Russian, Yemeni, and Mexican chemists have created a nickel catalyst for cleaning heavy oil. According to the press service of the Russian Science Foundation, the technology removes up to 97% of sulfur-containing compounds, turning viscous fuel into an analogue of light grades.
The catalyst made of nickel oxide and stearic acid works at 300°C and a pressure of 2 atmospheres. It breaks down water, the resulting hydrogen binds sulfur and removes it in the form of volatile gases. The main advantage is that reactions can be started directly inside oil-bearing formations.
Reserves of light oil on the planet are rapidly depleting. The Russian development makes the extraction of hard-to-recover hydrocarbons profitable without the construction of complex refineries. 97% purification is a level comparable to the best world analogues, but with the possibility of in-situ application. The technology has already been tested on model compounds.
