Kinetics and selectivity of asphaltene hydrocracking

Thermal hydrocracking and catalytic hydrocracking over NiMo/γ-Al₂O₃ of a pentane-insoluble asphaltene were conducted in a microbatch reactor at 430 °C. The experimental data of asphaltene conversion fit second-order kinetics adequately, to give the apparent rate constants of 2.435 × 10⁻² and 9.360 × 10⁻² wt frac⁻¹ min⁻¹ for the two processes respectively. A three-lump kinetic model is proposed to evaluate rate constants of parallel reactions from asphaltenes to liquid oil (k₁) and to gas + coke (k₃), and consecutive reaction from liquid to gas + coke (k₂). The evaluated k₁ is 2.430 × 10⁻² and 9.355 × 10⁻² wt frac⁻¹ min⁻¹, k₂ is 2.426 × 10⁻² and 6.347 × 10⁻³ min⁻¹, and k₃ is 5.416 × 10⁻⁵ and 4.803 × 10⁻⁵ wt frac⁻¹ min⁻¹ for asphaltenes hydrocracking in the presence or absence of the catalyst, respectively. Analysis of selectivity shows that the catalytic hydrocracking process promotes liquid production and inhibits coke formation effectively.