UPGRADING OF ORINOCO BELT CRUDE-OIL AND ITS FRACTIONS BY AN ELECTROCHEMICAL SYSTEM IN THE PRESENCE OF PROTONATING AGENTS

Laboratory scale upgrading (demetallization, desulfurization, denitrog enation and increase in the H/C ratio) of Orinoco Belt crude oil and i ts fractions is described by an electrochemical system in the presence of protonating agents. Hamaca petroporphyrin can be efficiently demet allized (73%) and desulfurized (35%) by electrolysis at about 0.01 A c m(-2) in the presence of methanol as protonating agent. UV-vis spectro scopy and elemental analysis indicated that the presence of the alcoho l is necessary for extensive demetallization and desulfurization. In a ddition, ethiovanadyl porphyrin, Hamaca asphaltene, vacuum residue (50 0 degrees C+), and crude oil, can be efficiently demetallized and desu lfurized by electrolysis in the presence of a protonating agent with r elative yields for the HDM reactions of Etiovanadyl porphyrin > Asphal tene > Residue > Crude oil, For Hamaca residue (500 degrees C+), highe r metal removal (aprox. 81%) and lower desulfurization (11%) were obta ined with a final current density of 0.02 A cm(-2) than that with 0.01 A cm(-2) indicating sensitivity to changes in the electrolysis condit ions.