Heavy crude oil upgrading using homogenous nanocatalyst

Abstract

This research is related to the preparation of heavy crude oil upgrading homogenous nano catalyst. The present research is directed to reduce the operational temperature of catalytic hydrocracking of heavy crude oil and also to increase the yield of process by utilizing the lower concentration of the synthesized nano catalyst. Therefore, we have successfully prepared kerosene from heavy crude oil during a hydrocracking reaction in the presence of the as-prepared oil soluble homogenous nano catalyst. In this reaction, liquid product yield is more and the reaction temperature is less than the other previous similar researches. So, the novelty of this research is preparation of the exfoliated-MoS2 nanoparticles, utilization of this new homogenous nanocatalyst in the hydrocracking and upgrading of heavy crude oil and demonstration of its excellent properties in comparison with the similar catalysts that have been reported in the previous researches. This research was performed in four steps. Firstly, MoO3 nanoparticles with average particle size about 50 nm were prepared with spray pyrolysis method. Secondly, the as-prepared MoO3 nanoparticles were converted to the MoS2 nanoparticles with average particle size about 70 nm via gas-phase reaction in the presence of H2/N2 as reducing gas and H2S as sulfidizing gas at high temperature. In the third step, the exfoliated MoS2 nano catalyst was prepared by reaction of the MoS2 nanoparticles with n-buthyl Lithium/n-Hexane under N2-atmosphere and washing with water, 2-Propanol and Decaline, respectively. In the forth step, the hydrocracking reaction and upgrading of Soroush heavy crude oil was performed at different temperatures, H2 gas pressures and nano catalyst amounts and optimum amount for each parameter was obtained. Results indicated the superior activity of the as-prepared exfoliated MoS2 nanocatalyst than other similar oil-soluble catalysts for upgrading of heavy crude oil.