Catalytic Low-Temperature Thermolysis of Heavy Oil in the Presence of Fullerene C60 Nanoparticles in Aquatic and N2 Medium

Article Engineering, Chemical

Experimental investigation of enhanced oil recovery and in-situ upgrading of heavy oil via CO2-and N2-assisted supercritical water flooding

Zujie Huang et al.

Summary: The proposed technology of CO2- and N2-assisted supercritical water injection can enhance heavy oil recovery and improve oil quality.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE (2023)

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Article Chemistry, Applied

Kinetic study of asphaltenes phase separation in supercritical water upgrading of heavy oil

Yu Dong et al.

Summary: Supercritical water is a promising method for upgrading heavy oil to produce light oil and gas. This study conducted experiments in a batch reactor to analyze the reaction pathways and the role of supercritical water in the upgrading process. The products were classified into gas, coke, and liquid products, which were further separated into saturates, aromatics, resins, and asphaltenes. A kinetic model was developed to explain the effects of supercritical water solubility on heavy oil upgrading, and it successfully fit the experimental data. The supercritical water upgrading process was divided into three stages: pre-induction primary cracking stage, post-induction primary cracking stage, and gas generation stage. This study provides a comprehensive understanding of the mechanism of heavy oil upgrading in supercritical water.

FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY (2023)

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Article Engineering, Environmental

Study on synergistic catalysis of ex-situ catalyst and in-situ clay in aquathermolysis of water-heavy oil-ethanol at low temperature

Liwa Ma et al.

Summary: This study focuses on the synergistic effect of external catalysts and in-situ inorganic minerals in aquathermolysis for enhancing heavy oil recovery. The results show that B@Cu(II)L is the most effective catalyst combination, reducing the viscosity of heavy oil at a lower temperature. Additionally, the reaction leads to the cracking of macromolecules in heavy oil into smaller molecules, decreasing the amounts of resin and asphaltene while increasing the saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons.

CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL (2023)

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Article Environmental Sciences

Demulsification of water-in-crude oil emulsion driven by a carbonaceous demulsifier from natural rice husks

Fan Ye et al.

Summary: The environmentally friendly and amphipathic rice husk carbon (RHC) demulsifier prepared in this study showed high efficiency in removing emulsified water from water-in-crude oil emulsion. With 600 mg/L of RHC at 70 degrees C, the dehydration efficiency reached as high as 96.99%, demonstrating its effectiveness under neutral conditions.

CHEMOSPHERE (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Applied

Viscosity reduction mechanism of functionalized silica nanoparticles in heavy oil-water system

Chenhui Wang et al.

Summary: This study investigated the mechanisms of viscosity reduction of functionalized SiO2 nanoparticles in heavy oil using molecular dynamics simulation. It was found that increasing surface lipophilicity or grafting density enhances adsorption of asphaltene and reduces interfacial tension, leading to viscosity reduction in heavy oil.

FUEL PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Viscosity Reduction and Mechanism of Aquathermolysis of Heavy Oil Co-Catalyzed by Bentonite and Transition Metal Complexes

Wangyuan Zhang et al.

Summary: The study investigates the effects of transition metal complexes and bentonite on aquathermolysis, finding that they exhibit good co-catalytic activity, reducing heavy oil viscosity and improving oil quality.

CATALYSTS (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Study on catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil by simple synthesis of highly dispersed nickel-loaded nitrogen-doped carbon catalysts

Pan Xiong et al.

Summary: The paper focuses on the preparation and characterization of highly dispersed Ni/N-C-6.0 catalyst for viscosity reduction and upgrading of heavy oil. Experimental results demonstrate the efficient catalytic performance of the catalyst in reducing the degree of asphaltenes branching and cracking the long chains of resin.

MOLECULAR CATALYSIS (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Development of New Amphiphilic Catalytic Steam Additives for Hydrothermal Enhanced Oil Recovery Techniques

Firdavs Aliev et al.

Summary: The study proposed the synthesis of green amphiphilic catalysts based on Ni and Al metals, characterized by FTIR analysis and tested for efficiency under simulated conditions. Results showed that Al ABSA contributed the most to viscosity reduction, and Al-based catalyst exhibited the best activity in hydrogenation and decarbonization.

CATALYSTS (2022)

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Article Engineering, Chemical

Methanol-Enhanced Fe(III) Oleate-Catalyzed Aquathermolysis of Heavy Oil

Rui Guo et al.

Summary: In this study, Fe(III) oleate was used as a catalyst and methanol was introduced as a hydrogen donor in aquathermolysis. The results showed that methanol can increase the viscosity reduction rate of aquathermolysis. The addition of methanol promoted the breakage of long-chain alkanes in heavy oil, decreased the content of asphaltene and resin, and improved the fluidity of oil samples.

PROCESSES (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Multidisciplinary

Insights into the Structure-Performance Relationship and Viscosity Reduction Performance of Recyclable Magnetic Fe/Zeolite for Crude Oil Aquathermolysis

Tongcheng Sun et al.

Summary: This study elucidates the structure-performance relationship of magnetic Fe-loaded zeolite catalysts for the catalytic aquathermolysis of crude oil. The results show that the ZSM-5 zeolite has a favorable pore structure and acidity, making it more suitable as a carrier for viscosity reduction. Loading Fe3O4 onto ZSM-5 improves the performance of the catalyst, with a 20.3% reduction in the viscosity of heavy oil. The Fe3O4/ZSM-5 catalyst can also be easily separated from crude oil due to its magnetism, allowing for potential recycling and reuse. The study systematically analyzes the structure-performance relationship using various analytical techniques.

ACS OMEGA (2022)

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Article Chemistry, Physical

Extra-Heavy Oil Aquathermolysis Using Nickel-Based Catalyst: Some Aspects of In-Situ Transformation of Catalyst Precursor

Alexey V. Vakhin et al.

Summary: The study investigated the catalytic performance of an oil-soluble nickel-based catalyst during aquathermolysis of oil-saturated crushed cores, revealing that the catalytic upgrading at 300 degrees C led to a decrease in resins and asphaltenes content, an increase in saturated hydrocarbon content, and a significant increase in low-molecular alkanes in the saturates fraction. The results suggest that nickel tallate is a promising catalyst for in-situ upgrading of extra-heavy oil during steam injection techniques.

CATALYSTS (2021)

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Review Engineering, Chemical

A Review on the Role of Amorphous Aluminum Compounds in Catalysis: Avenues of Investigation and Potential Application in Petrochemistry and Oil Refining

Aliya N. Mukhamed'yarova et al.

Summary: Amorphous aluminum compounds are widely used in petrochemistry and oil refining due to their various modifications. However, the study of these compounds is hindered by the ambiguity of terminology and the complexity of their synthesis. In petroleum refining, amorphous compounds without impurities show promising catalytic performance.

PROCESSES (2021)

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Article Energy & Fuels

Hydrothermal Impact on Hydrocarbon Generation from Low-Permeable Domanic Sedimentary Rocks with Different Lithofacies

Galina P. Kayukova et al.

Summary: The research reveals the varying impact of hydrothermal treatments on different types of rocks, leading to different hydrocarbon generating potential. Exposing rocks to high temperatures extracts hydrocarbons more comprehensively, while only a portion of organic matter in carbonate-siliceous rocks undergoes transformation.

ENERGY & FUELS (2021)

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Article Engineering, Chemical

Influence of Naphthenic Hydrocarbons and Polar Solvents on the Composition and Structure of Heavy-Oil Aquathermolysis Products

Irek I. Mukhamatdinov et al.

Summary: Research shows that naphthenic solvents significantly impact viscosity reduction through destructive hydrogenation of resins and asphaltenes. Among the solvents used, decalin notably increases the amount of evolved gases, particularly C-4-C-10 isomers and aromatics. The maximum evolved gases among all used solvents correspond to formic acid.

INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH (2021)

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Article Energy & Fuels