Effect of Operating Conditions and Additives on the Product Yield and Sulfur Content in Thermal Cracking of a Vacuum Residue from the Abadan Refinery

Abstract

Thermal cracking of a vacuum distillation residue of the Abadan refinery in Iran was performed under delayed coking conditions to investigate the effect of operating conditions on the yield and sulfur content of products. At reaction temperatures of 440–500 °C and pressures of 1, 3, and 5 bar, the products included gases, liquids, and coke. The yields of liquid products were higher at 1 bar compared to those for higher pressures. Increasing the reaction temperature at a given reaction pressure led to an increase in the yield of liquid products. Increasing the reaction pressure at a given reaction temperature led to higher yields of coke and gases as well as a decrease in the sulfur content of coke and liquid products. The effects of iron oxide and aluminum oxide nanoparticle additives on the product yields and sulfur content were also investigated. The results indicated that different concentrations of additives would increase the liquid yields and decrease the sulfur content of both coke and liquid produ...