Identification of petroleum acids in Liaohe super-heavy oil

In this study, petroleum acids were extracted from the super-heavy oil of Liaohe oilfield, North-east China, by using acetic acid, and their structural components and properties were investigated by using FT-IR and MS. Moreover, the trace metal contents in the super-heavy oil sample before and after acetic acid treatment were also measured in this work. The results showed that naphthenic acids were the main component of petroleum acids in Liaohe super-heavy oil, and the content of naphthenic acids with double rings was higher than that of other naphthenic acids. It can be concluded that petroleum acids in Liaohe super-heavy oil mainly consist of naphthenic acids, with a carbon number of around 11–69 and containing one to six naphthenic rings and/or one to two aromatic rings, and mainly exists in form of metal salts of petroleum acid. The molecular weight of petroleum acids is in the range of 190–1000.

ANALYSIS OF PETROLEUM ACIDS IN DUSHANZI DISTILLATE

A method which involves conversion of carboxylic acids to corresponding hydrocarbons and determination of high-resoiution mass spectrometry has been applied to the analysis of petroleum acids in Dushanzi distillate and resulted in compound class identification of petroleum acids which have not been reported previously in Xinjiang petroleum.

Process for Separation of Petroleum Acids from Crude Oil

A new technique for separation of petroleum acids from crude oil was proposed. The method relates to processes for treating acidic oils or fractions thereof to reduce or eliminate their acidity by addition of effective amounts of crosslinked polymeric amines such as polypropylene amine and anionic exchange resins having amino-groups. Petroleum acids contained in the mixture can be extracted by a complex solvent. The results indicate that more than 80 % of the petroleum acids are removed and the process does not cause environmental pollution because all the solvents are recovered and reused in the test.

Comparison of Carboxylic Acids in Some Crude Oils and Their Diesel Distillates and VGOs:Characterized by Negative-Ion Electrospray Ionization Fourier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry (Negative-Ion ESI FT-ICR MS)

Three high-acidity crudes, Dar, SZ36-1, and QHD326, were separated through distillation into several fractions, including diesel distillates, and VGOs. Samples were characterized by negative-ion ESI FT-ICR MS. The O2 class species （petroleum carboxylic acids）, which have a close relationship with corrosion of equipment caused by high-acidity crudes, were put in the focus of attention and were discussed in this paper. Monocyclic, bicyclic, and tricyclic naphthenic acids are the main types of petroleum carboxylic acids in naphthenic-base crudes （SZ36-1 and QHD326）. But the main types of petroleum carboxylic acids in paraffinic-base crude （Dar） are aliphatic acids and monocyclic naphthenic acids. The O2 class species in SZ36-1 and QHD326 are distributed in a wider range and have bigger DBE value （double-bond equivalence value） and carbon number than Dar. Bicyclic naphthenic acids have the highest proportion among petroleum carboxylie acids in diesel distillates, but monocyclic and tricyclic naphthenic acids also occupy a high proportion. Particularly, aliphatic acids in the diesel distillate of Dar still have high proportion among petroleum carboxylic acids. The distribution of petroleum carboxylic acids in VGO is basically identical. The bicyclic naphthenic acids assume the first place （about 25 m%）, while the monocyclic and tricyclic naphthenic acids take the next place. The comparison of petroleum carboxylic acids in diesel distillates and VGOs has revealed that the molecules of carboxylic acids in VGOs are not only bigger but also more complicated.

Distribution of Carboxylic Acids in Sudanese Dar Crude Oil: Characterized by Negative-Ion Electrospray Ionization Fou- rier Transform Ion Cyclotron Resonance Mass Spectrometry

The Dar crude oil produced in Sudan was distilled into several fractions. The heteroatom class species in crude and its fractions were characterized by the negative-ion ESI FT-ICR MS. The major emphasis was put upon the study on the O2 class species (petroleum carboxylic acids). The test results revealed that aliphatic acids and monocyclic naphthenic acids accounted for a large proportion in petroleum carboxylic acids of the Dar crude. The relative abundance of aliphatic acids and monocyclic naphthenic acids decreased with an increasing boiling point of fractions. Meanwhile, the relative abundance of bicyclic and tricyclic naphthenic acids increased at first and then decreased, whereas the relative abundance of petroleum carboxylic acids with higher double-bond equivalence (DBE) values increased. The high abundance of aliphatic acids in the Dar crude and its fractions covered the carbon numbers in a range of 16 to 18 which had important geochemical signifi- cance. The O2 class species were distributed in a broad range of DBE values and carbon numbers with increasing boiling points of fractions.

A New Method for Determination of Naphthenic Acids in Crude Oil

The petroleum acids in crude oil were separated by extraction with column chromatogram and anion exchange resin. The separation effect and the related composition and structure of petroleum acids were obtained by using IR (Infra-Red) spectra techniques. The separated petroleum acids can under special conditions react with methanol to form corresponding esters, which can be analyzed by CI (chemical ionization)-MS (mass spectrometry). The characteristic ion peaks m/z (M+15)+ of naphthenic acid esters combined with z-series formula CnH2n+zO2 of naphthenic acids can be used to classify naphthenic acids into fatty acids, mono-cyclic, bi-cyclic, tri-cyclic, and higher polycyclic acids. The analytical results can give the molecular weight and the carbon number distribution of petroleum acids contained in crude oil. The results of study indicate that this method is simple, rapid and easy in operation.

Study and Commercial Test on Technology for Deacidification of Distillate Oils

A new kind of solvent for deacidification of distillate oils was introduced in this paper. After successful laboratory study this technology had been applied in commercial scale successfully. Compared to traditional caustic wash of distillate oils, this technology has a lot of merits, such as the broad range of distillates to be processed, low caustic consumption, recycle of deacidifying agent, absence of waste caustic discharge, and low equipment revamp expenses, which can have promising perspectives for exploitation and application of this technology.

Molecular Simulation of Naphthenic Acid Removal on Acidic Catalyst II. Experimental results of catalytic decarboxylation over acidic catalysts

The energy barriers of thermal decarboxylation reactions of petroleum acids and catalytic decarboxylation reactions of Bronsted acid and Lewis acid were analyzed using molecular simulation technology. Compared with thermal decarboxylation reactions of petroleum acids, the decarboxylation reactions by acid catalysts were easier to occur. The decarboxylaton effect by Lewis acid was better than Bronsted acid. The mechanisms of catalytic decarboxylation over acid catalyst were also verified by experiments on a fixed bed and a fluidized bed, the experimental results showed that the rate of acid removal could reach up to 97% over the acidic catalyst at a temperature above 400℃.