(28d) Understanding Asphaltenes Conversion in Fixed Bed Conditions

The nature of the catalyst carrier may affect residues hydrotreating performance. The association of an acid function with a strong hydrogenating phase can increase the hydrodeasphalting activity without substantial coking increment. Within this framework, catalysts doped with different acidity promoters at different levels were evaluated for a middle east residue hydrotreatment in a batch reactor. The catalysts carriers were carefully prepared in order to obtain the same porous distribution. Moreover, catalytic tests using model molecules were performed to screen catalysts hydrogenating and acid functions. For a better understanding of asphaltenes conversion, a strategy has been applied to reduce their polydispersity prior to characterization and catalytic tests. Therefore, a membrane separation process was used to obtain distinct asphaltene fractions with a narrow size polydispersity. This work presents the results of catalytic tests performed with reconstituted feeds made of narrow-sized asphaltenes fractions dispersed in the maltenes from initial residue.