Ash content
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This document outlines an experiment aimed at determining the ash content of crude oil samples from different regions, specifically comparing Urals and Escravos crude oils. Results indicate that Urals crude oil has a higher ash content (5%) compared to Escravos (2.15%), which could impact the treatment processes necessary before distillation due to potential corrosion issues. The experiment successfully demonstrated the differences in ash content, important for understanding the necessary treatment required for crude oil samples in the industry.
Ash content
- 1. Eric Hagenimana A00015905 GROUP: Faustin, Oscar, Nuhu DETERMINATION OF CRUDE OIL SAMPLES ASH CONTENTS ABSTRACT The aim of this experiment is to determine the ash content of crude oil samples from different regions. Ash content in crude oil is an indication of the amount of its metallic constituents. The ash left after completely burning an oil sample usually consists of stable metallic salts, metal oxides, and silicon oxide. In this lab experiment 20ml of crude oil from Ascradous and 20ml of Urals crude oil sample were used. The results show that Urals (5%) has greater percentage of ash content than Escravos (2.15%). INTRODUCTION As it is very well known, crude oil contains so many components. Amongst them, include ash content, which mainly metal or metallic compounds. Ash content in crude oil is an indication of the amount of its metallic constituents. The ash left after completely burning an oil sample usually consists of stable metallic salts, metal oxides, and silicon oxide. The determination of ash content can be carried out using a furnace whereby the crude samples are combusted up to 700oC. In heating, we assume that at 700oC all other hydrocarbons are burned off. The presence of Ash in crude oil is unfavorable because it can cause corrosion during crude oil treatment. MATERIALS AND CHEMICAL Crude oil samples, crucibles and analytical scale and furnace were the only materials used in this experiment PROCEDURE First of all, two clean and dry crucibles were weighted, and then pour 20 ml of crude oil samples were poured in each crucible (Urals and escravos, one in each crucible). The crucible containing the sample was measured. Put the crucible containing the crude oil sample in the furnace and set the furnace temperature to 700 C. The furnace was allowed for 10 minutes before switching it off. After switching off the furnace, the crucibles were allowed to cool until the temperature dropped to the ambient condition (approximately 30 minutes), then the crucibles were removed and weighed again. The recorded tabulated in the below table.
- 2. RESULTS AND DISCUSION Escravos Urals Crucible+ crude oil before treatment with furnace 36.730g 37.240g Crude oil weight before treatment with furnace 15.789g 16.346g Weight of crude oil + crucible after treatment with furnace 21.28g 19.895g Weight of ash 0.339g ~ 2.15% 0.999g ~ 5% The mass of crude oil remained in after the treatment of furnace is assumed to be the ash content because all other hydrocarbons were burned off. From the table above it is clear that Urals (5%) has a greater percentage of ash content than Escravos (2.15%). QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 0.1.Ash content determination in crude oil is very important, especially in Oil industry because it helps in understanding the level or the type of treatment a given crude oil sample must undergo in order to remove ash before it must be sent into distillation column since metallic compound cause corrosion and poison catalysts. 0.2.When crude oil is heated at high temperature inside the furnace, lower and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons are all burned off until they evaporate leaving higher boiling point metallic compounds in the crucible. Since the temperature is higher than atmospheric distilling column temperature, some hydrocarbons, especially heavy one are also subjected to cracking before they are gasified. Equation of the Reaction: Crude Oil CO2 + H2O Vapor + MZ+ MOx, Where MZ and MOx represent metallic compounds and metal oxides that are left after heating CRUDE OIL. 0.3. According to masses obtained after heating both crude oil samples, it is clear that Urals has higher quantity of the ash content than Escravos crude oil sample. From the table above it is clear that Urals (2%) has a greater percentage of ash content than Ascradous (0.85%). CONCLUSION The aim of this experiment which was to determine the ash content of crude oil samples from different regions was successfully achieved. Since the greater presence ash content requires an additional treatment process of removing ash from the crude oil sample before it must be sent to the distillation column, Ural, which has greater quantities of ash content 2% than Ascradous 0.85% must be treated more than Ascradous. REFERENCE • Lab manual • Samir, Matar and Lewis .F, Hatch. Chemistry of Petrochemical Process, 2nd Ed.