Petroleum Distillation Residue

Fig. 2-7 Pattern of Thermogram of a Petroleum Distillation Residue (Test in Protecting Gas). Weight of the Residue...

This test method describes a procedure for distillation of heavy hydrocarbon mixtures having initial boiling points greater than 150 C (300°F), such as heavy crude oils, petroleum distillates, residues, and synthetic mixtures. It employs a potstill with a low pressure drop entrainment separator operated under total takeoff conditions. Distillation conditions and equipment performance criteria are specified and typical apparatus is illustrated. 

The field of application for liquid chromatography in the petroleum world is vast separation of diesel fuel by chemical families, separation of distillation residues (see Tables 3.4 and 3.5), separation of polynuclear aromatics, and separation of certain basic nitrogen derivatives. Some examples are given later in this section. 

This procedure is then repeated again. Distillation of the combined residues using a nitrogen leak (Note 16) yields 54 g. of the product as a yellowoil, b.p. 66-68° (1.1 mm.) (Note 17). The distillation residue, when washed through a short acidic alumina column with light petroleum ether and the solvent evaporated, yields an additional 5 g. of product total yield 59-68 g., 67-78% (Notes 18, 19). 

Carbon black is produced by the partial combustion or the thermal decomposition of natural gas or petroleum distillates and residues. Petroleum products rich in aromatics such as tars produced from catalytic and thermal cracking units are more suitable feedstocks due to their high carbon/hydrogen ratios. These feeds produce blacks with a... 

The classic definition of asphaltenes is based on the solution properties of petroleum residua in various solvents. The word asphaltene was coined in France by J.B. Boussingault in 1837. Boussingault described the constituents of some bitumens (asphalts) found at that time in eastern France and in Peru. He named the alcohol insoluble, essence of turpentine soluble solid obtained from the distillation residue "asphaltene", since it resembled the original asphalt. 

Many types, such as pine tar, are distillates from pine tree farming in Scandinavia. Pine tar is a dark viscous liquid used at about 3-7 phr dosage level. It does not affect hardness levels to the same extent as the equal amount of petroleum oil. From the nature of its sources it can vary in acidity and thus has tended to be replaced by cheaper more predictable alternatives which are available from the residues of petroleum distillation. Tack improvement of rubber compounds is derived from the presence of colophony resin derivatives. 

OCET [Opti-Crude Enhancement Technology] A process for converting residual refinery oil into petroleum distillates and a coal substitute. A pulsed electric field is applied to the oil. Developed by SGI International in 1996 and expected to be commercialized by 1998. 

Visbreaking A thermal cracking process which reduces the viscosity of the residues from petroleum distillation, so that they may be handled at lower temperatures. It is essentially a high-temperature, noncatalytic pyrolytic process conducted in the presence of steam. See also HSC. 

Asphalt A sohd residue left after distillation has removed aU other compounds from petroleum. The residue is composed of asphaltenes. 

Coking—Distillation to dryness of a product containing complex hydrocarbons, which break down in structure during distillation, such as tar or crude petroleum. The residue is called coke. 

To continue such references is beyond the scope of this book, although they do give a flavor of the developing interest in petroleum as well as heavy oil, distillation residues (residua), and bitumen. However, it is sufficient to note that there are many other references to the occurrence and use of heavy oil and bitumen or petroleum derivatives up to the beginning of the modem petroleum industry (Cook and Despard, 1927 Mallowan and Rose, 1935 Nellensteyn and Brand, 1936 Mallowan, 1954 Marschner et al., 1978). 

Nonasphaltic road oil any of the nonhardening petroleum distillates or residual oils used as dust layers. They have sufficiently low viscosity to be applied without heating and, together with asphaltic road oils (q.v.), are sometimes referred to as dust palliatives. 

The shale oil residual had been hydrotreated to a substantial degree, providing it with a hydrogen content very similar to the No. 2 petroleum distillate fuel. The shale oil residual fuel had viscosity characteristics similar to a viscous No. 4 petroleum distillate fuel. The nitrogen content of the hydrotreated shale oil residual was 0.49 weight percent. 

Test Results with Shale Oil Residual Fuel. Tests were performed with a shale oil residual fuel which had the viscosity characteristics of a heavy No. 4 petroleum distillate fuel. The tests were performed after heating the fuel to 160°F to reduce its viscosity to 7 cs in an attempt to enhance the fuel atomization and vaporization process. Even with this degree of heating, this fuel has a viscosity twice the level of other fuels tested. 

Catalytic Cracker Bottoms (CCB) which is the heavy residue from the catalytic cracking of petroleum distillate is a common aromatic feedstock used for synthetic carbons and pitch production. CCB, like other heavy aromatic feedstock, is composed of alkyl-substituted polycondensed aromatics with a very wide molecular weight distribution. 

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