Specialists from Samara Polytech have developed a technology for deep processing of heavy oil and oil residues with reduced energy consumption. The key innovation is the replacement of gaseous hydrogen with a liquid donor in the form of hydrogenated light gas oil of catalytic cracking, which simultaneously functions as a solvent.
Samara researchers proposed to modernize the thermal cracking of tar by introducing two components: spent hydrotreating catalyst (a source of molybdenum) and an industrial hydrogen donor fraction. This approach allows reducing the operating pressure, increasing the yield of light fractions, and increasing the depth of raw material processing.
The technology has undergone laboratory tests on various types of raw materials – tars and fuel oils – with different hydrogen donors.
According to the researchers, the addition of the proposed catalyst contributes not only to energy saving but also to an increase in the yield of motor fuels, which increases the economic efficiency of processing.
