Application of Nanotechnology for Heavy Oil Upgrading: Catalytic Steam Gasification/Cracking of Asphaltenes

摘要

Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing technology with considerable potential applications and benefits. Among the numerous applications of nanotechnology for energy and the environment, adsorption, oxidation, and gasification/cracking of asphaltenes, a problematic constituent present in heavy oil, on nanoparticle surfaces are one of the most recent examples. In this work, three different types of metal oxide nanoparticles, namely, Fe_2O_3, CO_3O_4, and NiO, were selected for asphaltene adsorption and catalytic steam gasification/cracking. Adsorption and gasification of asphaltenes were studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The nanoparticles were found to be very efficient for asphaltene adsorption and catalytic steam gasification/cracking. Asphaltene adsorption affinity on the surface of nanoparticles followed the following order: NiO > Co_3O_4 > Fe_2O_3. The catalytic steam gasification/cracking of asphaltenes in the presence of nanoparticles followed the same order as well. The calculated percent conversion at the onset temperature for NiO, CO3O4, and Fe_3O_4 nanoparticles was 37, 32, and 21%, respectively. A relationship between adsorption affinity and catalytic activity is also found to exist.