Fossil hydrocarbons form a continuous series whoseheavymembers--heavy oils, bitumens, oil shale kerogens, and coal--are important sources of conventional lighter fuels. These hydrocarbons are much more abundant and easier to extract than natural gas and oil. This book discusses the origins and compositions of fossil hydrocarbons and shows how theheaviescan be chemically transformed into environmentally clean gas, liquid transportation fuels, and an almost unlimited range of petrochemicals. Dr. Berkowitz explodes the entrenched dichotomy betweenpetroleum hydrocarbonsand coal that has shaped popular perceptions of energy, showing that it is feasible to develop new technologies that capitalize on the availability ofsyntheticnatural gas and light oils. Fossil Hydrocarbons: Chemistry and Technology is a comprehensive treatment of fossil hydrocarbons, covering the source materials, biosources, metamorphic histories, geochemistry, classification, and molecular structure. It discusses the use of fossil hydrocarbons as a viable energy source in our future, detailing the preparation, processing and conversion technologies, as well as discussing the environmental issues that arise from production, processing, and use of various fossil hydrocarbons.

Author Biography

Norbert Berkowitz's many awards and accomplishments include the Confederation Medal from the Government of Canada, the Order of Canada, and the Queen Elizabeth Medal. Dr. Berkowitz has been the Head of the Fuel Sciences Division on the Alberta Research Council, a board member and vice-chairman for the Energy Resources Conservation Board in Alberta, and a professor of fuel science at the University of Alberta. He has served as a visiting professor at several universities including the University of Utah; Technicion in Haifa, Israel; and Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva, Israel, and in Kyoto, Japan. Dr. Berkowitz is the author of An Introduction to Coal Technology and is currently Emeritus Professor of fuel science at the University of Alberta.