Sulfated zirconium oxide-decorated magnetite KCC-1 as a durable and recyclable adsorbent for the efficient removal of asphaltene from crude oil.

Farhad Bohlooli Shaafi,Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Nouri,Malihesadat Hosseiny,Alireza Motavalizadehkakhky,Rahele Zhiani

doi:10.1039/d1ra04560a

Farhad Bohlooli Shaafi, Seyed Mohammad Mahdi Nouri + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.1039/d1ra04560a

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Abstract

Sulfated zirconium oxide (ZrO2/SO42−) as a highly durable acidic reagent was immobilized on magnetite KCC-1 nanoparticles (Fe3O4@SiO2/KCC-1@ZrO2/SO42− NPs), and the resulting hybrid was used as a highly efficient recyclable adsorbent for the adsorption and removal of asphaltene from crude oil. The presence of ZrO2/SO42− groups not only promotes the adsorption capacity, but also helps recycle the adsorbents without any significant efficiency loss arising from its high chemical resistance. The results showed an obvious synergistic effect between the magnetic core (Fe3O4 NPs), fibrous silica (KCC-1) and the sulfated zirconium oxide groups with high correlation for asphaltene adsorption. The effective parameters in asphaltene adsorption, including initial asphaltene concentration, catalyst concentration and temperature, were investigated. Maximum adsorption occurred in the presence of 0.7 g L−1 of the adsorbent, at a concentration of 2000 mg L−1 of asphaltene. The asphaltene adsorption by NPs follows a quasi-second order adsorption kinetics. Asphaltene adsorption kinetics were studied by Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms. The prominent advantage of the adsorbent is its ability to be recovered after each adsorption by acid treatment, so that no significant reduction in adsorbent adsorption activity was observed, which can be directly attributed to the presence of ZrO2/SO42− groups in the hybrid.

Highlights

Sedimentation of heavy hydrocarbon materials includes two groups of asphaltene and wax
Fe3O4@KCC-1 and Fe3O4@SiO2/KCC-1@ZrO2/SO42À NPs were studied by different characterization methods
A highly efficient, highly durable, and recyclable adsorbent has been developed for the efficient adsorption/ removal of asphaltene from crude oil by immobilization of sulfated zirconium oxide (ZrO2/SO42À) on Fe3O4@SiO2/KCC-1 NPs (Fe3O4@SiO2/KCC-1@ZrO2/SO42À NPs)

Summary

Introduction

Sedimentation of heavy hydrocarbon materials includes two groups of asphaltene and wax. The closure of wells and process transmission lines, the failure of process equipment for operation, as well as a severe decline in catalyst efficiency are among the problems of sediment formation. In the face of the problem of asphaltene deposition in upstream industries, two strategies have been considered to prevent sediment formation and descaling treatment.[1,2] In the process modi cation method, in addition to thermodynamic equilibrium conditions, uid retention time is one of the effective factors in creating sediment. External force application, mechanical treatment, heat treatment and biotechnology method are among the methods of asphaltene removal in the production and operation processes. There are four methods to remove asphaltene from the bottom products of the vacuum distillation tower, which are solvent asphalting, asphalt oxidation, supercritical extraction and asphalt emulsion.[3]

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