ADVANCES IN PREDICTING HEAVY FEEDSTOCK PROCESSABILITY

Upgrading of heavy oils and residua can be designed in an optimal mann er by performing selected evaluations of chemical and structural featu res of these heavy feedstocks. The evaluation schemes do not need to b e complex, but must focus on key parameters which affect processabilit y. For example, the identification of the important features can be ma de with a saturates, aromatics, polars, asphaltenes (SAPA) separation and subsequent analysis of the fractions, with emphasis on the asphalt enes since the solubility of asphaltenes and asphaltene products durin g upgrading has a dramatic affect on solids deposition and coke format ion. Further evaluation of the asphaltenes can lead to correlation wit h process behavior. Useful information can be gained from knowledge of elemental composition and molecular weight, and size exclusion chroma tography and high performance liquid chromatography profiles.