Study of an asphaltene electrodeposition strategy for Colombian extra-heavy crude oils boosted by the simultaneous effects of an external magnetic field and ferromagnetic composites

Abstract

Summary Asphaltenes removal from heavy and extra-heavy crudes is paramount within the oil industry. This work describes several electrodeposition studies by considering the simultaneous presence of external magnetic fields and ferromagnetic nanoparticles, i.e., composite carbon-nano magnetite nanoparticles (CMG). To do so, we used a Colombian extra-heavy crude oil. With the conventional electrodeposition technique, it is possible to separate up to 46% of the asphaltenes present in the original oil. In contrast, after the proposed electrodeposition process, results show asphaltene removals between 45% and 55%. The highest percentages relate to the process where an external with both, magnetic field and nanoparticles with magnetic properties. The asphaltene fractions were characterized by spectroscopic (FTIR) and thermogravimetric (TGA) techniques. We also carried out a compositional analysis. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder detraction (XRD) utilizing a Bruker D8 Advance equipment with DaVinci geometry. Its morphology was analyzed using the Quanta FEG 650 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), with a FEG electron source, and a scattered electron image detector type SSD, with an EDS detector type EDAX APOLLO X and a resolution of 126.1 eV. The percentages of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and hydrogen were also determined using the Vario CUBE equipment. The CMG thermal behavior was analyzed under the same operating conditions as the asphaltenes and utilizing the Netzsch 449 F1 equipment. Likewise, the electrode deposits were characterized physicochemically to corroborate that, in all cases, they corresponded to asphaltene fractions.