Features

• Introduces the powerful technology of hydrocarbon radiation processing
• Examines the current status of promising radiation technologies for upgrading and refining high-viscous crude oil and bitumen
• Presents both fundamental aspects and practical data from experiments
• Offers a comprehensive summary and study of this topic
• Gives special attention to low-temperature radiation cracking and radiation processing of high-viscous oil
• Summarizes applications of radiation methods for effective and economic solutions to acute global oil industry problems, such as oil desulfurization and regeneration of used oil products
• Provides information to help readers select hydrocarbon processing modes and predict results of radiation experiments

Summary

Radiation-thermal cracking of oil feedstock has the potential to offer a solution to many of the challenges the oil industry is facing. Radiation-induced chain cracking reactions in hydrocarbons at lowered temperatures initiated the development of improved technological approaches, combining the advantages of radiation-thermal cracking and low-temperature feedstock processing. However, researchers still face obstacles in the practical application of theory and experimental data, and the literature presents contradictions that need to be sorted out for further development of this technology.

Petroleum Radiation Processing fills an information gap, providing systematic descriptions of the fundamentals of radiation-induced cracking reactions in hydrocarbons. It analyzes the basic experiments that have brought about the rapid development of radiation technology for petroleum radiation processing during the last decades. The book provides a detailed introduction to radiation methods based on radiation-thermal and low-temperature cracking of hydrocarbons, emphasizing high-viscous oil feedstocks that are difficult to process by conventional methods—such as heavy and high-paraffinic crude oil, fuel oil, and bitumen. It helps readers understand the mechanisms and kinetics of low-temperature radiation cracking. 

The book addresses the application of promising radiation methods for solving critical environmental issues, such as oil desulfurization and regeneration of used lubricants and other used oil products. Examining experimental data as well as theoretical and technical approaches, it summarizes research progress in the field of petroleum radiation processing, providing a useful reference on the theory and technology of hydrocarbon radiation processing for chemical technologists, researchers, and students.

Table of Contents

Theory of Radiation-Induced Cracking Reactions in Hydrocarbons
Thermal Cracking: Number of Propagation Steps, Cracking Start Temperature, Reaction Rate
Radiation-Thermal Cracking
Other Estimations of Chain Length and Cracking Temperature
Low-Temperature Radiation Cracking
Thermodynamic Aspects of Radiation Cracking
Mechanisms of Radiation-Excited Molecular State Formation
Radiation Cracking of Extra-Heavy Oil and Bitumen
Effect of Electron Beam Pulse Characteristics on the Rate of Radiation-Thermal Cracking of Petroleum Feedstock

Experimental Studies of Radiation-Thermal Cracking in Hydrocarbons
Early Studies of Hydrocarbon Radiolysis
Experimental Studies of Radiation-Thermal Cracking of Hydrocarbons
Radiation-Thermal Cracking of Aromatic and Naphthene Hydrocarbons
Radiation-Thermal Cracking of High-Viscous Oil and Bitumen

Methods for the Petroleum Processing Based on Radiation-Thermal Cracking
Radiation Methods for High-Viscous Oil and Bitumen Processing
Radiation Methods for Lubricating Oil Processing
Radiation Processing of High-Paraffinic Oil and Oil Wastes at Heightened Temperatures
Radiation Methods for High-Sulfuric Oil Processing
Radiation-Thermal Processing for Regeneration and Utilization of Desulfurization Catalysts and Sorbents

Complex Radiation-Thermal Treatment and Radiation Ozonolysis of Petroleum Feedstock
Application of the Ionized Air and Ozone-Containing Air Mixtures for Enhanced Thermal and Radiation-Thermal Cracking
Application of the Ionized Air in Low-Temperature Radiation Processing
Mechanism of Combined Action of Low-Temperature
Ionizing Irradiation and Radiation Ozonolysis

High Dose-Rate Radiation Processing of Petroleum Feedstock in a Wide Temperature Range
Classification of Radiation Chain Cracking Reactions in Hydrocarbons
High-Temperature Radiation-Thermal Cracking (350°C–450°C)
Low-Temperature Radiation Cracking (200°C–350°C)
Cold Radiation Cracking (PetroBeam Process < 200oC)