Process to upgrade oil using metal oxides

Abstract

Described herein are compositions and methods for using metal oxides to upgrade oil. Metal oxides may be used as catalysts to reduce the TAN of the oil by converting carboxylic acids such as naphthenic acids into non-corrosive products. In some cases, the conversion occurs by a decarboxylation of the carboxylic acid to produce CO2. A second process promoted by metal oxides is hydrocarbon cracking. Cracking decreases the viscosity and increases the API, and produces lower molecular-weight hydrocarbons that are useful for many fuels and lubricants. Reductions in TAN and the increases in API improve the quality of increase the value of oil.

Description

[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 586,026, filed Jul. 7, 2004.GOVERNMENT RIGHTS [0002] The United States Government has certain rights in this invention pursuant to Grant No. DE-FC26-02NT15383; S-105,724 awarded by the U.S. Department of Energy.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0003] The invention relates to methods useful for upgrading, or improving the quality of oil. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] Crude oil, or petroleum, is a complex mixture of hydrocarbons that is the basis for the world's energy economy. Crude oil, which is usually highly viscous, often contains contaminants, including water, suspended solids, water-soluble salts, and organic acids. These contaminants corrode pipes and oil processing equipment, leading to reduced oil quality. [0005] Naphthenic acids, a collection of unfunctionalized aliphatic, alicylic, and aromatic carboxylic acids, are found to varying degrees in crude oil, and are especially preva...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0021] Further embodiments include methods in which the quantity of oil is contacted with an amount of an adsorbent material sufficient to reduce the total acidity of the quantity of oil.

[0023] Another embodiment involves a method for reducing the total acidity of a quantity of oil, comprising contacting the quantity of oil with an amount of a metal oxide agent sufficient to reduce the total acidity and / or the total acid number of the quantity of oil.

[0025] Further embodiments include methods for reducing the viscosity of a quantity of oil, comprising contacting the quantity of oil with an amount of a metal oxide agent sufficient to reduce the viscosity of the quantity of oil. Additional embodiments include methods wherein reducing the viscosity of the quantity of oil comprises increasing the API gravity of the quantity of oil.

[0028] Additional embodiments also include compositions of upgraded oil wherein the process further comprises contacting the quantity of oil or the quantity of upgraded oil with an amount of an adsorbent material sufficient to reduce the total acidity of the quantity of oil or the quantity of upgraded oil.

Problems solved by technology

These contaminants corrode pipes and oil processing equipment, leading to reduced oil quality.

As a result, oil products with high concentrations of naphthenic acid are identified as being of poor quality and result in a lower price in the market.

Due to its complex compositional heterogeneity, it is presently very difficult to predict the severity of the corrosion of an individual or a small group of NA compounds by any analytic measurements.

With this standard, high TAN oils (>0.5 mg KOH / g) are less desirable than lower TAN oils, resulting in a much lower price.

However, this treatment results in the formation of an emulsion that, once formed, is difficult to break down or remove.

While this approach does ultimately reduce the concentration of carboxylic acid in the oil sample, it does not effectively remove naphthenic acids.

However, the techniques described in the aforementioned references, each of which is incorporated by reference herein, are limited in their commercial application or leave room for significant improvement.

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