SARA fractions evaluation during microwave-assisted upgrading of an oil refinery vacuum residue: effects of operational conditions

Abstract

The operational conditions effects on SARA fractions during upgrading of vacuum residue using microwave irradiation were investigated. The residue was from Tehran oil refinery, Iran. The vacuum residue specifications contained API gravity: 8.79, viscosity (at 60 °C): 16391 cSt, viscosity (at 80 °C): 1910 cSt, saturates and aromatics: 52.09 wt%, resins: 34.61 wt%, and asphaltenes: 13.3 wt%. The parameters included catalysts type (Fe, MoS₂, Cu, Fe₂O₃, and Ni), processing time, active carbon as a sensitizer, power level, catalyst, NaBH₄. The best conditions of the process included time: 60 min, carbon: 20 wt%, power level: 100%, catalyst: 20 wt%, NaBH₄: 3 wt%, resulted that saturates and aromatics increased from 52.09 wt% to 77.64 wt%, resins decreased from 34.61 wt% to 21.59 wt%, asphaltenes decreased from 13.3 wt% to 0.77 wt%. In the best conditions, the product was similar to a crude oil entering an oil refinery.

Highlights

• SARA fractions during upgrading vacuum residue using microwaves are investigated.

• The parameters include catalysts, power level, sensitizer, NaBH₄, process time.

• The studied catalysts are iron, nickel, copper, MoS₂, iron oxide.

• In optimal conditions, product was similar to a crude oil entering an oil refinery.

Keywords:

• SARA analysis
• vacuum residue
• upgrading
• microwaves
• heavy oil

Acknowledgments

The Tehran oil refinery is gratefully acknowledged for supplying VR.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Iran National Science Foundation (INSF) under Grant Number: 94013912.