[Rumplemeyer]

Yes, the “cracking” process in oil refineries “cracks” the bond between carbon and hydrogen and allows them to be rejoined in the order needed to make gasoline, diesel fuel, lube oils etc..

The COST to do so is the sticking point, this technology was used by the Axis during WW2, very expensive to convert non-peterolium.

[Titus Quinctius Cincinnatus]

Yes, the “cracking” process in oil refineries “cracks” the bond between carbon and hydrogen and allows them to be rejoined in the order needed to make gasoline, diesel fuel, lube oils etc..

I thought "cracking" broke C-C bonds in the aliphatic/olefinic chains themselves?

[oblomov]

>>The COST to do so is the sticking point, this technology was used by the Axis during WW2, very expensive to convert non-peterolium.

This is why Hitler drove into Russia if I remember correctly. He didn’t have a choice but to try to seize the Russian oil fields, since the coal liquefication process was too energy and cost intensive.

[thackney]

Crackers only "Crack". They do not rejoin molecules in different formats. They break large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller ones.

Such as:

C₂₂H₄₆ ---> C₁₁H₂₄ (an alkane) + C₁₁H₂₂ (an alkene)

Getting Started with Chemistry, Hydrocarbon Cracking
http://canadaconnects.ca/chemistry/10105/

[Toaster tank]

Coskata has the know how to do this inexpensively & is on their way to building the first large scale test plant.

http://www.coskata.com/

[NYFriend]

How did the Brits make buses run on coal?