Preparation of aromatic polysulfonic acid compositions from light cat cycle oil

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:
• R—Ar—(SO3−X+)n
• 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.