NICKEL BORIDE - AN IMPROVED DESULFURIZING AGENT FOR SULFUR-RICH GEOMACROMOLECULES IN POLAR AND ASPHALTENE FRACTIONS

Nickel boride, a novel desulphurizing agent, was investigated for the desulphurization of sulphur-rich geomacromolecules in polar and asphal tene fractions. It was found to be as effective as the conventional de sulphurizing agent, Raney nickel, for sulphur-rich geomacromolecules i n polar fractions, but more effective for sulphur-rich geomacromolecul es in asphaltene fractions. The distributions of the compounds release d with Raney nickel or nickel boride were, however, very similar. A fu rther advantage of this method is that deuterium labelling of released hydrocarbons is easily achieved. Furthermore, problems of decreasing activity with storage time (as with Raney nickel) do not exist because the desulphurizing agent is made in situ. Compared with other desulph urization methods nickel boride is rapid and effective in desulphurizi ng polar and asphaltene fractions and requires no special equipment. A pplication to high-molecular-weight fractions of an oil and a sediment extract are demonstrated.