Abstract
Viscosity and sulphur content are two important properties of heavy hydrocarbons for downstream processing. Both properties can be significantly reduced in value by processing in subcritical water. Subcritical water has advantages over steam recovery methods in terms of viscosity and sulphur reduction as well as energy consumption. In order to understand the mechanism of subcritical water treatment, the chemical structure of pre- and post-processed heavy hydrocarbons are compared to each other. For subcritical water processing, viscosity reduction coincides with a reduction in average molecular weight, average carbon chain length between branching points, and sulphur content, along with an increase in volatility and H2S production. This suggests that not only are C–C bonds cracked, but also C–S-(C) bonds. Subsequent comparison of subcritical water results with those obtained for pyrolysis treatment shows that the former is faster and more effective.
| Language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages | 1069-1076 |
| Journal | Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering |
| Volume | 172 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 2019 |
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Keywords
- Enhanced cracking
- Subcritical water
- Sulphur
- Viscosity
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Sulphur and viscosity reductions in heavy hydrocarbons by subcritical water processing. / Cuijpers, M.C.M.; Boot, M.D.; Deen, N.G.; Golombok, M. (Corresponding author).
In: Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering, Vol. 172, 2019, p. 1069-1076.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
TY - JOUR
T1 - Sulphur and viscosity reductions in heavy hydrocarbons by subcritical water processing
AU - Cuijpers,M.C.M.
AU - Boot,M.D.
AU - Deen,N.G.
AU - Golombok,M.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Viscosity and sulphur content are two important properties of heavy hydrocarbons for downstream processing. Both properties can be significantly reduced in value by processing in subcritical water. Subcritical water has advantages over steam recovery methods in terms of viscosity and sulphur reduction as well as energy consumption. In order to understand the mechanism of subcritical water treatment, the chemical structure of pre- and post-processed heavy hydrocarbons are compared to each other. For subcritical water processing, viscosity reduction coincides with a reduction in average molecular weight, average carbon chain length between branching points, and sulphur content, along with an increase in volatility and H2S production. This suggests that not only are C–C bonds cracked, but also C–S-(C) bonds. Subsequent comparison of subcritical water results with those obtained for pyrolysis treatment shows that the former is faster and more effective.
AB - Viscosity and sulphur content are two important properties of heavy hydrocarbons for downstream processing. Both properties can be significantly reduced in value by processing in subcritical water. Subcritical water has advantages over steam recovery methods in terms of viscosity and sulphur reduction as well as energy consumption. In order to understand the mechanism of subcritical water treatment, the chemical structure of pre- and post-processed heavy hydrocarbons are compared to each other. For subcritical water processing, viscosity reduction coincides with a reduction in average molecular weight, average carbon chain length between branching points, and sulphur content, along with an increase in volatility and H2S production. This suggests that not only are C–C bonds cracked, but also C–S-(C) bonds. Subsequent comparison of subcritical water results with those obtained for pyrolysis treatment shows that the former is faster and more effective.
KW - Enhanced cracking
KW - Subcritical water
KW - Sulphur
KW - Viscosity
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85053036444&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.09.015
DO - 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.09.015
M3 - Article
VL - 172
SP - 1069
EP - 1076
JO - Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
T2 - Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
JF - Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering
SN - 0920-4105
ER -