Asphaltene and resid pyrolysis

Asphaltene and resid pyrolysis provide two relevant examples of global pyrolysis models. The pyrolysis of an isolated asphaltene feedstock typically yields the type of data summarized in Figure 2, a plot of the temporal variation of weight based product fractions as a function of time (7). This figure illustrates the exponential disappearance of asphaltene accompanied by the formation of coke, maltene and gas product fractions. Consideration of the initial slopes for the formation of coke, maltene and gas fractions led to the type of reaction network shown in Figure 3. Since resid and its reaction products can likewise be defined in terms of the solubility and volatility-based product groups asphaltene,... 

Figure 3. Global reaction network for asphaltene and resid pyrolysis systems [7].

Trauth, D.T., M. Yasar, M. Neurock, A. Nigam, and M.T. Klein, Asphaltene and Resid Pyrolysis Effect of Asphaltene Environment., Energy and Fuels, (accepted), 1992. 

Yasar, M. Trauth, D.M. Klein, M.T. Asphaltene and resid pyrolysis 2 The effect of reaction enviromnent on pathways and selectivities. Prep. Div. Fuel Chem., American Chemical Society, National Meeting, Washington, D.C., August 23-28,1992 1878-1885. 

Klein et al. " investigated the pyrolysis kinetics of resids, isolated asphaltenes and maltenes from Hondo, Arabian heavy, Arabian light, and Maya oils. At 400°C and 425°C, isolated asphaltenes reacted selectively to form maltenes. At higher temperatures (450°C), asphaltenes reacted... 

Table I summarizes relevant data for the pyrolysis of a series of isolated asphaltene feedstocks. This table highlights the dependence of reaction product yields and selectivi-ties on the resid origin. Clearly the reactivity of each feed depends upon its source (7).

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