Some folks in parts of the world are very reliant on gasoline, while some are more dependent on electric. Petroleum based products however are still in absurd demand by almost all parties. How do you stand to fair if the oil situation continues to worsen? Plastics. Nylon. Jet fuel. Tires. Asphalt. To name just a few things that heavily rely on oil byproduct.
Synthetic oil (non-petroleum) was one of the first widespread commercial/industrial substitutes for petroleum. Most automobiles are already using synthetic oil. I can’t say I know the exact formulation hydro turbines use, but I would guess a petroleum free version could be made with today’s technology if it doesn’t exist already.
Oh so when I get full synthetic oil in my vehicle that is not at all petroleum based? That’s completely from a lab? Or however they are made?
I think I need to zoom out a bit to explain. We talk about “oil” but what we’re really talking about is just hydrocarbons. Take a look at this diagram:
The only difference in the many forms is how the hydrogen and carbon chains are ordered. Add or subtract a few and it becomes a different substance with a different name. We can technically make hydrocarbons from atmospheric air. This includes methane and even gasoline can be made from the air surrounding us. We don’t do this because its expensive and pulling petroleum from the ground has most of the work done for us.
So to answer your first question: Most of the hydrogen and carbon in the synthetic oil in your car today probably came from petroleum, but that petroleum was broken down into raw carbon and hydrogen, then the oil molecules were built into motor oil.
Petroleum became too expensive, we’d use different sources besides petroleum for carbon and hydrogen input needs.
Interesting. This is past my chemical studies in school but very interesting. How would it work? Like If I can get it out of the air, does it mean we will have an air scarcity problem in the future?
The Law of Conservation: nothing can be created or destroyed. When you burn oil it doesn’t disappear, it changes form. You’re turning it into CO2 and H2O. The carbon goes into CO2. The hydrogen goes int H2O.