STRUCTURE CHANGES IN COLD LAKE OIL-SAND BITUMEN AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES DURING CATALYTIC HYDROTREATMENT

Chemical structure changes in Cold Lake oil-sand bitumen and catalytic activities of red-mud/sulfur and Ni-Mo catalysts during catalytic hyd rotreatment are discussed. Particular attention is given to hydrogenat ion and hydrogenolysis of structural units, and to the removal of hete roatoms, Ni-Mo catalyst at 450 degrees C reaction temperature gives hi gh conversion of oil-sand bitumen to lower boiling fractions improving H/C ratio and extensive removal of heteroatoms. According to the depo sition of metals on the spent catalysts, red-mud/sulfur catalyst is ef fective for bitumen demetallization, removing V and Ni metals. (C) 199 7 Elsevier Science B.V.