Production and upgrading of heavy crude oils is required to meet the future market demand for transportation fuels and petrochemicals. Therefore, upgrading of heavy materials such as asphaltenes has to be addressed. Conversion of multinuclear aromatic compounds is rather challenging. Traditionally, hydroprocessing is considered as an option; however, it is a hydrogen intensive technology with significant thermodynamic constrains. Oxidative ring-opening over metal oxide catalysts might be an alternative approach. In principle, performing ring-opening of aromatic structures could be achieved using oxygen as an oxidant. However, free radical chemistry poses a challenge in terms of selectivity. Using an appropriate catalyst might enable a selective reaction pathway. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of using metal oxide catalysts to perform oxidative ring-opening of multinuclear aromatics in the liquid phase. Autoxidation (air atmosphere) and catalytic oxidation (nitrogen atmosphere) of anthracene and anthraquinone in combination with V2O5, MoO3, Fe2O3 and NiO were investigated. The presence of V2O5 measurablyaccelerated air oxidation of the model compounds; whereas, MoO3, Fe2O3 and NiO had a noticeable effect only at very high temperatures. On the other hand, it was confirmed that catalytic oxidation of both anthracene and anthraquinone took place by transfer of lattice oxygen from V2O5. Moreover, a more detailed analysis of the reaction products indicated that catalytic oxidation was leading to ring-opening.

Oxidative ring-opening over metal oxides

248th National Meeting (2014)

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