USE OF NANO NICKEL OXIDE IN UPGRADING OF HEAVY CRUDE OIL

Nowadays upgrading of heavy and extra heavy crude oil is an important challenge. High viscosity is the first problem in these oils. This study have focused on viscosity reduction by thermal cracking in presence of nano catalyst. NiO nano catalyst have selected to investigate effect of nano catalyst. This catalyst was prepared by participation method and It’s size of crystallite was obtained about 20nm. An experimental setup has been prepared and the heavy crude oil in the presence of catalyst was heated to 450 ˚C. Loading of nano catalyst was principle parameter and system six level was loaded. The feed viscosity after cooling was measured, and experimental results showed that in catalyst concentration 1.5wt% the viscosity reduced about 87%. This catalyst amount is the optimum value and loading more/less than 1.5wt%, decreases the upgrading efficiency. Also it was shown before optimum point there is sharp slope so that the 0.5% to 1.5% reduction in viscosity occurred in about 22% more.