Athabasca oilsand was treated with natural zeolites for one hour at 300�C and 350�C in presence of 3% water, the average molecular weight (AMW) of the bitumen produced by thermal cracking was significantly lower than the AMW of raw bitumen. Treatment of raw oil sand at 350�C with 5% calcium chabazite reduced the AMW of the bitumen from 1409 g/mol (C98) to 340 g/mol (C23). At 300�C, cracking using the same catalyst produced bitumen with an AMW of 530 g/mol (C30), measured by Vapour Pressure Osmometry. Decrease in the carbon number of bitumen from C98 to C23 at 350�C and C98 to C30 at 300�C indicates that significant cracking catalyzed by the natural zeolite, even at low temperature. The aromaticity of the cracked bitumen samples also slightly increased, as indicated by a decrease in the H/C atomic ratio.Keywords:  Zeolite, Calcium Chabazite, Saint Cloud Clinoptilolite, Bitumen and Vapor Pressure Osmometry.

Characterization of natural zeolite-cracked oilsands bitumen by vapor pressure osmometry and elemental analysis

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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