Improving the Rheological Properties of High-Viscosity Crude Oils. Modifying Additive and High-Frequency Electromagnetic Field

The rheological properties of crude oils from Yuzhno-Inzyreisk and Vostochno-Khar’yaginsk fields in Arkhangel’sk Oblast were investigated at different temperatures and shear rates. The anomalies of these properties are due to the high concentration of waxes capable of phase transitions in the crudes. The activation energy of viscous flow, which increased with the wax content in the crudes, was determined with the dependence of the logarithm of the viscosity on the reciprocal of the temperature. Treatment with a high-frequency electromagnetic field significantly decreases the viscosity of the crudes.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 3, pp. 36 – 38, May – June, 2005.     

Expanding Feedstock Resources for Manufacture of Vaseline

An alternative to petrolatum in feedstock for manufacture of medicinal Vaseline from Azerbaidzhan crudes was sought. The feedstock, adsorbent, and processing conditions selected increase the yield of Vaseline from 35–40 to 70–75% while reducing formation of difficult to use wastes.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 3, pp. 18 – 19, May – June, 2005.     

Rheological evidence of structural phase transitions in asphaltene-containing petroleum fluids

The aim of this paper is to provide data on the rheological/structural properties of “synthetic oils,” composed of light hydrocarbons (toluene) and a heavy fraction, containing asphaltenes (vacuum residue, VR). Samples with asphaltene concentrations 20–85 g/l have been studied at temperatures 0–60 °C and shear rates up to 1500 s⁻¹. The non-Newtonian flow curves were approximated by the Bingham and the Herschel–Bulkley models to determine the apparent yield stress and the shear-rate exponent as functions of the asphaltene concentration and the temperature. Sharp variations of these parameters were attributed to formation/destruction of extended ordered structures in asphaltene colloid suspensions. Structural changes were observed in the temperature range 20–30 °C, particularly important for industrial processes of reservoir development and pipeline transportation. A molecular model of the observed macroscopic effects takes into account possible first-order structural phase transitions in the nanometer-size resin/asphaltene colloid microparticles.     

Morphology and activity of multicomponent heterogeneous catalysts by binary cuts

In oxidation of carbon monoxide, the activity of the Cu-Cr-Mn/-Al₂O₃ catalytic system is correlated with its morphology. The phase composition and valence state of the metal ions in catalysts of different genesis were investigated by x-ray phase analysis (XPA) and diffuse-reflection electron spectroscopy (DRES). The sequence of application of the active components of the system over binary sections affects the catalytic activity. The undesirable copper-chromium combination is excluded by separation of the successively applied combinations of ingredients Cr-Cu and Cu- Mn through an intermediate stage.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 1, pp. 40 – 42, January – February, 2005.     

Colloidal Structures of Petroleum Residues Long-Lived in Metastable States

Experimental studies showed that colloidal subsystems of resins and asphaltenes in metastable state are most probably the basic carriers of the “thermal memory” effect of petroleum fluids. The structural transformations of the colloidal system of asphaltenes revealed probably are universal in character and are characteristic of petroleum residues of different geographic origin. It was found that not only thermodynamic but also kinetic control should be conducted in processes of transformation of the disperse phase of petroleum residues.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 3, pp. 42 – 44, May – June, 2005.     

Evaluating the Efficacy of Corrosion Inhibitors in Automotive Gasolines

A method for assessing the corrosion properties of automotive gasolines containing oxygenates and the effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors for these fuels similar to the method in ASTM D 665 is examined. Data on its use are reported.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 4, pp. 49 – 50, July – August, 2005.     

Dimethyl ether in a state of saturation. Calculation of thermodynamic properties

Equations are proposed for calculating the basic characteristics of dimethyl ether (DME) in a state of saturation: saturated vapor pressure; latent heat of combustion; specific volumes and heat capacities of the boiling liquid and saturated vapor. Their reliability is confirmed by independent experimental data and by the Clausius-Clapeyron equation in substituting the results of the calculation with these equations in it.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 1, pp. 51 – 53, January – February, 2005.     

Crude oil from the Chirag field

The crude oil from a promising new offshore field in Azerbaidzhan — Chirag — is light, low-sulfur, low-resin, and waxy. Its naphtha cuts are characterized by low octane numbers. They can be used as components of automotive gasolines. Brand KO-20 lamp kerosene can be obtained from light kerosene cuts. Catalytic dewaxing must be conducted on the 150–280°C cut to manufacture jet fuel. The diesel cuts are favorable feedstock for manufacturing summer diesel fuel. The potential content of base oils with a viscosity index of 75–89 is 24.64 wt. % in crude oil.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 6, pp. 35–38, November–December, 2004.     

Efficiency of the Stage of Liquid-Phase Thermal Destruction of Petroleum Residues

Optimization of cracking process parameters, which determine the efficiency of the reaction volume, is the most important problem in creating industrial stages of thermal destruction of “native” petroleum residues – atmospheric and vacuum resids. A simplified approach to design of the reaction apparatus for refining such residues will result in large differences in these parameters during use and is due to insufficient information on the colloidal state of the feedstock mixture, kinetic characteristics of its conversion, and hydrodynamics of the material streams in the reaction volume.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 3, pp. 24 – 26, May – June, 2005.     

Organochlorosilanes as catalysts of alkylation of benzene by propylene

The orders of the catalytic activity of methyl- and ethylchlorosilanes in alkylation of benzene by propylene in an autoclave are established.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 1, pp. 44 – 46, January – February, 2005.     

Pipelines of complex configuration. Calculation of the velocity of the solid phase in pneumatic transport with a stagnated dense bed

A criterial equation was obtained for determining the velocity of the solid phase in pneumatic transport in a stagnated dense bed (SDB) in pipelines of complex configuration. A mobility factor was introduced in the equation to account for the effect of the friction properties of the transported materials. A method is proposed for calculating this factor with the known values of the hydrodynamic coefficient of the bed of transported materials.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 6, pp. 27 – 28, November– December, 2004     

Group composition and properties of petroleum wax fractions

The group chemical composition and physicomechanical properties of petroleum wax fractions are investigated. The mechanism of their change with an increase in the average distillation temperature is determined.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 1, pp. 47 – 48, January – February, 2005.     

A Composite Additive for “Heavy” Gas-Condensate Diesel Fuel

A composite additive that decreases the cloud and solid points of GShZ gas-condensate diesel fuel, stable condensate “heavy” bottoms, to the values required by GOST 305–82 for grade “3– 45” petroleum diesel fuel, was developed from domestic feedstock. This significantly improves the performance properties of gas-condensate diesel fuel.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 4, pp. 26 – 28, July – August, 2005.     

A swift Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (sQMRA) tool

Classical full-scale QMRA is a valuable method to assess the effects of control measures on the public health risk of a pathogen–food product combination. However, development of these QMRA models is time consuming, data needs are substantial and it requires extensive modeling expertise. We therefore developed a simplified QMRA model especially aimed at comparing the risk of pathogen–food product combinations. The swift Quantitative Microbiological Risk Assessment (sQMRA) – tool is implemented in Microsoft Excel. Special attention is given to make the sQMRA tool insightful, for educational purposes. Like in full-scale QMRA, pathogen numbers are followed through the food chain, which in this case starts at retail and ends with the number of human cases of illness. The model is deterministic and includes cross-contamination and preparation (heating) in the kitchen and a dose–response relationship. The general setup of the sQMRA tool consists of consecutive questions for values of each of the 11 parameters, always followed by intermediate model output broken down into categories of contamination, cross-contamination and preparation. In a separate sheet, model input and output are summarized and exposure as well as cases are attributed to the distinguished categories. As a relative risk measure, intermediate and final model outputs are always compared with results from a full-scale QMRA of Campylobacter on chicken fillet. Example calculations with the sQMRA-tool were done for all combinations of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. with chicken fillet, filet americain (raw minced beef with mayonnaise) and table eggs. Data availability appeared to be partly poor. The predicted risk was highest for Salmonella spp. in table eggs and Campylobacter spp. in chicken fillet. Results indicate that the sQMRA-tool is useful for quickly obtaining relative risk estimates of pathogen–food combinations. It can thus serve as a guide for selection of combinations for applying full-scale QMRA, or for risk management – by facilitating the translation of the results of trend analysis or of a specific research project into terms of risk.     

Antiseptics Made from Petroleum Resins

Data are reported on the compositions and technology of production of safe petroleum protective creosote materials based on resinous residues and gasoils from thermal and catalytic processes.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 3, pp. 51 – 54, May – June, 2005.     

Catalytic Synthesis of Basic Petrochemical Products from C<Subscript>1</Subscript>-C<Subscript>4</Subscript> Alkanes

Effective catalysts for production of ethylene and aromatic hydrocarbons from methane and the propane-butane fraction are developed and investigated by physicochemical methods.__________Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 2, pp. 35 – 38, March – April, 2005.     

Method of calculation of product yields in hydrocracking middle distillates

The hydrocracking of straight-run and secondary middle distillates (180–360°C) is aimed at obtaining naphthas (gasolines) and jet fuels. A procedure described in [1] can be used to characterize the complex reactions involved in hydrocracking the aromatic and naphthenic hydrocarbons in these distillates to form paraffins, as well as reactions of isomerization and hydrocracking of paraffins. In the absence of any data on the group composition of the feed, but with a known distillation range, the product yields in hydrocracking middle distillates (D) can be calculated.Translated fromKhimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 2, pp. 28–31, March–April, 1996.     

Production of paving asphalts from high-wax crude oils

High-quality BND 40/60 and BND 60/90 asphalts were made from high-wax Kotur-Tepe crudes with additives — heavy catalytic gasoil, hard asphalt from propane deasphalting, and extracts from selective treatment of oil feedstock — were manufactured in pilot conditions. Production of such asphalts by direct oxidation of vacuum resid is not possible. Optimum feedstock compositions are proposed.Translated from Khimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 6, pp. 23 – 26, November– December, 2004     

Wastewater treatment and soil cleanup in bulk plants

Translated fromKhimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 4, pp. 41–43, July–August, 1996.     

Interrelation of hydrogenation catalyst quality and the materials of construction in catalyst manufacturing equipment

Translated fromKhimiya i Tekhnologiya Topliv i Masel, No. 2, pp. 37–38, March–April, 1946.