Influence of the Nature of Metals and Modifying Additives on Changes in the Structure of Heavy Oil in a Catalytic Aquathermolysis System

The direction of catalytic aquathermolysis processes involving high-molecular-weight components of heavy oil has been revealed in model experiments, depending on the metal nature and the conditions of the experiments carried out at 300°C in neutral and carbon dioxide media, using oil-soluble carboxylates of the transition metals nickel, iron, cobalt, and copper as a catalyst. The yield and quality of the products formed in the presence of individual metals and their compositions have been determined. Propanol and tetralin have been studied as modifying additives. The viscosity of heavy oil in a carbon dioxide medium has been significantly reduced by using an iron-, cobalt-, and copper-containing catalyst composition together with the propanol additive, as a result of an increase in the amount of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons and a decrease in the resin content in its composition. An increase in the value of the C13–C17/C18–C22 index can serve as a parameter for monitoring the progress of catalytic aquathermolysis processes.