The effect of cationic surfactants on bitumen's viscosity and asphaltene nanostructure under thermal partial upgrading

Bitumen extracted from oil sands is a highly viscous fluid; thus, its transportation via pipelines in original form resembles major challenge. Partial upgrading recently proposed approach that aims to reduce bitumen's viscosity meet the pipeline specifications. To optimize process and make it more cost-effective, novel researched this study. Ionic surfactants were for first time employed promote thermal cracking reactions dispersion of asphaltenes bitumen at elevated temperatures. Three representing cationic, nonionic, anionic charges studied conditions (360–400?C) their optimal addition ratios mimic partial conditions. The results demonstrated cationic surfactant (dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, DTAB) surpassed other two with only 0.25 wt% it, can effectively by up 60% than upgraded no additives under same temperature. Saturates, Aromatics, Resins, Asphaltene analysis revealed contents saturates aromatics within also enhanced when DTAB was added. Moreover, detailed asphaltene nanostructural using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscope, thermogravimetric (DTAB) resulted an increased disorder, smaller polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons size, fringe curvature, as compared surfactants. Hence, have suggested DTAB, cheap readily available ionic surfactant, serve potential additive designing procedures produce much less lower This technique will result requires significantly reduced volumes diluent transportation.