Thermocatalytic treatment of petroleum residues in the presence of zeolites and oil shale

Abstract

Thermolysis of atmospheric and vacuum residua in the presence of both organomineral activators and zeolites, solid Bronsted acids, was studied. It was shown that the thermolysis of heavy petroleum residues is a thermocatalytic process that occurs under relatively mild conditions (415–425°C). Oil shale and/or zeolite admixtures act as both a catalyst for the process and a coke adsorbent. Under optimal conditions (415–425°C, 50 min, 10–12% shale), light petroleum fractions boiling in the motor-gasoline and diesel ranges can be obtained from atmospheric and vacuum residua with a yield up to 60 wt %.