Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
210110 | Fuel Processing Technology | 2013 | 4 Pages |
Naphthenic acid (NA) present in crude oil leads to corrosion problems within oil refineries. The objective of this study is to reduce total acid number (TAN) from NA using a catalyst-free supercritical methanol (SC-MeOH), a process novel in this area. The reaction was carried out in an 8.8 mL batch reactor fabricated from Hastelloy C-276 with respective design temperature and pressure of 500 °C and 50 MPa. The ability of SC-MeOH to reduce TAN was explored at temperatures from 300 to 350 °C and methanol partial pressure (MPP) of 10 MPa. Experimental results revealed that TAN removal was 99.77% at a temperature of 350 °C, MPP of 10 MPa and reaction time of 60 min. The TAN removal followed first order kinetics, with Arrhenius parameters of activation energy 5.78 kcal/ mol and a pre-exponential factor 1.56 s− 1. These results suggest that SC-MeOH is capable of reducing TAN from NA with no use of catalyst or additives.
Graphical abstractSupercritical methanol (SC-MeOH) is suitable for reducing total acid number (TAN) of naphthenic acids (NAs) within a short reaction time. (Symbols: □, 300 °C; ○, 325 °C; ∆, 350 °C)Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Supercritical methanol is capable of reducing TAN of naphthenic acids. ► This process benefits from the absence of catalyst and short reaction time. ► TAN reduction of 96.87% TAN is possible at a temperature of 350 °C. ► Overall naphthenic acid removal kinetics follows first order.