(617cd) Understanding of Reactivity of Asphaltene in H-Donor Solvents

Asphaltene is a representative refractory compound in heavy oils, adopting poly-aromatic hydrocarbon cores connected with many alkyl chains and heteroatoms and metals, which often causes coke formation and precipitation upon the reaction severity. Considering the heavy oil trend in refinery feedstock, understanding of reactivity of asphaltene in the course of various hydrocracking condition is of great importance in achieving effective conversion into lighter fraction. In this work, the hydro-conversion of asphaltene at different reaction severity of temperature and pressure was investigated. The reaction progress of asphaltene was measured by carbon-NMR and C-7 solvent extraction method. In particular, the reactivity of asphaltene was controlled in the presence of H-donor solvents. It was demonstrated that the asphaltene was converted by 85% into lighter fractions like middle distillates and gas oils without coke formation upon the hydrocracking at 370^oC and 100 bar with dispersed catalyst of MoS₂. Further improvement in hydroconversion of asphaltene was achieved in the presence of H-donor solvent.