Abstract
The physico-chemical properties and structural parameters of asphaltenes separated from feed (short residue) and visbroken products (+ 500 °C) were estimated using various instrumental analytical techniques. Analysis of the variation of these properties and parameters with varying severity of operation (temperature and residence time in soaker visbreaking), provided information regarding the chemistry of visbreaking, and in particular the structural changes with respect to asphaltenes. The major reactions are dealkylation of aromatic clusters, and, at high severity, dehydrogenation and/or ring opening of naphthenic rings condensed with aromatic clusters. These reactions promote the condensation of aromatic clusters to yield more asphaltenes and coke.
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