Viscosity reduction of citric-Fe(III) in catalytic aquathermolysis of heavy oil at low temperature

A Fe(III) coordination complex was synthesized, characterized, and then used in aquathermolysis of heavy oil as catalyst at relatively low temperature, 180°C. The effects of water amount, catalyst concentration on aquat hermolysis were investigated in this work. The crude oil before and after aquathermolysis was fully characterized, and the mechanism of viscosity reduction was discussed in detail. The results show that heavy oil can undergo aquathermolysis in the present of water and citric-F e(III) complex at low temperature. Besides, the catalytic aquathermolysis could not only decrease the viscosity of heavy oil, but also remove some heteroatoms, finally make the flow properties better and the quality upgraded.