Key words: asphaltite, supercritical water, aluminum, hydrogenation, desulfurization
The conversion of asphaltite (gross-formula CH1.23N0.017S0.037O0.01) in supercritical water (SCW) flow at 400 °C and 30 MPa with and without addition of aluminum shavings is investigated. Composition and amount of products and insoluble conversion residue are determined by means of liquid-adsorption chromatography, elemental analysis, IR and NMR 1H spectroscopy, mass spectrometry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. It is found out that SCW not only dissolves asphaltite components, but it participates in redox reactions. Hydrogen and heat evolution during the aluminum oxidation by SCW provide for in situ hydrogenation of asphaltite, increase the fraction of aromatic and polyaromatic compounds in liquid products and decrease the yield of insoluble conversion residue from 44.5 to 11.3 %. If aluminum is added, the degree of asphaltite desulfurization, as a result of sulfur removal in the form of H2S, increases by more than 3.5 times.