New trend for the pour point depression of a waxy petroleum fraction with in-situ desulphurization using (O2H & OH) radicals coupled with nanoparticles of titanium compounds

Abstract

The depression of pour point of a petroleum fraction with high wax content is commonly based on either the dispersion of the long chain paraffins using some dispersive materials or via the cracking of these paraffins into short chains. In line with this, the development of an energy-efficient desulphurization process requires radical approach, not limited to the conventional technologies. Several processes have been employed lately, including selective adsorption on suitable materials and catalytic oxidation. Herein, the current research study introduces new techniques for the cracking of the n-paraffin of a petroleum fraction with execution of an in-situ desulphurization. In particular, two different techniques were utilized during this work. The first is based on coupling nanoparticles with an oxidizing agent while the other provides a combination of the photo-catalysis route with oxidative radicals. In both techniques, the same nanoparticles of titanium compounds were used; however, different mechanisms had undertaken through the designed application, based on the dissimilar chemistries that were provided by the nanoparticles. Both techniques also provide new advances in the oxidation process via utilizing oxygen radicals, generated from hydrogen peroxide, instead of using air or oxygen gas. At the end of these techniques, promising results were obtained through the reduction of pour point, by minimizing the percentages of the long chain n-paraffin, as well as the removal of 80% of the sulphur compound content of the feedstock. The ultimate sulphur removal at the final product was attained via a subsequent solvent extraction process. The total removal of the sulphur content had reached 95.5% by using N-Methyl Pyrrolidone (NMP) at the room temperature, and was approximately 30°C.