Ethylene Glycol Route Synthesis of Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles as a Catalyst in Aquathermolysis

Abstract

NiO nanoparticles have been synthesized as catalyst in aquathermolysis for viscosity reduction of heavy oil. NiO nanoparticles were prepared by using NiCl2•6H2O as raw material via ethylene glycol route. In the process, NH4HCO3and ethylene glycol were used as reductant and to prevent nanoparticles from agglomeration, respectively. The obtained NiO nanoparticles have crystallite size about 15.4 nm, nearly uniform particles size, well dispersion with diameter around 65 nm, spherical morphology, and the spesific surface area 158.4 m2/gram. In a catalytic activity test, it showed that the viscosity of heavy oil could be reduced up to 22% when NiO nanoparticles were added in aquathermolysis reaction. This result confirmed that NiO nanoparticles have good catalytic properties in the viscosity reduction of heavy oil.