Patent ID: 7732387
Filing Date: 2010-06-08
Classification: C10G,C10M,C10N,Y10S

Abstract:
1. A method for upgrading a heavy oil comprising the steps of: adding to said heavy oil an amount of light catalytic cycle oil containing an effective amount of polynuclear aromatic acid represented by the formula: where R is an alkyl group having from 0 to 40 carbon atoms, Ar is an aromatic ring structure comprised of from 2 to 15 aromatic rings, X is an alkali or alkaline-earth metal, and n is an integer from 1 to 5 when X is an alkali metal and 2 to 10 when X is an alkaline-earth meal; and thermally treating said additized heavy oil at a temperature in the range of about 250° C. to 500° C. for 0.5 to 6 hours to upgrade the heavy oil; wherein the polynuclear aromatic acid is produced from the light catalytic cycle oil by a process that includes the polysulfonation of the light catalytic cycle oil with a stoichiometric excess of sulfuric acid at effective conditions.