Title : Implementation of spinels types of NiAl2O4, CoAl2O4 and Ni-Co2O4 as emerging nanoparticles catalysts for upgrading of extra heavy oil including hydrogen production under supercritical water conditions
Abstract:
Spinel types of catalysts were successfully synthesized, and employed in this work in order to consider theirs performance in upgrading process extra heavy oil from Taha oilfield (China) to produce light oil and mainly for gases production (methane and hydrogen). The results of XRD patterns and SEM of the synthesized catalysts showed that the following spinel types of CoAl2O4 (2); NiAl2O4(3); and Ni-Co2O4 (4) were obtained with an average particle size around 45.43 nm and 47.89 nm and 59.13 nm respectively. SEM reveals that total content of the Ni and Co in the each catalysts is 9.29%, 4.68% in the NiAl2O4(3) and CoAl2O4 (2); and of alloys Ni-Co (7.41 and 6.09%) respectively. The results of the products distribution of the upgraded oil in the supercritical water (SCW) as reactional medium shows a yield of 58.83 % of oil and with higher yield of coke of 33.64 %. However, using types of catalysts CoAl2O4 and NiAl2O4, the upgraded oil yields reach 63.34% and 61.07%, respectively.
Therefore, use of alloys of metals (Ni and Co) in form of spinel Ni-Co2O4, allowed obtain the higher yield of 67.26 % of upgraded oil with small yield of coke of 22%. The higher yields of gases of 13.00% are obtained in using catalyst of NiAl2O4. The viscosity of crude oil of 230000 Pa*s at 60 oC decreased to the lower value of 54.8 mPa*s at 25 oC using Ni-Co2O4 and the asphaltenes also decreased in this same sample from 39.04 % to 1.79%. Additionally, 8.07 mol.% of hydrogen and 43.61 mol.% of methane were obtained in the gaseous product, using alloys of Ni-Co2O4 catalyst. Therefore, the alloys of Ni-Co2O4 catalyst with high synergetic performances demonstrate its possible use in the hydrogen and methane production on the industrial scale.
