Changes of Petroleum Acid Distribution Characterized by FT-ICR MS in Heavy Acidic Crude Oil after True Boiling Point Distillation

The molecular transformations of carboxylic acids in heavy acidic SL crude before and after true boiling point distillation were examined by ultra-high resolution negative-ion electrospray ionization(ESI) Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(FT-ICR MS). The acid class(heteroatom number), type(z numbers) and carbon number distributions were positively characterized. It was found out that the total acid number(TAN) of SL crude decreased after true boiling point distillation, and the abundance of O2 class in mass spectra was also found to be reduced from 67.6% to 34.5% in SL TBP mixed crude as measured by MS spectra, indicating to a potential carboxylic acid decomposition. However, it was interesting that the carboxylic acids type distribution in both oils was almost the same although their relative abundance in SL TBP mixed crude turned to be much lower, suggesting that various petroleum carboxylic acid types have the similar thermal decomposition reaction behavior. Furthermore, for each O2 type of acids in SL TBP mixed crude, the abundance of carboxylic acids with carbon number higher than 35 was reduced greatly, especially for those with carbon number higher than 60, the mass peaks of which were nearly totally removed, indicating that the large carboxylic acid molecules in heavy fractions decomposed more significantly because of longer heating time during the true boiling point distillation process. As a result, the reduction of TAN may be caused by the thermal decomposition of carboxylic acids especially those with high carbon number, suggesting that quick distillation or much lower pressure is required to avoid the thermal decomposition.

Study on Mechanism for Formation of Carbon Oxides During Catalytic Cracking of High Acidic Crude

Based on the basis of analysis and interpretation of the products distribution of catalytic cracking of high acidic crude, the mechanism for decarboxylation of petroleum acids during FCC process was discussed. The protons originated from the Bronsted acid sites can combine with oxygen of the carbonyl groups with more negative charges to form reaction intermediates that can be subjected to cleavage at the weak bonds, leading to breaking of carboxylic groups from the carboxylic acids followed by its decomposition to form alkyl three-coordinated carbenium ions, CO and H2O. The Lewis acid as an electrophilic reagent can abstract carboxylic groups from carboxylic acids to subsequently release CO2.

Thermal Treatment for Decreasing the Acidity of Crude Oil

Highly acidic crude oil is thermally soaked to investigate how the temperature and time involved affect the removal of organic acid in feedstock. Experimental results indicate that thermal treatment is an effective approach to decreasing acidity and the acid removal rate reaches 80%. Temperature is one of the main factors that determine the acid removal reaction. When the temperature ranges from 420oC to 440oC, the acid removal rate increases with the rise of the reaction temperature, but the increase slows down gradually. At the reaction temperature below 440oC, the long reaction time favors the acid removal. The cracking and polymerization of hydrocarbon molecules take place so that the properties of the crude oil change at the same time when the highly acidic crude is thermally treated.