A method for processing asphaltenes is disclosed. The method can include separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing composition and oxidizing the separated asphaltenes to form oxidation products. Alternatively, the method can include oxidizing asphaltenes within an asphaltene-containing co
A method for processing asphaltenes is disclosed. The method can include separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing composition and oxidizing the separated asphaltenes to form oxidation products. Alternatively, the method can include oxidizing asphaltenes within an asphaltene-containing composition without first separating the asphaltenes. Once formed, the oxidation products can be combined with other hydrocarbons. The amount of oxidation can be limited to an amount sufficient to produce a mixture suitable for the desired application. This method can be used to upgrade asphaltenes from a variety of sources, including oil sands. The oxidation step can be performed, for example, by introducing an oxidizing agent and, in some cases, a catalyst into the asphaltenes. A solvent or miscibility agent also can be introduced to improve mixing between the oxidizing agent and the asphaltenes.
대표청구항▼
We claim: 1. A method for processing asphaltenes, comprising: separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing composition, including forming a separated asphaltenes composition comprising at least 60 wt % asphaltene; and adding an oxidizing agent into the separated asphaltenes composition and
We claim: 1. A method for processing asphaltenes, comprising: separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing composition, including forming a separated asphaltenes composition comprising at least 60 wt % asphaltene; and adding an oxidizing agent into the separated asphaltenes composition and oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition, including forming predominantly oxidation products having an average molecular weight in the range of from about 5% to about 75% of the average molecular weight of the asphaltene in the separated asphaltenes composition; wherein at least one of the oxidation products acts as a solvent or miscibility agent for the separated asphaltenes composition and the oxidizing agent. 2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the asphaltene-containing composition is oil sand. 3. The method according to claim 1 performed substantially continuously. 4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising combining the oxidation products with other hydrocarbons. 5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the separated asphaltenes composition has a viscosity greater than a viscosity of the oxidation products. 6. The method according to claim 1 wherein oxidizing comprises breaking from about 2% to about 50% of the aromatic rings in the asphaltene of the separated asphaltenes composition. 7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the average molecular weight of the oxidation products is from about 10% to about 50% of the average molecular weight of the asphaltene in the separated asphaltenes composition. 8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent comprises a permanganate compound, a cerium compound, a chromate compound, a dichromate compound, a peroxide compound, ozone, a tetroxide compound, a nitrate compound, a nitrite compound, a persulfate compound, a peroxy acid, a halogen-containing compound or a derivative of combination thereof. 9. The method according to claim 1 wherein oxidizing further comprises introducing a catalyst into the separated asphaltenes composition, the catalyst comprising vanadium, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, ruthenium or a combination thereof. 10. The method according to claim 1 wherein oxidizing further comprises introducing Fenton's Reagent into the separated asphaltenes composition. 11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxidizing agent is introduced at a molar ratio between about 0.01 part oxidizing agent to 1 part asphaltenes and about 0.5 part oxidizing agent to 1 part asphaltenes. 12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises measuring the viscosity of the separated asphaltenes composition and determining a quantity of oxidizing agent to be added to the separated asphaltenes composition based on the viscosity measured in the measuring step. 13. The method according to claim 1 wherein the method further comprises measuring the viscosity of the separated asphaltenes composition while introducing the oxidizing agent into the separated asphaltenes composition or between the introduction of aliquots of the oxidizing agent into the separated asphaltenes composition. 14. The method according to claim 1 further comprising introducing a solvent or miscibility agent into the separated asphaltenes composition prior to or while oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition, the solvent or miscibility agent comprising citric acid, formic acid, an alkyl ester, a dialkyl ether, an alcohol or a derivative of combination thereof. 15. The method according to claim 1 further comprising introducing a solvent or miscibility agent into the separated asphaltenes composition prior to or while oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition, the solvent or miscibility agent being introduced at a molar ratio between about 0.02 part solvent or miscibility agent to 1 part asphaltenes and about 0.2 part solvent or miscibility agent to 1 part asphaltenes. 16. The method according to claim 1 wherein the oxidation products comprise one or more fatty acid, ester or ketone. 17. The method according to claim 1 wherein oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition comprises oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition at a temperature from about 25° C. to about 95° C. 18. The method according to claim 1 wherein oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition comprises oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition by a microbial oxidation process. 19. The method according to claim 1 wherein the separated asphaltenes composition comprises from about 0% to about 30% non-asphaltene hydrocarbons prior to being oxidized. 20. The method according to claim 1 wherein separating asphaltenes from an asphaltene-containing composition comprises froth flotation. 21. A method for processing oil sand, comprising: separating a mixture of hydrocarbons from oil sand; separating asphaltenes from other hydrocarbons in the mixture of hydrocarbons, including forming a separated asphaltenes composition comprising at least 60 wt % asphaltene; oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition, including forming predominantly oxidation products having an average molecular weight in the range of from about 5% to about 75% of the average molecular weight of the asphaltene in the separated asphaltenes composition; and combining the oxidation products with the other hydrocarbons; wherein the oxidation products act as a solvent reducing the viscosity of the other hydrocarbons. 22. The method according to claim 21 performed substantially continuously. 23. The method according to claim 21 wherein oxidizing comprises breaking from about 2% to about 50% of the aromatic rings in the asphaltene of the separated asphaltenes composition. 24. The method according to claim 21 wherein the average molecular weight of the oxidation products is from about 10% to about 50% of the average molecular weight of the asphaltene in the separated asphaltenes composition. 25. The method according to claim 21 wherein oxidizing comprises introducing an oxidizing agent into the separated asphaltenes composition, the oxidizing agent comprising a permanganate compound, a cerium compound, a chromate compound, a dichromate compound, a peroxide compound, ozone, a tetroxide compound, a nitrate compound, a nitrite compound, a persulfate compound, a peroxy acid, a halogen-containing compound or a derivative of combination thereof. 26. The method according to claim 21 wherein oxidizing comprises introducing a catalyst into the separated asphaltene composition, the catalyst comprising vanadium, titanium, tungsten, molybdenum, ruthenium or a combination thereof. 27. The method according to claim 21 wherein oxidizing comprises introducing Fenton's Reagent into the separated asphaltenes composition. 28. The method according to claim 21 further comprising introducing a solvent or miscibility agent into the separated asphaltenes composition prior to or while oxidizing the separated asphaltenes composition, the solvent or miscibility agent comprising citric acid, formic acid, an alkyl ester, a dialkyl ether, an alcohol or a derivative of combination thereof. 29. The method according to claim 21, wherein combining the oxidation products with the other hydrocarbons forms a mixture and the method further comprises transporting the mixture through a pipeline. 30. The method according to claim 21 wherein separating a mixture of hydrocarbons from oil sand comprises froth flotation.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (83)
Fernandez Hector C. (Santiago CLX), Activator-frother composition.
Wallace, Paul S.; Johnson, Kay A.; Penrose, Clint F.; Niccum, Jacqueline G., Asphalt and resin production to integration of solvent deasphalting and gasification.
Angevine Philip J. (Woodbury NJ) Bundens Robert G. (Mullica Hill NJ) Herbst Joseph A. (Turnersville NJ) Huss ; Jr. Albin (Chadds Ford PA) Mizrahi Sadi (Cherry Hill NJ), Catalytic cracking.
Subramaniam, Bala; Busch, Daryle H.; Musie, Ghezai T.; Wei, Ming, Catalytic oxidation of organic substrates by transition metal complexes in organic solvent media expanded by supercritical or subcritical carbon dioxide.
Duyvesteyn Willem P. C. ; Budden Julia Rose ; Picavet Merijn Amilcare,NLX, Extraction of bitumen from bitumen froth and biotreatment of bitumen froth tailings generated from tar sands.
Piskorz Jan (Waterloo CAX) Radlein Desmond St. A. G. (Waterloo CAX) Majerski Piotr (Waterloo CAX) Scott Donald S. (Waterloo CAX), Hydrotreating of heavy hydrocarbon oils in supercritical fluids.
Roald N. Leif ; Kevin G. Knauss ; Robin L. Newmark ; Roger D. Aines ; Craig Eaker, Increasing subterranean mobilization of organic contaminants and petroleum by aqueous thermal oxidation.
Wallace Paul S. ; Johnson Kay A. ; Thacker Pradeep S. ; Kasbaum Janice L. ; Barkley R. Walter ; Niccum Jacquelyn Gayle, Integration of solvent deasphalting and gasification.
Kamel Nabil I. (Mississauga CAX) Miller Laverne J. (Georgetown CAX), Method for producing superior quality paving asphalt and product prepared therefrom.
Graham Robert J. (Naperville IL) Helstrom John J. (Naperville IL) Peck Lawrence B. (Houston TX) Stone Richard A. (Yorkville IL) Bernier ; Jr. Edward J. (Naperville IL), Methods of tar sand bitumen recovery.
Angevine Philip J. (West Deptford NJ) Carroll Michael B. (Mantua NJ) Shih Stuart S. (Cherry Hill NJ) Tabak Samuel A. (Wenonah NJ), Polarity gradient extraction method.
Kelebek Sadan,CAX ; Wells Peter F.,CAX ; Fekete Simon O.,CAX ; Burrows Michael J.,CAX ; Suarez Daniel F.,DOX, Process for improved separation of sulphide minerals or middlings associated with pyrrhotite.
Tipman Robert N. (Sherwood Park CAX) Rajan Varagur S. V. (Sherwood Park CAX) Wallace Dean (Beaumont CAX), Process for increasing the bitumen content of oil sands froth.
Dinh Chan T. (Le Vesinet FRX) Desvard Alain (La Celle Saint Cloud FRX) Jacquin Yves (Sevres FRX) Martino Germain (Poissy FRX), Process for the hydrotreatment of heavy hydrocarbons in the presence of reduced metals.
Swallow Kathleen C. (West Newbury MA) Killilea William R. (West Chelmsford MA) Hong Glenn T. (Tewksbury MA) Bourhis Alain L. (Framingham MA), Process for the oxidation of materials in water at supercritical temperatures utilizing reaction rate enhancers.
Carlos Donald D. (Louisville KY) Gannon Charles R. (Ashland KY) Wombles Robert H. (Worthington KY), Processes for producing high grade asphaltic materials from low grade bituminous materials and products resulting theref.
Derbyshire Francis J. (Ewing NJ) Whitehurst Darrell D. (Titusville NJ), Production of distillates by the integration of supercritical extraction and gasification through methanol to gasoline.
Shelfantook William E. (#1 ; 11115-27 Avenue Edmonton ; Alberta ; T6J 5H3 CAX) Hyndman Alexander W. (168 Brosseau Crescent Fort McMurray ; Alberta ; T9K 1T2 CAX) Hackman Larry P. (16 ; Flint Crescent, Purification process for bitumen froth.
Wellington, Scott Lee; Vinegar, Harold J.; de Rouffignac, Eric Pierre; Berchenko, Ilya Emil; Stegemeier, George Leo; Zhang, Etuan; Shahin, Jr., Gordon Thomas; Fowler, Thomas David; Ryan, Robert Charl, Situ thermal processing of a hydrocarbon containing formation to control product composition.
Brons Glen B. (Phillipsburg NJ) Siskin Michael (Morristown NJ) Wrzeszczynski Kazimierz O. (Media PA), Upgrading of bitumen asphaltenes by hot water treatment containing carbonate (C-2726).
Duyvesteyn, Willem P. C.; Joshi, Mahendra; Kift, Julian; Zelnik, Dominic J.; Thompson, Whip C.; Hoffman, Cherish M., Methods for extracting bitumen from bituminous material.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.