A series of prospective catalysts is under investigation at Kazan Federal University.

Magnetite may soon be used for in-situ conversion of high-viscosity oil from the Ashalchi field in Tatarstan. The resulting reagent is a completely new type of catalyst. The researchers received a Russian patent for this invention - No. 2655391 "A method of producing a nanoscale catalyst based on mixed iron oxide to intensify the production of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst obtained by this method."

“Our work is aimed at reducing the content of tar-asphaltene substances and their molecular weight, significant increase in the content of saturated and aromatic hydrocarbons, as well as lowering the viscosity of the obtained products of catalytic water thermolysis,” explains Senior Research Associate Irek Mukhamatdinov.

In the process of laboratory studies of the catalytic water thermolysis of oil, scientists noted the restoration of maghemite to magnetite, which occurred as a result of the interaction of iron oxide with water vapor.

“In addition to magnetite, pyrrhotite is also formed in the composition of the catalyst – it’s a polymorphic mineral of the sulfide class, which is formed due to the breaking of С – S – С bonds in high molecular weight oil components; due to this, the degree of desulfurization and mobility of oil increases, and its quality improves,” notes Mukhamatdinov.

So far, the new development has not passed pilot tests at the Ashalchi field, but they will be held in the near future.

Source text: Adelya Shemelova

Translation: Yury Nurmeev