The ultrasound thermal cracking for the tar-sand bitumen

The influence of ultrasonic irradiation on the tar-sand bitumen in the process of thermal cracking with an inert atmosphere was investigated thoroughly. The product distribution and coke characteristic produced by the conventional thermal cracking (CTC) and ultrasound thermal cracking (UTC) were invested at the following condition: ultrasound frequency 20 kHz, ultrasonic power 2000 W, reaction time 2 h, reaction temperature from 400 to 440 °C. The result of the liquid products distribution indicated that UTC can significantly increase gasoline yield and diesel yield, and dramatically reduce VGO (Vacuum Gas Oil) yield and residuum (greater than 500 °C) yield. The analysis of gas products showed that there were no significant differences for the gas distribution between the two reactions (methods), indicating that reaction of UTC still conformed to a radical chain mechanism, but the ratio of olefin/paraffin was greatly reduced in the process of UTC, which was attributed to the hydrogen transfer reaction promoted by ultrasound. The result of the analysis by SEM, FT-IR, Raman, XRD and Zeta potential demonstrated that there was a significant difference for the morphology of cokes produced by the two methods. Mesocarbon microbeads (MCMB) was discovered in the process of UTC, which should be due to that the polymerization of the free macro-radicals produced from PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) promoted by ultrasonic cavitation. In addition, it can be inferred that the viscosity of the second liquid phase was reduced by ultrasonic mechanical function through the breakage of the stack of asphaltene molecules cross-linked by van der Waals force. According to the mesophase theory, the ultrasound irradiation promoted the formation of the second liquid phase, extended its existence time and reduced its viscosity, resulting in the formation of MCMB controlled by the surface tension during the process of UTC.