X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Analysis of Hydrotreated Athabasca Asphaltenes

C7 asphaltenes from Athabasca crude oil were hydrotreated using a commercial NiW/Al2O3 catalyst and analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results showed that the catalyst performed better in the removal of sulfur rather than nitrogen and that sulfur concentration is higher at the surface in comparison to the bulk structure. Moreover, the sample after reaction had a higher oxygen content in comparison to the untreated asphaltene; indicating poor hydrodeoxygenation performance of the catalyst in addition to a higher reactivity toward atmospheric oxygen at the surface of the asphaltene. The latter is proposed to arise once the layer of resin covering the asphaltene is partially converted during the hydrotreating process.