Heavy oil thermal conversion and refinement to the green petroleum: A petrochemical refinement plant using the sustainable formic acid for the process

Abstract

In this study, heat oil conversion experiments using steam and formic acid as a hydrogen carrier be carried out in a batch reactor at T = 380 degrees of Celsius and P = 165 bar. Material balance and product distribution were calculated after the process. Properties of crude oil before and after thermal conversion, including viscosity, API gravity, SARA measurement, and elemental analysis, were analyzed. It has been presented that the use of formic acid as a hydrogen carrier solvent reduces the formation of coke and gaseous products and enhances the performance of liquid products. Also, the viscosity of the refined oil decreased by 23.2% due to the addition of formic acid compared to the thermal conversion without hydrogen solvent. And also, a synthesis process is being implemented to provide the formic acid demand of the refining process sustainably. This process uses the carbon capture to contain CO2 for the direct green formic acid synthesis in the plant. Thus the oil produced by this process can be called green petroleum.