Molecular characterization and modeling of petroleum refining process: Frontiers and challenges

Abstract

The green, high efficient and high value-added utilization of petroleum resource requires the molecular management of refining process. As the basis of precisely controlling and optimization of refinery, the molecular-level characterization and modeling of the petroleum and the related conversion process are widely concerned. The complexity of petroleum composition and conversion pathway form significant challenge for the development of molecular management technologies. In the presented paper, we summarized the progress in the fields of petroleum molecular-level characterization and modeling, and the researches that needed in the future were also prospected.