Catalytic Upgrading of Orinoco Tar Vacuum Residue and Solvent Deasphaltened Bottoms of Kafji Vacuum Residue by the Aid of Hydrogen Donating Additive

Acid catalyzed upgrading of the heavily contaminated petroleum residues was studied around 250°C, using aluminum chloride as the catalyst. The process may produce the refined oil and pitch in combination with the solvent fractionations, eliminating and/or concentrating the contaminants of sulfur, nitrogen, and metals in the solvent-insoluble carbonaceous substance. The hydrogen additive was found to be very effective for enhancement of the elimination of the sulfur at the high yield of the soluble fraction. The sulfur content in the soluble fraction of the pitch can be less than 1 % at a yield of over 40% (starting residue base). The oil distilled during the upgrading was also clean and essentially paraffinic. Some carbonization properties of the pitch thus produced and the gasification properties of the insoluble fraction were also investigated.