Heavy oil upgrading. Semi annual report {number_sign}2, April 1--September 30, 1996

For the period April 1 to September 30, 1996, research efforts were focused on the synthesis and characterization of large quantities of Metal Substituted Aluminophosphate Molecular Sieves Catalysts of type 36 structure (MeAPO-36) for use in the upgrading of petroleum residuum. So far the authors have succeeded in synthesizing catalysts samples containing magnesium, zinc, cobalt and manganese in the frameworks of the respective molecular sieve. Preliminary characterization studies done by Infrared Spectroscopy demonstrated that these materials contains the Bronsted acid sites that they proposed will be active centers in the Mild Hydrocracking Process. Recently, a range of interesting aluminosilicates mesoporous materials was synthesized by Mobil R and D. These materials, known as MCM-41 type materials, contain ultra large pore unidimensional channels ranging from 20 angstrom to 100 angstrom and therefore have tremendous potential for Resid upgrading since their acid strengths are milder than zeolite. To broaden the scope of the project, MCM 41 was synthesized in the laboratory according to published procedures and the structure was confirmed by XRD. In addition, an ultra large pore high silica zeolite, UTD-1, containing a 14 angstrom tetrahedral atom pore opening was recently synthesized by Researchers at Texas A and M University. Like MCM-41, this material also has tremendous potential for Resid Upgrading since the pores are capable of accommodating larger organic molecules. The authors are currently characterizing samples of this zeolite that they intend to use in conjunction with the MeAPOs to form composite catalysts for use in resid upgrading