Pyrolysis of Oil Sand Bitumen Using a Fixed-Bed Reactor: Process Modeling and Compositional Analysis

In the present work, a comprehensive study was carried out on the pyrolysis of oil sand bitumen using a fixed-bed reactor with a view to estimating the optimal conditions for maximum yields of oil, char, and gas. The laboratory scale experiments were designed and optimized using the response surface methodology and artificial neural network. The operational pyrolysis parameters adopted in the current study were sample dosage, reaction temperature, and reaction time, while the pyrolysis products were characterized using Fourier transform infrared and gas chromatography. The analysis of variance based on the response surface methodology showed that R 2 and adjusted R 2 values were >0.97 for oil, char, and gas yields, indicating that the model is compatible and adequate for estimating the respective interactions of process parameters on target variables. However, the artificial neural network showed that R 2 was >0.99 for training, validation, and testing, indicating that it is a relatively better model predictor of oil sand bitumen pyrolysis. Optimization results showed that temperature > 400 °C led to more production of gases, while low temperature favored the maximum production of chars. More oil yields were obtained using increased sample dosage at moderate temperatures. Functional group analysis showed the principal presence of C-H (CH2) and C-H (CH3) groups, indicating that aliphatic compounds are extant in the product oils. Compositional analysis showed that the pyrolytic oils contained organic compounds in the gasoline, kerosene, diesel, and residual fuel oil ranges. Methane was the predominant gas produced in the pyrolysis process. The study demonstrated the generative potential of oils and gases from oil sand bitumen.