Abstract
Herein, we report a method of upgrading unconventional crude oils and extra heavy fractions using supercritical methanol (scMeOH) and compare it to supercritical water (scH2O)-based and pyrolytic upgrading. The yields and properties of upgraded oil are explored as functions of operating parameters (temperature, pressure, and concentration) and feedstocks for high-acid crude oils (Laguna and Bachaquero-13), a heavy crude oil (Rubiales), and a vacuum tower bottom (VTB). As a result, scMeOH upgrading of unconventional crude oils at 400 °C and 30 MPa effectively reduced their asphaltene content to ∼0 wt % and increased that of naphtha–diesel fractions to 30–40 wt %. Conversely, a considerable amount of asphaltenes (8.8–10.0 wt %) was present in oil upgraded using scH2O and pyrolysis. Additionally, scMeOH upgrading resulted in a more effective reduction of the total acid number (TAN) of high-acid crude oils (<0.5 mg of KOH/g of oil) compared to values achieved by scH2O and pyrolysis methods. Finally, scMeOH tr...
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