Evaluation of Chemical Constituents of Crude Oil

Abstract

The chemical constituents of crude oil were evaluated in this study. Crude oil is used for many purposes. It is commonly used for production of fuel and in traditional medicine for various purposes. Some people also use crude oil as antidote for poisons. Analysis of the chemical constituents of crude oil was carried out with the use of GC (model No. 7890B) and MS detector (model 5977A). Several chemical constituents with various functions were detected in the crude oil. Some of the chemical constituents detected have been reported to be used for the production of some fuels, pesticides, volatile compounds, fragrance, food additives and antimicrobial agents. This study therefore showed that various important chemicals/compounds useful in traditional medicine and for industrial uses are present in crude oil, thereby making it a good raw material for industrial and medicinal purposes. However, some constituents of crude oil are known to be able to cause toxicity, making crude oil a toxic substance.