Molecular Behaviors on Asphaltenes during Atmospheric Residue Hydrodesulfurization

Abstract

A two-stage hydrotreatment of the two atmospheric residues (LF-AR and KEC-AR) over the MoO3/γ-alumina catalyst at the first stage and the NiMo/γ-alumina catalyst at the second stage was performed. Evolution of various heteroatom classes in the asphaltenes during the hydrotreating process was examined, focusing on removing sulfur and nitrogen species from asphaltenes. Various heteroatom classes (C c H h , C c H h -S s , C c H h -N n , C c H h -O o , C c H h -N n S s , C c H h -O o S s , C c H h -N n O o , and C c H h -N n O o S s ) in the asphaltenes were analyzed by using Fourier transfer ion cyclotron mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) linked with atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI). According to the changes of their relative abundance, double bond equivalent (DBE), and the carbon number in the hydrotreating process, behaviors of the various heteroatom classes in the asphaltenes during the hydrotreating process were interpreted. Two distinctive differences in heteroatom reduction were observed for two different AR samples, and qualitative evaluation was attempted for providing possible scenarios.

Virtual Special Issue of Recent Advances in Analysis of Fuels and Products by Advanced Mass Spectrometry

“…The structure types of asphaltenes are assigned to four groups of maltene-like components, archipelago-type asphaltenes, island-type asphaltenes, and larger island-type asphaltenes. Park al . investigate the molecular behaviors of asphaltenes during atmospheric residue hydrodesulfurization.…”

“…Park al. 6 investigate the molecular behaviors of asphaltenes during atmospheric residue hydrodesulfurization. The molecular level analysis of heteroatom classes in the treated asphaltenes is conducted using FT-ICR MS, and it is concluded that the hydrodeheteroatom reactivity of all of the species in asphaltenes decreases in the order of hydrodesulfurization > hydrodemetallization > hydrodenitrogenation.…”