Evaluation of feedstocks for development of hydrocracking catalysts for heavy oil
By:Ali, MA (Ali, MA)
PETROLEUM SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Volume: 19
Issue: 9-10
Pages: 1063-1074
DOI: 10.1081/LFT-100108294
Published: 2001
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Abstract
A number of feedstocks namely Arab Light atmospheric residue (ALAR), Arab Heavy
atmospheric residue (AHAR), vacuum gas oil (VGO) and hydrotreated vacuum gas oil (HTVGO), were evaluated for their physical and chemical characteristics. The characterization
results of the feedstocks show the complex nature and composition of both residues and
gas oils. The distillation results showed that about 50 weight percent of Arab Light crude
consists of atmospheric residue. The elemental analysis of the ALAR showed that high
amount of carbon, sulfur and nitrogen is present along with heavy metals such as nickel
and vanadium. In case of Arab Heavy crude oil, the atmospheric residue is even higher, that
is 57 percent and contains higher amount of metals along with more carbon, sulfur and
nitrogen contents. The determination of hydrocarbon types by HPLC exhibited that ALAR
contains higher amount of saturates compared to AHAR but less amount of aromatics,
polars and asphaltenes. ALAR was found to have 55% saturates, 27% aromatics, 12%
polars and 6% asphaltenes while AHAR has 30% saturates, 42% aromatics, 18% polars and
10% asphaltenes. Molecular weight determination indicated that the molecular weight of
ALAR was determined to be 511 compared to 595 for AHAR. ALAR being lighter, showed
54% distillation at 547 degreesC while AHAR exhibited 45% distillation at 543 degreesC.
VGO was found to have 13% saturates, 68% aromatics and 19% polars while HT-VGO had
29% saturates, 63% aromatics and 8% polars. VGO was found to have high TBP and FBP
compared to HT-VGO. On the basis of the characterization data, VGO was selected to be use
with catalysts containing high pore size supports such as alumina, silica alumina and clay
while HT-VGO was selected as feedstock for performance evaluation of zeolite based
catalysts. ALAR and AHAR will be utilized in the later stages of the catalysts development
work.
Keywords
Author Information
Reprint Address: Ali, MA (reprint author)
King Fahd Univ Petr & Minerals, Res Inst, Ctr Refining & Petrochem, Dhahran 31261,
Saudi Arabia.
Organization-Enhanced Name(s)
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Addresses:
[ 1 ] King Fahd Univ Petr & Minerals, Res Inst, Ctr Refining & Petrochem, Dhahran 31261,
Saudi Arabia
Organization-Enhanced Name(s)
King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals
Author Identifiers:Author Identifiers:
Author
ResearcherID
ORCID Number
Ali, Mohammad
B-5355-2008
View profile at ResearcherID.com
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0176-9156
Document Information
Document Type:Article
Language:English
Accession Number: WOS:000172825800003
ISSN: 1091-6466