The chemistry of hydrocarbons and their derivatives was initially established by the German chemist Xiao Laima at the beginning of the 19th century. This definition was the result of years of experimental study and theoretical debate. The foundation of this definition is the idea of atomic combination theory. Many chemists at the time accepted it since it was more progressive and logical than all previous definitions. It does not, however, demonstrate the distinction between organic and inorganic. The theory of organic chemical structure has advanced significantly since the definition of Xiao Laima was established. As stated above, he was the first to create a scientific system and scientifically classify organic substances. He separated the organic materials first into aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons, then further separated the aliphatic molecules into acids, esters, alcohols, ethers, halogen hydrocarbons, ketones, aldehydes, and other similar substances (ChemSrc, 2019).

The main application for hydrocarbons is as flammable fuel. Methane is the main component of natural gas. The main constituents of jet fuel, gasoline, naphtha, and specialized industrial solvent blends are isomeric cycloalkanes, alkenes, and C6–C10 alkanes.

The following table describes the most popular applications for propane among end users. One fuel that can be used to make chemicals is propane. For powering gas fireplaces, barbecue grills, and backup electrical generators in homes, as well as for cooking, drying clothes, and heating spaces and water. It powers irrigation pumps and agricultural machinery, dries crops, manages weeds and pests, and heats greenhouses and animal housing on farms. to supply electricity for electric welders, forklifts, and other machinery in businesses and industries.

All end-use sectors, including residential, commercial, industrial (industry and agriculture), transportation, and electric power, employ hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), which are multipurpose products. Although the applications of HGL purity products (HGL streams containing at least 90% of one type of HGL) differ, their chemical compositions are comparable.

One of the most crucial but energy-intensive processes in the petrochemical industry is the separation and purification of light hydrocarbon (LHs) mixtures, according to a study by Wen-Gang Cui on Metal–Metal–Organicwork Materials for the Separation and Purification of Light Hydrocarbons. Adsorptive separation employing specific solid adsorbents presents a promising substitute for energy-intensive conventional separation techniques including extraction, absorption, distillation, and so on. This technology has the potential to reduce energy costs while enhancing efficiency. Therefore, it is crucial and urgent to create solid materials for the effectively selective adsorption of LH molecules in moderate settings. Because of their unique characteristics, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), a relatively novel family of porous organic–inorganic hybrid materials, have shown promise for tackling this difficult challenge. This paper provides an overview of the latest developments in the use of MOFs as separating agents for LH separation and purification, including the purification of CH4, alkynes/alkenes, alkanes/alkenes, C5–C6–C7 normal/isoalkanes, and C8 alkyl aromatics. The connections between the newly synthesized MOF materials’ structural and compositional characteristics and their separation methods and properties are emphasized. Lastly, the current obstacles and potential avenues for further investigation into the discovery of porous MOFs in this rapidly developing sector are also covered.

Modern engines using fuel as coolant frequently incorporate regenerative cooling technologies. Fuel flow instability during the cooling process should not occur as it compromises the engine’s capacity to operate safely. In this study by Zhou et al. (2014), the instability of supercritical endothermic hydrocarbon fuel flow during cooling is experimentally investigated. The interpretation of the instability mechanism is based on the simulation outcomes of a homogenous zero-dimension model. In the realm of automatic control, the stability criterion is created, and affecting factors are examined through the use of the stability analysis method and small deviation linearization theory. The experimental findings show that the critical and cracking temperature regions are where supercritical hydrocarbon fuel flow instability occurs. Fuel flow instability is primarily caused by an acute fall in fuel density in the vicinity of the critical temperature area and the cracking temperature region. Additionally, by lowering the mass flow rate, choosing a fuel whose density changes smoothly with temperature, and increasing tube heat capacity and compressible volume stiffness coefficient, the instability can be lessened. The analysis of the instability mechanism and contributing variables provides recommendations for inhibitory techniques that can guarantee the cooling system’s stable fuel flow.

Hydrogen production will depend on fossil fuels in the short- to medium-term future, which means it could continue to be a major source of CO₂ emissions into the environment. Traditional CO₂ sequestration techniques provide answers that are both environmentally questionable and highly costly. This research aims to investigate new methods for resolving energy and environmental issues related to hydrogen production from fossil fuels. The technological, environmental, and financial aspects of producing hydrogen and carbon on a large scale through the catalytic dissociation of natural gas (NG) are covered in this study. The authors present a scenario of fossil fuel-based “hydrogen–carbon” infrastructure, in which the carbon component is used in a variety of applications, including soil amendment, structural materials, power generation, and environmental remediation, and the hydrogen component of NG is used as a clean energy carrier (e.g., in transportation). A seamless shift from the existing hydrocarbon-based economy to a hydrogen-carbon economy will be possible under this scenario, serving as a halfway point towards the ultimate hydrogen-from-renewables economy of the future.

A study on Climate Policy Needs Non-combustion uses for Hydrocarbons in 2021 demonstrates that the primary topic of discussion in climate policy is the concern of fossil fuel stock owners that their resources would become stranded assets due to high CO₂ taxes and prohibitions on burning hydrocarbons. In a hurry to burn, they may respond by taking out and selling their reserves today. They present ways to either strongly mitigate or prevent the stranded-asset issue. They examine a basic intertemporal equilibrium for a specific fossil hydrocarbon stock. The following characteristics apply to this framework: In the future, they provide examples of climate-neutral products that can be produced from fossil hydrocarbons in order to preserve current markets and create new ones in order to address the rush-to-burn problem in a climate-neutral manner. The rush-to-burn issue is lessened by subsidies for these goods (or for their innovation). The market for items derived from fossil hydrocarbons is diminished, however, when alternatives to climate-neutral products based on fossil hydrocarbons are developed or when these products receive subsidies. This may worsen the issue of stranded assets and perhaps cause climate damage (Konrad et al., 2021).

According to an article by U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) in 2018, Although the majority of fossil fuels used in the US are burned, or combusted, to generate electricity and heat, the EIA projects that in 2017, the US used 5.5 quadrillion British thermal units of fossil fuels for non-combustion applications. In the last ten years, the United States’ non-combustion fossil fuel consumption has generally made up 7% of the country’s overall fossil fuel consumption and 6% of its total energy consumption. When fossil fuels are utilized directly in the production of lubricants, solvents, waxes, building materials, and other items, they can be consumed but not burned. Typical instances include natural gas used in fertilizers, petroleum products used in plastics, and coal tars used in skin care products. In 2017, non-combustion applications accounted for around 13% of all petroleum products consumed. Coal made up less than 1% of all-natural gas, but natural gas used for non-combustion purposes made up approximately 3%.

If non-combustion fuel had been burned, 2017 carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions would have increased by 196 million metric tons, or almost 4%. To determine the overall carbon dioxide emissions from the United States, the amount of fossil fuels used for non-combustion consumption must be estimated. Some (but not all) of the carbon in these fuels is sequestered during non-combustion use, and this stored carbon is not factored into fuel consumption numbers used in emissions calculations. When building pavement and roofs, asphalt and road lubricants are utilized. Various industrial processes, machinery, and automobiles all require lubricants, which include greases and motor oil. For chemical catalysts, petroleum coke is utilized, and for paints with a petroleum base, specific naphthas are used. In addition to polishes and waxes, other petroleum products include distillate and leftover fuel oils used as chemical feedstocks.

Throughout the industrial sector, relatively little natural gas is used for purposes other than combustion. Nitrogenous fertilizers and various chemical products such as methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia are produced using natural gas as a feedstock.

In the industrial sector, very limited volumes of coal are used for non-combustion applications. Coal tars, which are rich in aromatic hydrocarbons like benzene and utilized as feedstocks in the chemical industry to generate paints, synthetic colors, and sealcoats for pavement, are among the byproducts of the process used to produce metallurgical coke. Coal tars are an ingredient in several anti-dandruff shampoos and other medical skin care products (eia.gov, 2018).

In order to tackle the issue of fossil fuel assets hypothetically becoming stranded as a result of environmental policies, it is critical to prioritize the exploration of non-combustion applications of hydrocarbons that do not add to CO₂ emissions. By readdressing the utilization of hydrocarbons away from energy generation and towards novel and inventive purposes, we cannister effectively minimize environmental repercussions while instantaneously unlocking fresh avenues for economic growth.

Cutting-edge materials, for instance, carbon-based nanomaterials like graphene, carbon nanotubes, and fullerenes, grasp immense potential in numerous fields. These ingredients novelty applications in electronics, energy storage, and the invention of composite materials for the automotive and aerospace sectors. Particularly, their manufacturing processes do not essentially emit CO₂, showcasing the ability to repurpose hydrocarbons into sustainable, high-value products.

The integration of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies with hydrocarbon dispensation industries represents a circular economy model where CO₂ emissions are captured and rehabilitated into useful products like synthetic fuels and chemicals. This not only diminishes emissions but also creates value from waste CO₂.

Furthermore, hydrocarbons can ease the storage and transportation of renewable energy. Processes such as hydrogenation can convert excess renewable energy into synthetic hydrocarbons, which can be elated using existing infrastructure, thus ornamental the efficiency and reliability of renewable energy systems (eia.gov, 2018).