Kinetic study of extra heavy oil upgrading in supercritical methanol with and without zinc nitrate

Kinetics of extra heavy oil upgrading in supercritical methanol with and without zinc nitrate hexahydrate as a precursor of a catalyst was studied. The reactions were carried out at 633 K, 653 K, 673 K and 693 K in a batch reactor. Reaction rate constants were calculated based on a four-lumped kinetic model, and activation energy and pre-exponential factor were obtained by using Arrhenius equation with the reaction rate constants. Activation energy of the reaction pathway from asphaltene to gas was found to be significantly reduced with the precursor present. Reaction times and the contents of lumps, such as maltene, asphaltene, coke, and gas, were calculated from the reaction rate constants when asphaltene content reached 1.00%, and it is found that gas content was greater at lower temperature with the precursor. Zinc oxide particles synthesized simultaneously in the reaction were analyzed by using FESEM, XRD and laser particle sizer.