Experimental study on viscosity reduction of Iranian heavy export crude oil by using imidazolium based ionic liquids supported on ZIF-۸ organic framework

Chemical - Thermal Technology is used to upgrade the quality and to decrease the viscosity of Iranian extra-heavy crude oil in atmospheric pressure. In this present study, quality preparation of [OMIM][NTf۲]-ZIF-۸ (IL@ZIF-۸) nanostructures were performed solvothermal by using an oil-soluble long chain Ionic Liquids, [OMIM][NTf۲] and a zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-۸. This complex was used in the thermal cracking of heavy oil as a chemical additive. The injection of a small amount of the IL@ZIF-۸ into extra-heavy oil caused the production of gaseous compounds, naphtha, middle distillates, lubricating oil,  and tar. The viscosity measurement results show an evident viscosity reduction of ۹۱% for extra-heavy oil after chemical-thermal cracking at ۳۷۰ °C for a maximum of ۱۲۰ min. The technique is ideally suited for cracking extra-heavy Iranian Crude oils, such as in the Nowrooz-Soroosh oilfields. To our knowledge, no report has been found about the chemothermal cracking of heavy crude oils, especially by using IL@ZIF-۸ metal-organic frameworks.

Keywords:

IL@ZIF-۸ , Extra-heavy export crude oil , Chemical-Thermal cracking , Ionic Liquids , Viscosity Reduction