Catalytic Air-Blowing Process for Bitumen-Kinetic Aspects
IR@IIP: CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun
View Archive Info| Field | Value | |
| Creator |
Jain,P.K
Saxena,A.K Singh,Singh |
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| Date |
2009-07-15T11:20:20Z
2009-07-15T11:20:20Z 2009-07-15T11:20:20Z |
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| Identifier |
Recent Advances in Basic and Applied Aspects of Industrial Catalysis Studies in Surface Science and Catalysis, Vol. 113
http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/348 |
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| Description |
Bitumen is a fine dispersion of high molecular weight hydrocarbon species, known as
asphaltenes, in a medium called maltenes, which in turn consists of resins and oils. Air
blowing is an extensively used process to upgrade and achieve specifications of final
bitumen product. The air blowing process is accompanied by hardening of bitumen, with
corresponding changes in chemical composition thereby yielding product having acceptable
consistency and temperature susceptibility. The main reactions accompanying air blowing
are polymerization of unsaturated species, dehydrogenation, and condensation. The
asphaltenes fraction generally acts as a filler in bitumen, whereas resins impart adhesive
properties due to inherent unsaturation present in their cyclic group and oils are responsible
for the fluidity. Hence, the relative proportion of these components plays a significant role
in deciding upon physico-chemical characteristics of the final blown bitumen. Air blowing
as such is a time consuming process. Depending upon the grade of final product, many solid
catalysts are used to increase the rate of reaction and improve physico-chemical properties of
bitumen. FeCh is known to be one ofthe most effective and least expensive catalysts in this
process.
This paper presents the results of an extensively carried out experimental study in a
batch reactor. Blends of Bombay High short residue in admixture with Iran, Arab mix and
Dubai short residues have been studied in detail. Kinetics of air blowing process of bitumen
deduced from physical and chemical properties, measured during the process is described.
The use of catalyst, enabled the reaction time to reduced significantly and increases the rate
of reaction about three to four times depending upon feed stock composition without
affecting the properties of bitumens. Kinetic parameters of the model used to describe the
process are presented quantifying the effect of catalyst in accelerating the air blowing
reactions.
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| Language |
en_US
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| Subject |
Heterogeneous Catalysis
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| Title |
Catalytic Air-Blowing Process for Bitumen-Kinetic Aspects
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| Type |
Article
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