Development of a catalyst based on mixed iron oxides for intensification the production of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks

• Published in: Fuel (Guildford) Vol. 312; p. 123005
• Main Authors: Mukhamatdinov, Irek I., Khaidarova, Aliya R., Mukhamatdinova, Rezeda E., Affane, Boudkhil, Vakhin, Alexey V.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 15.03.2022; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aquathermolysis; Aromatic hydrocarbons; Asphalt; Carbon dioxide; Catalysts; Chemical composition; Decarboxylation; Gas composition; GC–MS; Heat treatment; Heavy oil upgrading; Hydrocarbons; Hydrogen reduction; Hydrogen sulfide; Iron oxides; Iron sulfides; Magnetite; Molecular weight; Particle sizing; Phase composition; Pyrrhotite; Resins; SARA; Saturated hydrocarbons; Scanning electron microscopy; Steam; Vapor phases; Viscosity; Heavy oil upgrading; Gas composition; Viscosity; Scanning electron microscopy; GC–MS; Magnetite; Aquathermolysis; Particle sizing; SARA
• ISSN: 0016-2361; 1873-7153
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fuel.2021.123005

•The greatest amount of gases at 1.0% Fe3O4 and at 300 °C after aquathermolysis.•At 250 °C the viscosity reduction increased by 15% at a concentration of 0.2 wt.%.•At 200 °C increase in the content of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons by 3%.•At 200 °C increase in the content of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons by 22%.•At 200 °C a decrease in resins and asphaltenes by 10%, and 1.0 wt.%.concentration.•At 200 °C a decrease in resins and asphaltenes by 35%, and 1.0 wt.%.concentration.•At 200°C the n-(C12-C21)/n-(C22-C30) increases from 0.82 to 1.85 at 1.0 wt.%.•At 200 and 300 °C, the 1.0% of magnetite suspension stands out from all the results.•The amount of gases released in g/t is greater at 300 °C than at 200 and 250 °C. In this work, physical modeling of thermal steam treatment of high viscosity oil without and with the addition of a suspended catalyst to the system was performed. The aim of the magnetite effect for the in- situ upgrading in the production of high viscosity oils was to reduce the content of asphalt-resinous compounds and their molecular weight, while significantly increasing the content of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons. The presence of a catalyst promoted decarboxylation reactions, as indicated by the significant amount of carbon dioxide produced as the catalyst concentration increased. In addition, the produced carbon dioxide decreased the viscosity of the oil and improved the chemical composition of the group. The introduction of a hydrogen donor helped to reduce the formation of aromatic hydrocarbons in the gas phase composition and prevented the polymerization of the produced hydrocarbons. The determination of viscosity-temperature characteristics showed a significant decrease in the viscosity of the obtained products after the catalytic aquathermolysis of oil. Indeed, during the catalytic aquathermolysis, maghemite was reduced to magnetite by the interaction of iron oxide with steam. In parallel, in the presence of a catalyst, with increasing exposure temperature, the content of hydrogen sulfide was reduced and the formation of iron sulfides such as pyrrhotite was observed.