A molecular insight into coke formation process of vacuum residue in thermal cracking reaction

Understanding the coking behaviors has been considered to be really essential for developing better vacuum residue processing technologies.A battery of thermal cracking tests of typical vacuum residue at 410℃ with various reaction time were performed to evaluate the coke formation process.The total yields of ideal components including naphtha,atmospheric gas oil(AGO)and vacuum gas oil(VGO)of thermal cracking reactions increased from 10.89%to 40.81%,and the conversion ratios increased from8.05%to 43.33%with increasing the reaction time from 10 to 70 min.The asphaltene content increased from 12.14%to a maximum of 22.39%and then decreased,and this maximum of asphaltene content occurred at the end of the coking induction period.The asphaltenes during the coking induction period,at the end and after coking induction period of those tested thermal cracking reactions were characterized to disclose the structure changing rules for coke formation process,and the coke formation pathways were discussed to reveal the coke formation process at molecular level.

Optimization of Hydrocracking Process for Enhanced BTX Production from Coal Tar-Derived Hydrorefined Products

Hydroconversion of coal tar to produce aromatic hydrocarbons(BTX)represents a crucial strategy for the highvalue hierarchical utilization of coal.This study focused on the hydrocracking of hydrorefined products derived from coal tar to enhance the production of benzene,toluene,and xylene(BTX).Various reaction conditions,including reaction temperature,hydrogen pressure,space velocity,and hydrogen-to-oil volume ratio,were systematically explored to optimize BTX yields while also considering the process’s economic feasibility.The results indicate that increasing the reaction temperature from 360℃ to 390℃ significantly favors the production of BTX,with yields increasing from 21.42%to 41.14%.Similarly,an increase in hydrogen pressure from 4 MPa to 6 MPa boosts BTX production,with yields rising from 36.31%to 41.14%.Reducing the space velocity from 2 h^(-1) to 0.5 h^(-1) also favors the BTX production process,with yields increasing from 37.96%to 45.13%.Furthermore,raising the hydrogen-to-oil volume ratio from 750 to 1500 improves BTX yields from 41.61%to 45.44%.Through economic analysis,the optimal conditions for BTX production were identified as a reaction temperature of 390℃,hydrogen pressure of 5-6 MPa,space velocity of 1 h^(-1),and hydrogen-to-oil volume ratio of 1000,achieving a BTX yield of 43.73%.This investigation highlights the importance of a holistic evaluation of hydrocracking conditions to optimize BTX production.Furthermore,the findings offer valuable insights for the design and operation of industrial hydrocracking processes aimed at efficiently converting coal tar-derived hydrorefined feedstock into BTX.

Molecular Mechanism and Molecular Design of Lubricating Oil Antioxidants

To overcome the limitations of traditional experimental“trial and error”methods in lubricant additive design,a new molecular design method based on molecular structure parameters is established here.The molecular mechanism of the antioxidant reaction of hindered phenol,diphenylamine,and alkyl sulfide are studied via molecular simulations.Calculation results show that the strong electron-donating ability and high hydrogen-donating activity of the antioxidant molecule and the low hydrogen-abstracting activity of free radicals formed after dehydrogenation are the internal molecular causes of the shielding of phenol and diphenylamine from scavenging peroxy free radicals,and the strong electron-donating ability is the internal molecular cause of the high activity of thioether in decomposing alkyl hydrogen peroxide.Based on this antioxidant molecular mechanism,a molecular design rule of antioxidant is proposed,namely“high EHOMO,large Q(S),low bond dissociation energy BDE(O—H)and BDE(N—H)”.Two new antioxidants,PAS-I and PAS-II,are designed and prepared by chemical bonding of hindered phenol,diphenylamine,and sulfur atoms.Experimental results show that these antioxidants both have excellent antioxidant effects in lubricating oil,and that PAS-II is the superior antioxidant,consistent with theoretical predictions.

Combined Promoting Effects of Specific Organic Functional Groups and Alumina Surface Characteristics for the Design of a Highly Efficient NiMo/Al_(2)O_(3) Hydrodesulfurization Catalyst

To prepare a highly efficient NiMo/Al_(2)O_(3) hydrodesulfurization catalyst,the combined effects of specific organic functional groups and alumina surface characteristics were investigated.First,the correlation between the surface characteristics of four different alumina and the existing Mo species states was established.It was found that the Mo equilibrium adsorption capacity can be used as a specific descriptor to quantitatively evaluate the changes in surface characteristics of different alumina.A lower Mo equilibrium adsorption capacity for alumina means weaker metal-support interaction and the loaded Mo species are easier to transform into MoS2.However,the Mo-O-Al bonds still exist at the metal-support interface.The introduction of cationic surfactant hecadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB)can further improve Mo species dispersion through electrostatic attraction with Mo anions and interaction of its alkyl chain with the alumina surface;meanwhile,the introduction of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid(EDTA)can complex with Ni ions to enhance the Ni-promoting effect on Mo.Therefore,the NiMo catalyst designed using alumina with lower Mo equilibrium adsorption capacity and the simultaneous addition of EDTA and CTAB exhibits the highest hydrodesulfurization activity for 4,6-dimethyl dibenzothiophene because of its proper metal-support interaction and more well-dispersed Ni-Mo-S active phases.

Boosting Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis via Tuning of N Dopants in TiO_(2)@CN-Supported Ru Catalysts

Nitrogen(N)-doped carbon materials as metal catalyst supports have attracted signifi cant attention,but the eff ect of N dopants on catalytic performance remains unclear,especially for complex reaction processes such as Fischer-Tropsch synthesis(FTS).Herein,we engineered ruthenium(Ru)FTS catalysts supported on N-doped carbon overlayers on TiO_(2)nanoparticles.By regulating the carbonization temperatures,we successfully controlled the types and contents of N dopants to identify their impacts on metal-support interactions(MSI).Our fi ndings revealed that N dopants establish a favorable surface environment for electron transfer from the support to the Ru species.Moreover,pyridinic N demonstrates the highest electron-donating ability,followed by pyrrolic N and graphitic N.In addition to realizing excellent catalytic stability,strengthening the interaction between Ru sites and N dopants increases the Ru^(0)/Ru^(δ+)ratios to enlarge the active site numbers and surface electron density of Ru species to enhance the strength of adsorbed CO.Consequently,it improves the catalyst’s overall performance,encompassing intrinsic and apparent activities,as well as its ability for carbon chain growth.Accordingly,the as-synthesized Ru/TiO_(2)@CN-700 catalyst with abundant pyridine N dopants exhibits a superhigh C_(5+)time yield of 219.4 mol CO/(mol Ru·h)and C_(5+)selectivity of 85.5%.

Research Progress in Refining Process for Production of Caprolactam by Beckman Rearrangement Reaction

Caprolactam, which is mainly produced via the Beckmann rearrangement reaction, is an important chemical material. The strict specifications of caprolactam products make the refining process of caprolactam extremely important. According to the different rearrangement process, the refining process of caprolactam is also different. The main refining sequence of liquid phase rearrangement products includes extraction, ion exchange, hydrogenation, and distillation. The refining process of gas phase rearrangement products is conducted mainly through distillation, crystallization, and hydrogenation. In this paper, the research progress of caprolactam refining technology will be summarized according to different rearrangement reaction processes, which will provide a reference for the selection of appropriate caprolactam refining process.

Effect of mesopore spatial distribution of HZSM-5 catalyst on zinc state and product distribution in 1-hexene aromatization

1-hexene aromatization is a promising technology to convert excess olefin in fluid catalytic cracking(FCC)gasoline to high-value benzene(B),toluene(T),and xylene.Besides,the increasing market demand of xylene has put forward higher requirements for new generation of catalyst.For increasing xylene yield in 1-hexene aromatization,the effect of mesopore structure and spatial distribution on product distribution and Zn loading was studied.Catalysts with different mesopore spatial distribution were prepared by post-treatment of parent HZSM-5 zeolite,including NaOH treatment,tetra-propylammonium hydroxide(TPAOH)treatment,and recrystallization.It was found the evenly distributed mesopore mainly prolongs the catalyst lifetime by enhancing diffusion properties but reduces the aromatics selectivity,as a result of damage of micropores close to the catalyst surface.While the selectivity of high-value xylene can be highly promoted when the mesopore is mainly distributed interior the catalyst.Besides,the state of loaded Zn was also affected by mesopores spatial distribution.On the optimized catalyst,the xylene selectivity was enhanced by 12.4%compared with conventional Zn-loaded parent HZSM-5 catalyst at conversion over 99%.It was attributed to the synergy effect of mesopores spatial distribution and optimized acid properties.This work reveals the role of mesopores in different spatial positions of 1-hexene aromatization catalysts in the reaction process and the influence on metal distribution,as well as their synergistic effect two on the improvement of xylene selectivity,which can improve our understanding of catalyst pore structure and be helpful for the rational design of high-efficient catalyst.

Pilot Test of Preparing 2-Alkylanthraquinone Using Alkylation-Oxidation Technology

To expedite the development of industrial technology for producing 2-alkylanthraquinone,a novel pilot test of alkylation-oxidation technology was conducted.The process mainly included anthracene alkylation,separation of anthracene and 2-alkylanthracene,oxidation of 2-alkylanthracene,and product purification.Optimal alkylation conditions yielded a 91.1%conversion of anthracene and a 71.73%selectivity for 2-alkylanthracene.To address the separation problem of anthracene and 2-alkylanthracene,solvent-assisted distillation technology was developed,resulting in a 98.9%purity of 2-alkylanthracene and a 91.82%separation yield.When the molar ratio of H2O_(2) to 2-alkylanthracene was 7:1,a 98.96%conversion of 2-alkylanthracene and a 99.94%selectivity for 2-alkylanthraquinone were achieved.A novel composition of 2-alkylanthraquinone,including 2-tert-butylanthraquinone,2-tert-amylanthraquinone,and 2-hexylanthraquinone,was developed.This composition could be effectively separated and purified through a combination of crystallization and washing processes.The elemental composition of the product met the existing standards,and its hydrogenation performance closely matched that of commercially available 2-tert-amylanthraquinone products.

Development of Superhydrophobic Nano-SiO_(2)and Its Field Application in Low-permeability,High-temperature,and High-salinity Oil Reservoirs

In this study,to meet the stringent requirements on the hydrophobicity of nano-SiO_(2)particles for use in depressurization and enhanced injection operations in high-temperature and high-salinity oil reservoirs,secondary chemical grafting modification of nano-SiO_(2)is performed using a silane coupling agent to prepare superhydrophobic nano-SiO_(2) particles.Using these superhydrophobic nano-SiO_(2)particles as the core agent,and liquid paraffin or diesel as the dispersion medium,a uniform dispersion of nano-SiO_(2)particles is achieved under high-speed stirring,and a chemically enhanced water injection system with colloidal stability that can be maintained for more than 60 d is successfully developed.Using this system,a field test of depressurization and enhanced injection is carried out on six wells in an oilfield,and the daily oil production level is increased by 11 t.The cumulative increased water injection is 58784 m^(3),the effective rate of the measures was 100%,and the average validity period is 661 d.

Effect of the Particle Packing Configuration on Fixed Bed Performance

Fixed-bed reactors are generally considered the optimal choice for numerous multi-phase catalytic reactions due to their excellent performance and stability.However,conventional fixed beds often encounter challenges related to inadequate mass transfer and a high pressure drop caused by the non-uniform void fraction distribution.To enhance the overall performance of fixed beds,the impact of different packing configurations on performance was investigated.Experimental and simulation methods were used to investigate the fluid flow and mass transfer performances of various packed beds under different flow rates.It was found that structured beds exhibited a significantly lower pressure drop per unit length than conventional packed beds.Furthermore,the packing configurations had a critical role in improving the overall performance of fixed beds.Specifically,structured packed beds,particularly the H-2 packing configuration,effectively reduced the pressure drop per unit length and improved the mass transfer efficiency.The H-2 packing configuration consisted of two parallel strips of particles in each layer,with strips arranged perpendicularly between adjacent layers,and the spacing between the strips varied from layer to layer.

Controllable Condensation of Aromatics and Its Mechanisms in Carbonization

In order to obtain liquefied products with higher yields of aromatic molecules to produce mesophase pitch,a good understanding of the relevant reaction mechanisms is required.Reactive molecular dynamics simulations were used to study the thermal reactions of pyrene,1-methylpyrene,7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzopyrene,and mixtures of pyrene with 1-octene,cyclohexene,or styrene.The reactant conversion rates,reaction rates,and product distributions were calculated and compared,and the mechanisms were analyzed and discussed.The results demonstrated that methyl and naphthenic structures in aromatics might improve the conversion rates of reactants in hydrogen transfer processes,but their steric hindrances prohibited the generation of high polymers.The naphthenic structures could generate more free radicals and presented a more obvious inhibition effect on the condensation of polymers compared with the methyl side chains.It was discovered that when different olefins were mixed with pyrene,1-octene primarily underwent pyrolysis reactions,whereas cyclohexene mainly underwent hydrogen transfer reactions with pyrene and styrene,mostly producing superconjugated biradicals through condensation reactions with pyrene.In the mixture systems,the olefins scattered aromatic molecules,hindering the formation of pyrene trimers and higher polymers.According to the reactive molecular dynamics simulations,styrene may enhance the yield of dimer and enable the controlled polycondensation of pyrene.

Measurement and Correlation of Liquid-liquid Equilibria for 1-Hexene-n-Hexane-3-Methysulfolane

Utilizing solvent extraction to separate alkanes and olefins from catalytic light gasoline is an effective method for maximizing the utility of gasoline fractions.This study presents the determination of liquid-liquid equilibrium data for the ternary system of 1-hexene-n-hexane-3-methylsulfolane at 30℃,40℃,and 50℃under atmospheric pressure.The obtained data facilitated the construction of a ternary phase diagram for the system.The results showed that the extraction selectivity of 1-hexene/n-hexane exceeded 1.5 when using 3-methylsulfolane as the extraction solvent.Furthermore,the thermodynamic consistency of the experimental data was examined using Hand’s equation and the Othmer-Tobias method.The correlation coefficient,R^(2)≥0.9578,indicated the acceptable reliability of the phase equilibrium data.Subsequently,the NRTL(non-random two liquid)model was used to correlate the liquid-liquid phase equilibrium data and derive the binary interaction parameter.Notably,the results demonstrated that the root mean square deviation of the NRTL model correlation values from the experimental values did not exceed 2.5%.

“Component flow”conditions and its effects on enhancing production of continental medium-to-high maturity shale oil

Based on the production curves,changes in hydrocarbon composition and quantities over time,and production systems from key trial production wells in lacustrine shale oil areas in China,fine fraction cutting experiments and molecular dynamics numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of changes in shale oil composition on macroscopic fluidity.The concept of“component flow”for shale oil was proposed,and the formation mechanism and conditions of component flow were discussed.The research reveals findings in four aspects.First,a miscible state of light,medium and heavy hydrocarbons form within micropores/nanopores of underground shale according to similarity and intermiscibility principles,which make components with poor fluidity suspended as molecular aggregates in light and medium hydrocarbon solvents,such as heavy hydrocarbons,thereby decreasing shale oil viscosity and enhancing fluidity and outflows.Second,small-molecule aromatic hydrocarbons act as carriers for component flow,and the higher the content of gaseous and light hydrocarbons,the more conducive it is to inhibit the formation of larger aggregates of heavy components such as resin and asphalt,thus increasing their plastic deformation ability and bringing about better component flow efficiency.Third,higher formation temperatures reduce the viscosity of heavy hydrocarbon components,such as wax,thereby improving their fluidity.Fourth,preservation conditions,formation energy,and production system play important roles in controlling the content of light hydrocarbon components,outflow rate,and forming stable“component flow”,which are crucial factors for the optimal compatibility and maximum flow rate of multi-component hydrocarbons in shale oil.The component flow of underground shale oil is significant for improving single-well production and the cumulative ultimate recovery of shale oil.

Novel Method for Evaluating the Aging of Aviation Turbine Engine Oils via High-Temperature Bearing Deposit Tests

Aviation turbine engine oils require excellent thermal-oxidative stability because of their high-temperature environments.High-temperature bearing deposit testing is a mandatory method for measuring the thermal-oxidative performance of aviation lubricant oils,and the relevant apparatus was improved in the present study.Two different commercial aviation turbine engine oils were tested,one with standard performance(known as the SL oil)and the other with high thermal stability,and their thermal-oxidative stability characteristics were evaluated.After 100 h of high-temperature bearing testing,the SL oil was analyzed by using various analytical techniques to investigate its thermal-oxidative process in the bearing test,with its thermal-oxidative degradation mechanism also being discussed.The results indicate that the developed high-temperature bearing apparatus easily meets the test requirements of method 3410.1 in standard FED-STD-791D.The viscosity and total acid number(TAN)of the SL oil increased with the bearing test time,and various deposits were produced in the bearing test,with the micro-particles of the carbon deposits being sphere-like,rod-like,and sheet-like in appearance.The antioxidant additives in the oil were consumed very rapidly in the first 30 h of the bearing test,with N-phenyl-1-naphthylamine being consumed faster than dioctyldiphenylamine.Overall,the oil thermal-oxidative process involves very complex physical and chemical mechanisms.

Development and Catalytic Cracking Performance of Ultrastable Y Zeolite Rich in Secondary Pores

A novel ultra-stable zeolite, NSZ, rich in secondary pores was developed through the combination of gas-phase andmild hydrothermal methods. This zeolite was successfully tested in an industrial setting for the first time in the world. The porestructure characteristics of the NSZ zeolite prepared for industrial use were analyzed and characterized using BET. The resultsindicate a significant increase in the secondary pore volume of NSZ zeolite compared to the existing ultra-stable zeolite HSZ-5, which is produced through a conventional gas-phase method. The average secondary pore volume to total pore volume ratioin NSZ zeolite was found to be 58.96% higher. The catalytic cracking performance of NSZ zeolite was evaluated. The resultsshowed that the NSC-LTA catalyst, with NSZ as the active component, outperformed the HSC-LTA catalyst with HSZ-5 zeolitein terms of obtaining more high-value products (gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas) during the hydrogenated light cycle oilprocessing. Additionally, the NSC-LTA catalyst showed a significant improvement in coke selectivity.

The Formation of SO_(2) and Emission Reduction Solutions in the Preparation of a Hydrogenation Catalyst Support

The key reason for SO_(2) formation during the production of a residue hydrogenation catalyst support was identified and subsequent emission reduction solutions were then investigated and verified systematically.The results demonstrated that carbon-containing organic materials,including sesbania powder and cellulose,did not completely decompose over the temperature range of 350−600℃during the heating stage of the calcination process,but rather underwent a condensation reaction within the same temperature range to form carbon-containing species with a lower ratio of hydrogen to carbon and a higher condensation degree,which promoted the decomposition of sulfate to form SO_(2).Systematic experimental work revealed that three different measures,i.e.,applying the staged calcination method,reducing the heating rate,and increasing the air flow rate,during the calcination process could all achieve the effect of reducing SO_(2) emissions.

Evaluation of the Oxidation Reactivity and Behavior of Exhaust Soot Particles from Diesel Engines with Different Emission Levels

The aim of this study was to investigate the oxidation reactivity and behavior of exhaust particulate matter(PM)from diesel engines.PM samples from two diesel engines(1K,CY4102)with different emission levels were collected by a thermophoretic system and a quartz filter.The oxidation reactivity,oxidation behaviors,and physicochemical properties of the PM samples were analyzed using thermogravimetric analysis(TGA),high-resolution transmission electron microscopy(HRTEM),Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry(FTIR),and Raman spectroscopy.The results showed that there was a great difference in the oxidation reactivity of soot particles emitted by the two different diesel engines.A qualitative analysis of the factors influencing oxidation reactivity showed that the nanostructure,degree of graphitization,and relative concentration of aliphatic C—H functional groups were the most important factors,whereas no significant correlation was found between the primary particle size and activation energy of the diesel soot.Based on the oxidation behavior analysis,the diesel soot particles exhibited both internal and surface oxidation modes during the oxidation process.Surface oxidation was dominant during the initial stage,and as oxidation progressed,the mode gradually changed to internal oxidation.Internal oxidation mode of soot particles from the 1K engine was significantly higher than that of CY4102.

Properties of Ti-Based Hydrogen Storage Alloy

An efficient and safe hydrogen storage method is one of the important links for the large-scale development of hydrogen in the future. Because of its low price and simple design, Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys are considered to be suitable for practical applications. In this paper, we review the latest research on Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys. Firstly, the machine learning and density functional theory are introduced to provide theoretical guidance for the optimization of Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys. Then, in order to improve the hydrogen storage performance, we briefly introduce the research of AB type and AB2 type Ti-based alloys, focusing on doping elements and adaptive after treatment. Finally, suggestions for the future research and development of Ti-based hydrogen storage alloys are proposed. .

Commercial Application of the Second Generation RHT Catalysts for Hydroprocessing the Residue with Low Sulfur and High Nitrogen Contents

The RHT technology and the second generation RHT catalysts were applied in design of an 1.7Mt/a VRDS unit at the SINOPEC Changling Branch Co. The commercial application result demonstrated that the RHT catalysts showed good activity and stability in processing low-sulfur and high-nitrogen residue. The first long period run of unit for processing high Fe and high Ca content residue was achieved. The reasons for excessive pressure drop of R-101 were ascribed to Fe and Ca deposition as well as coke formation.

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.