Increasing Distillates Yield In Low Temperature Cracking Process By Using Nanoparticles

Abstract

Metal or metal-oxide nanoparticles, or combinations of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are added to crude oil before initial distillation in order to increase the yield of light hydrocarbons obtained during initial distillation. According to one aspect, a solid acid micropowder can be added with the metal or metal-oxide nanoparticles or combinations thereof before initial distillation in order to increase yield. According to another aspect, the metal or metal-oxide nanoparticles, or combinations thereof, or the nanoparticles in conjunction with a solid acid micropowder can be added after initial distillation of the gasoline fraction.

1 . A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
 prior to distillation of the crude oil, adding at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1 nm and 90 nm to the crude oil to create a crude oil/nanoparticle mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%; and   distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle mixture to generate at least light fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is smaller than a residue which would be generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil without said nanoparticles.   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are chosen from iron, iron-oxide, and cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles, and said iron nanoparticles are between 2 nm and 76 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles are 43 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles constitute between 0.001% and 0.015% of said mixture.   
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles constitute between 0.002% and 0.01% of said mixture.   
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles constitute between 0.003% and 0.008% of said mixture.   
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron-oxide nanoparticles, and said iron-oxide nanoparticles are between 20 nm and 62 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 said iron-oxide nanoparticles are 20 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide nanoparticles, and said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles are between 2 nm and 84 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         11 . A method according to  claim 10 , wherein:
 said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles constitute between 0.001% and 0.02% of said mixture.   
     
     
         12 . A method according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles constitute between 0.008% and 0.015% of said mixture.   
     
     
         13 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles includes metal nanoparticles and metal-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 said metal nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles, and said metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         15 . A method of increasing distillate yield in a crude oil distillation, comprising:
 prior to distillation of the crude oil, adding at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1 nm and 90 nm to the crude oil and a solid acid micropowder of diameter between 20 nm and 10 micrometers to create a crude oil/nanoparticle/zeolite powder mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02% and said solid acid micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.001% and 0.04%; and   distilling said crude oil/nanoparticle/solid acid micropowder mixture to generate at least light fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is smaller than a residue which would be generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil without said nanoparticles and solid acid micropowder.   
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said solid acid micropowder is chosen from Faujasite, Mordenite, and HZSM-5 micropowder.   
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said solid acid micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage between 0.01% and 0.04%.   
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles.   
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles, and said solid acid micropowder is an HZSM-5 micropowder.   
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 20 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles are 43 nm diameter nanoparticles and constitute 0.004% of said mixture, and said HZSM-5 micropowder constitutes 0.04% of said mixture.   
     
     
         22 . A method of increasing yield of diesel oil from a crude oil fraction that does not contain gasoline after an initial partial distillation of crude oil, said method comprising adding at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1 nm and 90 nm to the crude oil fraction to create a crude oil fraction/nanoparticle mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%; and
 distilling said crude oil fraction/nanoparticle mixture to generate at least light fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is smaller than a residue which would be generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil fraction without said nanoparticles.   
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are chosen from iron, iron-oxide, and cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles, and said iron nanoparticles are between 2 nm and 76 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 24 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles are 43 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 25 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles constitute between 0.001% and 0.015% of said mixture.   
     
     
         27 . A method according to  claim 26 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles constitute between 0.002% and 0.01% of said mixture.   
     
     
         28 . A method according to  claim 27 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles constitute between 0.003% and 0.008% of said mixture.   
     
     
         29 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron-oxide nanoparticles, and said iron-oxide nanoparticles are between 20 nm and 62 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide nanoparticles, and said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles are between 2 nm and 84 nm in diameter.   
     
     
         31 . A method according to  claim 30 , wherein:
 said cobalt-oxide nanoparticles constitute between 0.001% and 0.02% of said mixture.   
     
     
         32 . A method according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles includes metal nanoparticles and metal-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         33 . A method of increasing yield of diesel oil from a crude oil fraction that does not contain gasoline after an initial partial distillation of crude oil, said method comprising adding at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1 nm and 90 nm and a solid acid micropowder of diameter between 20 nm and 10 micrometers to the crude oil fraction to create a crude oil fraction/nanoparticle mixture where the nanoparticles are present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02% and said solid acid micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage of between 0.001% and 0.04%; and
 distilling said crude oil fraction/nanoparticle/solid acid micropowder mixture to generate at least light fractions of hydrocarbons and a residue, where said residue is smaller than a residue which would be generated from an identical distillation of the crude oil fraction without said nanoparticles and solid acid micropowder.   
     
     
         34 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said solid acid micropowder is chosen from Faujasite, Mordenite, and HZSM-5 micropowder.   
     
     
         35 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said solid acid micropowder is present in said mixture in a weight percentage between 0.01% and 0.04%.   
     
     
         36 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles.   
     
     
         37 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are cobalt-oxide nanoparticles.   
     
     
         38 . A method according to  claim 33 , wherein:
 said at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles are iron nanoparticles, and said solid acid micropowder is an HZSM-5 micropowder.   
     
     
         39 . A method according to  claim 38 , wherein:
 said iron nanoparticles are 43 nm diameter nanoparticles and constitute 0.004% of said mixture, and said HZSM-5 micropowder constitutes 0.04% of said mixture.   
     
     
         40 . A mixture consisting essentially of crude oil in a weight percentage of between 99.9996% and 99.98% and at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1 nm and 90 nm in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%. 
     
     
         41 . A mixture consisting essentially of crude oil in a weight percentage of between 9.9986% and 99.94%, at least one of metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles of diameter between 1 nm and 90 nm in a weight percentage of between 0.0004% and 0.02%, and a solid acid micropowder in a weight percentage of between 0.001% and 0.04%.