Catalytic Low-Temperature Thermolysis of Heavy Oil in the Presence of Fullerene C60 Nanoparticles in Aquatic and N2 Medium

Abstract

Catalytic thermolysis is considered to be an effective process for viscosity reduction, the conversion of high-molecular components of oil (resins and asphaltenes) into light hydrocarbons, and the desulfurization of hydrocarbons. In this paper, we conducted non-catalytic and catalytic thermolysis of a heavy oil sample isolated from the Ashalcha oil field (Tatarstan, Russia) at a temperature of 250 °C. Fullerene C60 nanoparticles were applied to promote selective low-temperature thermolytic reactions in the heavy oil, which increase the depth of heavy oil upgrading and enhance the flow behavior of viscous crude oil. In addition, the influence of water content on the performance of heavy oil thermolysis was evaluated. It was found that water contributes to the cracking of high-molecular components such as resins and asphaltenes. The destruction products lead to the improvement of group and fractional components of crude oil. The results of the experiments showed that the content of asphaltenes after the aquatic thermolysis of the heavy oil sample in the presence of fullerene C60 was reduced by 35% in contrast to the initial crude oil sample. The destructive hydrogenation processes resulted in the irreversible viscosity reduction of the heavy oil sample from 3110 mPa.s to 2081 mPa.s measured at a temperature of 20 °C. Thus, the feasibility of using fullerene C60 as an additive in order to increase the yield of light fractions and reduce viscosity is confirmed.

Catalytic Conversion of Oil in Model and Natural Reservoir Rocks

“…In the wet carbonate rock, the detachment of side substituents in the polar resins and asphaltenes and the cracking of naphthenic structures occur, while the polycondensation processes slow down. Thus, water intensifies the catalytic cracking of high-molecular components (resin and asphaltene) as with the high-temperature conversion [22,23]. Thus, in the dry carbonate rock, the side substituents in the aromatic hydrocarbons are detached.…”

The Effect of Thermal Steam Treatment Duration with Metallic Sodium Nanoparticles on Heavy Oil Upgrading

“…Consequently, this necessitates the exploration of solutions for oil extraction that ensure both economic and, notably in the current context, environmental feasibility. Each passing year intensifies the imperative need to employ methods and techniques that guarantee the extraction of HTR …”

“…Each passing year intensifies the imperative need to employ methods and techniques that guarantee the extraction of HTR. 6 The petrochemical industry presents various methods for enhanced oil recovery (EOR), 7 yet their effectiveness is not universally applicable, limiting their widespread utilization. These EOR methods encompass thermal, 8 gas-based, 9 chemical, 10 and hydrodynamic approaches, 11 along with their amalgamation.…”