23 research outputs found
A study on the characteristics of Algerian Hassi-Messaoud asphaltenes:Algerian Hassi-Messaoud asphaltenes: solubility and precipitation
This study focuses on detailed characterizations of asphaltene fractions extracted from the Algerian Hassi-Messaoud oil field. It was found that the extracted asphaltenes are not completely soluble in toluene, instead two fractions of asphaltenes were obtained upon solubilizing the heptane-precipitated neat asphaltenes in toluene. Extensive characterizations of the toluene-soluble and insoluble fractions were carried out using elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR). It was suggested that the high oxygen content and uneven compositional structures are the main contributors to asphaltene instability. The toluene-insoluble fractions were found to have higher polarity and aromaticity as well as more oxygen content than the neat asphaltenes and toluene-soluble fractions
Upgrading of a Visbroken Vacuum Residue by Adsorption and Catalytic Steam Gasification of the Adsorbed Components
Unconventional oil is set to play an increasingly important role in world oil supply, where Canadian reserves are going to play a key role in the global market. The bitumen associated to these reserves typically contains more than 50% vacuum residue, thus developing new and less costly processing ideas is necessary.
The present work focuses on a new process consisting of the improvement of Athabasca visbroken residue stability via adsorption using an in-house material, followed by low temperature catalytic steam gasification of the adsorbed material. A bench-scale setup was designed and built, and techniques such as P-value, thermal gravimetric analysis, and gas chromatography were used for products characterization.
Results indicate that adsorption doesn’t seem to improve the visbroken residue, however an alternative path performing catalytic steam cracking instead shows an extra ~20% conversion of the feed, still maintaining a stable product. On the other hand, Catalytic steam gasification was achieved at low temperatures (560 ºC), with high production of hydrogen for the sorbcats tested, thus making possible an alternative path for the visbroken residue processing
Characterization of Athabasca Vacuum Residue and Its Visbroken Products. Stability and Fast Hydrocarbon Group-Type Distributions
High Temperature Simulated Distillation of Athabasca Vacuum Residue Fractions. Bimodal Distributions and Evidence for Secondary “On-Column” Cracking of Heavy Hydrocarbons
Determination of molecular masses for petroleum distillates by simulated distillation
Determination of Molecular Mass (MM) for petroleum distillates is explored for selected samples via
High Temperature Simulated Distillation (HTSD). MM is determined as a by-product from routine
HTSD carried out using open wall capillary columns coated with apolar stationary phases. No sample
pre-separation into hydrocarbon group-types is required. Determined MM values were validated with results
achieved via correlations based on specific gravity and refractive index. Furthermore, determined MM with
the former methodologies were found to match mass spectrometric determinations carried out for the basic
polar components present within the studied samples. Moreover, HTSD analyzed petroleum distillates are
proposed as more representative calibration standards for size exclusion chromatographic separations, thus
opening the feasibility of extrapolating MM determination for non volatile petroleum residua.A determinação de Massa Molecular (MM) de destilados de petróleo é investigada para amostras seletas
mediante destilação simulada de alta temperatura (iniciais em inglês: HTSD). A MM se obtém como
produto colateral da prática de rotina de HTSD efetuada com colunas capilares tubulares revestidas
com fase estacionária apolar. A pré-separação de amostra em grupos de hidrocarbonetos não é requerida
para a análise. Os resultados de MM são validados mediante comparação com os obtidos mediante correlações
baseadas em gravidade específica e índice de refração. Adicionalmente, corroborou-se que as MMs
obtidas comparam com aquelas determinadas para os componentes básico-polares das amostras estudadas,
determinadas mediante espectrometria de massas. Os destilados de petróleo analisados se propõem como
padrões para calibração da cromatografia de exclusão molecular (SEC, pelas iniciais anglo-saxônicas),
estendendo-se de tal forma a possibilidade da análise a frações residuais �não destiláveis- de petróleo.La determinación de Masa Molecular (MM) de destilados de petróleo es investigada para muestras
selectas mediante Destilación Simulada de Alta Temperatura (iniciales en inglés: HTSD). La MM se
obtiene como producto colateral de la práctica rutinaria de HTSD efectuada con columnas capilares
tubulares revestidas con fase estacionaria apolar. La preseparación de muestra en grupos de hidrocarburos no
es requerida para el análisis. Los resultados de MM son validados mediante comparación con los obtenidos
mediante correlaciones basadas en gravedad específica e índice de refracción. Adicionalmente, se corroboró
que las MMs obtenidas comparan con aquellas determinadas para los componentes básicos-polares de las
muestras estudiadas, determinadas mediante espectrometría de masas. Los destilados de petróleo analizados
se proponen como patrones para calibración de la Cromatografía de exclusión molecular (SEC, por las
iniciales anglosajonas), extendiéndose de tal forma la posibilidad del análisis a fracciones residuales �no
destilables- de petróleo
Interatomic Interactions in the Adsorption of Asphaltenes and Resins on Kaolinite Calculated by Molecular Dynamics
Nanopyroxene Grafting with β‑Cyclodextrin Monomer for Wastewater Applications
Emerging nanoparticle
technology provides opportunities for environmentally friendly wastewater
treatment applications, including those in the large liquid tailings
containments in the Alberta oil sands. In this study, we synthesize
β-cyclodextrin grafted nanopyroxenes to offer an ecofriendly
platform for the selective removal of organic compounds typically
present in these types of applications. We carry out computational
modeling at the micro level through molecular mechanics and molecular
dynamics simulations and laboratory experiments at the macro level
to understand the interactions between the synthesized nanomaterials
and two-model naphthenic acid molecules (cyclopentanecarboxylic and
trans-4-pentylcyclohexanecarboxylic acids) typically existing in tailing
ponds. The proof-of-concept computational modeling and experiments
demonstrate that monomer grafted nanopyroxene or nano-AE of
the sodium iron-silicate aegirine are found to be promising candidates
for the removal of polar organic compounds from wastewater, among
other applications. These nano-AE offer new possibilities for treating
tailing ponds generated by the oil sands industry