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Nanoparticles as Catalyst for Asphaltenes and Waste Heavy Hydrocarbons Upgrading

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Nanoparticles: An Emerging Technology for Oil Production and Processing Applications

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology ((LNNST,volume 32))

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Abstract

Oil, either conventional or unconventional, will continue to be the main source of future nonrenewable energy. The high energy demand worldwide is causing a decline in the conventional crude oil reserves, and thus, new alternative and cost-effective technologies for upgrading and recovery of conventional and unconventional oils are needed to sustain industrial activities. Unfortunately, the presence of high asphaltene content in heavy and extra-heavy crude oils can cause many issues such as high viscosity and low specific gravity that hinder processing, production, and transportation. This chapter presents the use of nanoparticle technology as an emerging potential alternative for enhancing heavy oil upgrading and recovery. Because of their unique properties, nanoparticles have considerable potential applications as adsorbents and catalysts in the heavy oil industry, for both surface and subsurface applications. In subsurface applications, the use of nanoparticles may enhance the upgrading and recovery of heavy oil by significantly increasing its H/C atomic ratio and reducing both viscosity and coke formation. Nanoparticles are also employed as adsorbent/catalysts for separating asphaltenes followed by their catalytic decomposition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada

    Abdallah D. Manasrah, Tatiana Montoya, Azfar Hassan & Nashaat N. Nassar

Authors
  1. Abdallah D. Manasrah
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  2. Tatiana Montoya
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  3. Azfar Hassan
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  4. Nashaat N. Nassar
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Correspondence to Nashaat N. Nassar .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Nashaat N. Nassar

  2. Grupo de Investigación en Fenómenos de Superficie–Michael Polanyi, Departamento de Química y Petróleos Facultad de Minas Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia

    Farid B. Cortés

  3. Grupo de Investigación en Fenómenos de Superficie–Michael Polanyi, Departamento de Química y Petróleos Facultad de Minas Universidad Nacional de Colombia Sede Medellín, Medellín, Colombia

    Camilo A. Franco

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Manasrah, A.D., Montoya, T., Hassan, A., Nassar, N.N. (2021). Nanoparticles as Catalyst for Asphaltenes and Waste Heavy Hydrocarbons Upgrading. In: Nassar, N.N., Cortés, F.B., Franco, C.A. (eds) Nanoparticles: An Emerging Technology for Oil Production and Processing Applications. Lecture Notes in Nanoscale Science and Technology, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-12051-5_4

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