Mexican Institute of Petroleum

About: Mexican Institute of Petroleum is a government organization based out in Mexico City, Mexico. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Catalysis & Asphaltene. The organization has 3273 authors who have published 4170 publications receiving 87269 citations.

Evidence for Lewis and Brønsted Acid Sites on MgO Obtained by Sol-Gel

Abstract: Traditionally, magnesium oxide has been considered a typical basic catalyst, catalyst carrier and/or adsorbent. In this study MgO was prepared using Mg-ethoxide dissolved in ethanol and hydrolyzed with various aqueous inorganic acids and bases. We have found that it is possible to induce Bronsted and Lewis acid sites depending on the method of preparation and, more specifically, on the type of inorganic acids used in the hydrolysis stage. In the FTIR spectra of adsorbed pyridine on MgO obtained using aqueous HCl (pH = 3), the bands corresponding to Lewis (1603, 1496 and 1444 cm−1) and Bronsted (1550 cm−1) acid sites are observed. The fact that upon vacuum and high temperature treatment, i.e., at 773 K, the above mentioned bands are clearly distinguishable indicated that the acid sites are very strong. On the other hand, the MgO materials obtained using aqueous acetic acid as a hydrolysis catalyst (pH = 5), and that without any catalyst (pH = 7) showed only Lewis acid sites which decreased markedly upon higher temperature treatment. When aqueous NH4OH (pH = 9) was used as the hydrolysis catalyst, the MgO obtained showed only Lewis acid sites. In all cases the number of Lewis acid sites was greater than that of Bronsted sites.

Modeling, simulation and analysis of heavy oil hydroprocessing in fixed-bed reactors employing liquid quench streams

Abstract: This work presents the modeling and analysis of heavy oil hydroprocessing in a fixed-bed reactor system with liquid quenching. Hydroprocessing tests at various operating conditions were conducted in a multi-reactor pilot plant, with inter-bed injection of quench gas or liquid. Based on the experimental information, a heterogeneous plug-flow reactor model was developed to simulate the behavior of the process with both gas and liquid quenching. Major reactions such as hydrodesulfurization (HDS), hydrodenitrogenation (HDN), hydrodemetallization (HDM), hydrodeasphaltenization (HDAs), and hydrocracking (HCR) are considered. The model showed to predict quite well the experimental data in the range of the studied operating conditions. The analysis was extended to simulate the commercial process and to analyze different quenching schemes from an economical point of view. It was determined that the liquid quenching scheme reduces the consumption of utilities and equipment requirements, and thereby total costs, without affecting product quality.

Experimental and Theoretical Approach To Determine the Average Asphaltene Structure of a Crude Oil from the Golden Lane (Faja de Oro) of Mexico

Abstract: The structural parameters and average molecular structures of the asphaltenes obtained from the Aguacate oilfield, located in the Golden Lane of Mexico, have been investigated combining experimenta...