Experimental Study on Viscosity Reduction of Iranian HeavyExport Crude Oil by Using Imidazolium Based Ionic LiquidsSupported On ZIF-۸ Organic Framework

Chemical - Thermal Technology is used to upgrade the quantity and to decrease the viscosity ofIranian extra-heavy crude oil in atmospheric pressure. In this present work, Ex-situ preparation of[OMIM][NTf۲]-ZIF-۸ (IL@ZIF-۸) nanostructures were performed solvothermally by using an oilsolublelong chain Ionic Liquids, [OMIM][NTf۲] and a zeolitic imidazolate framework, ZIF-۸. Thiscomplex was used in thermal cracking of heavy oil as a chemical additive. Injection of a little amountof the IL@ZIF-۸ to extra-heavy oil caused to produce gaseous compounds, naphtha, middle distillates,lubricating oil and tar. The viscosity measurement results show an evident viscosity reduction by ۹۱%for extra-heavy oil after chemical-thermal cracking at ۳۷۰°C during maximum ۱۲۰ min. The techniqueis ideally suited for cracking extra-heavy Iranian Crude oils such as Nowrooz-Soroosh oilfields. To thebest our knowledge, no report was found about chemothermally cracking heavy crude oils especially byusing IL@ZIF-۸ metal organic frameworks.