Reduction of naphthenic acids in high TAN crude oil using a fluid catalytic cracking catalyst

ABSTRACT

A commercial Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) catalyst is used to reduce naphthenic acids (NAs) in a high Total Acid Number (TAN) crude oil sample. The influence of temperature, oil/catalyst ratio is investigated using non-treated and thermally treated FCC catalyst. It is shown that the FCC catalyst is capable of reducing NAs with a reduction in TAN of 15.9% and 13.22% at an oil/catalyst ratio of 3:1 and 4:1 respectively. Thermal pre-treatment of the FCC catalyst, in combination with an increase in the temperature of the Crude Oil to 190°C, resulted in an overall TAN reduction of 22.34%.

KEYWORDS:

• fluid catalytic cracking catalyst
• high TAN crude
• naphthenic acids
• opportunity crudes
• upgrade