Application of Nanotechnology For Heavy Oil Upgrading: Catalytic Steam Gasification/Cracking of Asphaltenes

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Journal Title, Volume, Page: 
Energy Fuels, 2011, 25 (4), 1566–1570
Year of Publication: 
2011
Authors: 
Nashaat N. Nassar
Alberta Ingenuity Centre for In-Situ Energy
Current Affiliation: 
Department of Chemical Engineering, An-Najah National University, P.O. Box 7, Nablus, Palestine
Azfar Hassan
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
Pedro Pereira-Almao
Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada
Preferred Abstract (Original): 
Nanotechnology is a rapidly growing technology with considerable potential applications and benefits. Among the numerous applications of nanotechnology for energy and the environment, adsorption, oxidation, and gasification/cracking of asphaltenes, a problematic constituent present in heavy oil, on nanoparticle surfaces are one of the most recent examples. In this work, three different types of metal oxide nanoparticles, namely, Fe2O3, Co3O4, and NiO, were selected for asphaltene adsorption and catalytic steam gasification/cracking. Adsorption and gasification of asphaltenes were studied using thermogravimetric analysis. The nanoparticles were found to be very efficient for asphaltene adsorption and catalytic steam gasification/cracking. Asphaltene adsorption affinity on the surface of nanoparticles followed the following order: NiO > Co3O4 > Fe2O3. The catalytic steam gasification/cracking of asphaltenes in the presence of nanoparticles followed the same order as well. The calculated percent conversion at the onset temperature for NiO, Co3O4, and Fe3O4 nanoparticles was 37, 32, and 21%, respectively. A relationship between adsorption affinity and catalytic activity is also found to exist.