For the first time, thermal decomposition of vacuum residue and a mixture of vacuum residue with binary nanocatalysts based on leached and non-leached chrysotile with applied active metals was studied using the thermogravimetry method. It is shown that the thermokinetic parameters of decomposition of vacuum residue and its mixture with binary nanocatalyst are different. The phase composition of the binary nanocatalyst was established through X-ray phase analysis (XRD): (Mg₃Si₂O₅ (OH), NiO and Ti (SO₄)₂). The quantitative content of elements on the chrysotile surface was determined using X-ray fluorescence analysis: (Ni (4.88%), Ti (7.29%), Si (24.93%), Mg (7.83%), Fe (0.69%) and S (3.89%)). Using atomic emission spectral analysis, the gross quantitative content of supported metals on chrysotile was determined: Ni (4.85%) and Ti (4.86%). A transmission electron microscope showed the presence of finely dispersed particles adsorbed on the surface of and possibly inside chrysotile nanotubes with sizes ranging from 5 to 70 nm. The acidity of the nanocatalyst obtained from the leached active-metal-supported chrysotile was 267 μmol/g and the specific surface area of the nanocatalyst was 54 m²/g. The Ozawa–Flynn–Wall (OFW) method was used to calculate the kinetic parameters of the thermal degradation of vacuum residue and the mixture of vacuum residue with nanocatalysts. Using the isoconversion method, the average values of activation energies and the pre-exponential factor were calculated: 147.55 kJ/mol and 3.37·10¹⁶ min⁻¹ for the initial vacuum residue; 118.69 kJ/mol and 1.54·10¹⁸ min⁻¹ for the mixture of vacuum residue with nanocatalyst obtained from non-leached chrysotile with applied metals; 82.83 kJ/mol and 2.15·10¹⁹ min⁻¹ for the mixture of vacuum residue with nanocatalyst obtained from leached chrysotile with applied metals. The kinetic parameters obtained can be used in modeling and designing the processes of thermal degradation and hydroforming of heavy hydrocarbon raw materials.

The study of thermal developments of heavy oil feedstock, vacuum residue in particular, is a relevant factor for the development of technologies for the processing and production of petroleum products. This paper investigates the process of thermal decomposition of the vacuum residue in the manufacturing of catalyst and polymer material using thermal analysis methods, including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in isothermal and dynamic modes. Particular attention is paid to the measurement of kinetic parameters of thermolysis using model and non-model methods, which allows us to assess the output power and other kinetic characteristics of decomposition. The results obtained can be used for the development of new oil refining technologies for significantly increasing the efficiency and safety of processes. During the course of this study, experimental and theoretical activation energy values were obtained for the vacuum residue without a catalyst (experimentally: 91.54 kJ mol⁻¹/theoretically: 91.35 kJ mol⁻¹) and a sample with the presence of a catalyst (experimentally: 89.68 kJ mol⁻¹/theoretically: 90.87 kJ mol⁻¹). The reduction in activation energy in the presence of the catalyst confirms its catalytic activity and potential for processing heavy hydrocarbon feedstock.

The laws of thermal degradation of the mixture of the heavy fraction of low-temperature coal tar and coal shale were investigated using dynamic thermogravimetry. The kinetic characteristics of the process were determined using various methods, including the Ozawa–Flynn-Wall, Friedman, non-parametric kinetics and Šesták–Berggren methods. It is shown that coal shale initiated changes in the kinetic parameters and decomposition rate of the heavy fraction of coal tar. It was found that a 13% content of coal shale in the mixture led to the maximum rate of weight loss of the heavy fraction of coal tar. A hydrodemetallization kinetic model of the mixture of the heavy fraction of low-temperature coal tar and coal shale is proposed. The kinetic parameters of the hydrodemetallization process were determined; in addition, the rate constants at various temperatures were estimated. The study shows that the distribution of trace elements in the hydrogenate from the initial mixture and in the hydrogenate from the solid residue was characterized by relatively low values of reaction rate constants. The maximum microelement distribution rate was achieved in the hydrogenate solid residue. Energy indicators of activation processes indicated that hydrodemetallization at low temperatures is advantageous from an energy point of view.

Herein, we disclosed a method of preparing a nanocatalyst containing nickel-cobalt by impregnation in a hydrochloric acid medium. Optimal conditions were established for all stages of nanocatalyst preparation using the method of probabilistic–deterministic experiment planning: hydrochloric acid concentration—1 mol/L, ratio of HCl concentration to nickel concentration—20, ratio of HCl concentration to cobalt concentration—20. The method of planning the experiment of preparing a nanocatalyst allows varying all the factors simultaneously and obtaining quantitative estimates of the main effects and effects of interaction, as well as establishing the dominant factors affecting the activity and selectivity of the nanocatalyst during the hydrogenation of benzothiophene. The multifactorial equation was obtained, which allowed us to calculate the optimal manufacturing parameters of the nanocatalyst, providing high activity and selectivity during the hydrogenation of benzothiophene. In the proposed nanocatalyst, a readily available natural chrysotile–asbestos with a nanotube diameter of 60–75 nm was used as a carrier for the benzothiophene hydrogenation process.