Removal of Asphaltenes using Ionic Liquid-Effect of Ionic Liquid on Asphaltenes Characteristics

The objective of this project is to study the potential of ionic liquid in removing heavy,
high molecular weight multi-ring aromatics, and/or resins, and/or polycyclic hetero atom -
containing aromatics which is referred to collectively as asphaltenes from heavy hydrocarbon
feed streams.
The asphaltenes which interact with ionic liquid will be separated and removed from the
remainder of the heavy hydrocarbon feed stream containing saturates (S), aromatics (A) and
resin (R). The ionic liquid now saturated with the asphaltenes is expectantly be recovered by the
addition of water for re-use.
The first approach is to analyze the change of asphaltene average molecular weight after
being contacted with ionic liquid. Second approach is to investigate asphaltene aggregate size, in
case asphaltenes form agglomerate. Third approach is to examine the significant role of low
boiling solvent such as water to recover and re-use ionic liquid saturated with asphaltene. The
environment of this research also includes determining the characteristic change of the
asphaltenes in term of elemental contents (C, H, and S), molecular weight and surface
morphology. Two (2) types of commercial ionic liquid have been selected for the research work.
To this end, it is expected that the content maltenes to increase while the content of asphaltenes
to decrease