Method for determining asphaltene stability of a hydrocarbon-containing material

A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon containing material with at least one alkane mobile phase solvent in a column;
• (b) dissolving a first amount and a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes by
• (i) gradually and continuously adding to the column a first final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the at least one alkane mobile phase solvent, at a rate of to dissolve a first amount of the precipitated asphaltenes;
• and
• (ii) gradually and continuously adding to the column a second final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the first final mobile phase solvent to dissolve a second amount of the precipitated asphaltenes
• wherein the alkane mobile phase solvent changes from the alkane mobile phase solvent to the second final mobile phase solvent over a period of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes at a flowrate of about 1 mL/min to about 4 mL/min.
• (c) monitoring the concentration of each of the eluted fractions from the column;
• (d) generating a curve that represents the solubility parameter distribution of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon containing material.

A method for reducing fouling in one or more crude hydrocarbon refinery components, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks having a stable plurality of asphaltene components therein, wherein the selection of the one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks comprises:
• (i) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a hydrocarbon containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column;
• (ii) dissolving a first amount the precipitated asphaltenes by gradually and continuously adding to the column a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the at least one alkane mobile phase solvent, wherein the alkane mobile phase solvent changes from the alkane mobile phase solvent to the final mobile phase solvent during a period of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes at a flowrate of about 1 mL/min to about 4 mL/min;
• (iii) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column;
• (iv) generating a curve that represents the solubility parameter distribution of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (v) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (b) feeding the selected one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks to the one or more crude hydrocarbon refinery components.

A system capable of experiencing fouling conditions associated with particulate or asphaltene fouling, the system comprising:

• (a) one or more crude hydrocarbon refinery components;
• and
• (b) one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks having a stable plurality of asphaltene components therein and in fluid communication with the one or more crude hydrocarbon refinery components, wherein the one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks are selected by a process comprising:
• (i) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a hydrocarbon containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column;
• (ii) dissolving a first amount the precipitated asphaltenes by gradually and continuously adding to the column a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the at least one alkane mobile phase solvent, wherein the alkane mobile phase solvent changes from the alkane mobile phase solvent to the final mobile phase solvent during a period of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes at a flowrate of about 1 mL/min to about 4 mL/min;
• (iii) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column;
• (iv) generating a curve that represents the solubility parameter distribution of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (v) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon containing material.

A method for extending the activity of a supported or unsupported catalyst used in the reaction of one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) selecting one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks having a stable plurality of asphaltene components therein, wherein the selection of the one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks comprises:
• (i) precipitating an amount of asphaltenes from a liquid sample of a hydrocarbon containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column;
• (ii) dissolving a first amount the precipitated asphaltenes by gradually and continuously adding to the column a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the at least one alkane mobile phase solvent, wherein the alkane mobile phase solvent changes from the alkane mobile phase solvent to the final mobile phase solvent during a period of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes at a flowrate of about 1 mL/min to about 4 mL/min;
• (iii) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from tire column;
• (iv) generating a curve that represents the solubility parameter distribution of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (v) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (b) contacting the selected one or more hydrocarbon-containing feedstocks with a supported or unsupported catalyst at a reaction temperature in a reaction zone.

A method for determining asphaltene stability in a hydrocarbon-containing material having solvated asphaltenes therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) precipitating an amount of the asphaltenes from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon containing material with an alkane mobile phase solvent in a column;
• (b) dissolving a first amount the precipitated asphaltenes by gradually and continuously adding to the column a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the at least one alkane mobile phase solvent, wherein the alkane mobile phase solvent changes from the alkane mobile phase solvent to the final mobile phase solvent during a period of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes at a flowrate of about 1 mL/min to about 4 mL/min;
• (c) monitoring the concentration of eluted fractions from the column;
• (d) generating a curve that represents the solubility parameter distribution of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon containing material;
• and
• (e) determining one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon containing material by calculating ΔPS from an equation:
• ΔPS=t(75%)−t(25%)
• wherein t(75%) and t(25%) represent the time at which 75% and 25% of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon-containing material have eluted.

A system, comprising:

• a plurality of components;
• and
• a processing device comprising at least one hardware processor, wherein the processing device is configured to operate the plurality of components to cause:
• (a) an amount of the asphaltenes to be precipitated from a liquid sample of the hydrocarbon containing material with at least one alkane mobile phase solvent in a column;
• (b) a first amount the precipitated asphaltenes to be dissolved by gradually and continuously adding to the column a final mobile phase solvent having a solubility parameter at least about 1 MPa0.5 higher than the at least one alkane mobile phase solvent, wherein the alkane mobile phase solvent changes from the alkane mobile phase solvent to the final mobile phase solvent during a period of about 5 minutes to about 120 minutes at a flowrate of about 1 mL/min to about 4 mL/min;
• (c) a concentration of each of the eluted fractions from the column to be monitired;
• (d) a curve that represents the solubility parameter distribution of the asphaltene in the hydrocarbon containing material to be generated;
• and
• (e) one or more asphaltene stability parameters of the hydrocarbon containing material to be determined.