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Nickel Decorated Carbon Nanocomposites as Catalysts for the Upgrading of Heavy Crude Oil
- Publisher: European Association of Geoscientists & Engineers
- Source: Conference Proceedings, IOR 2017 - 19th European Symposium on Improved Oil Recovery, Apr 2017, Volume 2017, p.1 - 10
Abstract
Nickel (Ni) nanoparticles (NPs) supported onto different carbon nanomaterials, including ketjenblack carbon, carbon nanotubes and graphene nanoplatelets, and zeolite are prepared via the wet chemical method and employed as catalysts for the viscosity reduction of heavy crude oil. X-ray powder diffraction and transmission electron microscopy confirm the formation and uniform dispersion of Ni NPs with an average particle size of ca. 9 nm on the surface of supports. Thermogravimetric analysis is used to determine the content of Ni NPs in the nanocomposites. The specific surface area and pore volume are studied by the N2 adsorption–desorption surface area analyzer. Furthermore, catalytic aquathermolysis is conducted in a batch reactor containing HCO, hydrogen donor and the as-prepared nanocomposites under conditions of temperatures of 200–300 °C and pressures of 2–5 MPa. Parameters, such as temperature, hydrogen donor, catalyst dosage and reaction time, are further investigated to improve the catalytic activity. It is discovered that with the nanocomposite catalysts, high viscosity reduction ratio of 97% is achieved and undesirable viscosity regression is not observed. These results suggest that carbon supported Ni nanocomposites can serve as a promising candidate catalyst for the future implementation in the in-situ upgrading and recovery of HCO.