V and Ni electrochemical deposition from asphaltenesin heavyoils

Abstract

Heavy metals are present in porphyrins in oil asphaltenes. High content of V and Ni could be attractive to produce high value metal oxides. These metals are undesirable due to corrosion issues and catalyst contamination in cracking processes. The purpose of this project was to prepare an electrochemical cell, with graphite work electrode, wire Ag counterelectrode and a Ag/AgNO reference electrode, in order to evaluate and make the electrochemical characterization and deposition of V and Ni content in resin asphaltene  oncentrate and pure asphaltenes obtained from Colombian heavy oils. High resolution analytics before and after the deposition was done: elemental analysis, FT - IR, and atomic absorption. The variables as work potential, reaction time and electrode materials during the electro - reduction was evaluated by cyclic  oltammetry and chronoamperommeter in two solutions: (I) Tetrahydrofuran and LiClO at 0.02 M, and (II) 20% CH OH, 0.5 % H PO , 0.1 M LiClO in acetonitrile. Results are discussed compared with traditional method 3 34 4 of demetallization by acid digestion.