Description

Mixed Hydrocarbon Oil (MHO) is a liquid petroleum product made from a blend of hydrocarbon streams. Its composition can vary depending on the source materials, the production process, and the specification required by the customer. For this reason, MHO should be evaluated by its tested properties rather than by its name alone.

 

How is MHO made?
Petroleum refining separates crude oil into fractions according to their boiling ranges. Selected fractions may then be treated, filtered or blended to produce an MHO grade with the required characteristics. Depending on the grade, producers may adjust the blend to achieve target values for properties such as viscosity, density, flash point and sulfur content.

There is no single universal formula for MHO. The streams used and the finished product properties can differ significantly between suppliers, so each shipment should be supplied with a product specification and a recent Certificate of Analysis.

 

What is MHO used for?
Depending on its tested specification and the equipment requirements, MHO may be used as:

• Fuel for suitable industrial boilers, furnaces and process heaters
• A fuel blending component
• A feedstock for further petroleum processing or blending

 

MHO is not automatically a substitute for automotive diesel, marine fuel, or any other certified fuel grade. Suitability for a particular use must be confirmed against the applicable fuel specification, the equipment requirements and local regulations.

 

Key properties to check
When selecting MHO, important test results include:

• Density
• Viscosity
• Flash point
• Distillation range
• Sulfur content
• Water content

These properties help determine how the product can be stored, handled, blended and used.

 

Availability & specification
Product availability and the specification of a particular MHO grade vary by supplier.

 

Contact our team for the product specification, the latest Certificate of Analysis, current pricing and available delivery options.

 

Technical references: U.S. Energy Information Administration — “Refining crude oil: the refining process” and “Refining crude oil: inputs and outputs”; Petroleum Exchange of India — “Specifications: Mixed Hydrocarbon Oil (MHO)”, Ref. Spec. 28.