Fractionation and Characterization of a Petroleum Residue by Molecular Distillation Process

Abstract

In this work, an atmospheric petroleum residue was fractionated using a falling film molecular distillation pilot plant with molecular distillation temperatures ranging from 190 to 320 °C. The process produced four distillate cuts and four residues that were characterized in order to evaluate the efficiency of the technique. The results showed a gain of 11.7% in distillate yield in the highest molecular distillation temperature studied. Physicochemical characterization of the fractions demonstrated that complex compounds were separated of the distillate cuts and were concentrated in the residues which have compounds with features of resins and asphaltenes. Furthermore, data from molecular distillation experiments were used to extend the true boiling point curve of the crude oil up to 662 °C with continuity and good agreement with the ASTM curves.