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US 5,916,432 AGranted
Process for dispersing transition metal catalytic particles in heavy oil
AssigneeAlberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority
InventorsRichard Anthony McFarlane, Ted Cyr, Randall Wayne Tedford Hawkins
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Abstract
A transition metal salt, preferably ammonium heptamolybdate, is dissolved in water to provide a solution containing the dispersed catalyst precursor. The solution is atomized by passing it through an atomizing nozzle submerged in hot oil. The minute atomized droplets are delivered into the hot oil and the water is flashed to form steam bubbles. The precursor forms catalytic particles distributed in the oil.
Claims6
A dispersion process for producing catalytic particles distributed in heavy oil, comprising:
- dissolving a transitional metal catalyst precursor, that is insoluble in oil, in water to provide an aqueous solution;
- atomizing the solution by pumping the solution under pressure through an atomizing nozzle to produce find droplets;
- discharging the droplets through the submerged outlet of the atomizing nozzle into hot heavy oil having a temperature sufficient to flash the water before coalescence of the droplets can occur;
- and
- flashing the water to form steam bubbles and producing minute catalytic particles distributed in the oil.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.