A gas chromatograph for the development of new green processes for upgrading oil sands bitumen and clean fuel production

加拿大有大量的沥青和重油储备。不幸的是，沥青和重油的氢含量低，并且含有大量的S和N化合物。因此，重油和沥青的改质需要消耗大量的氢气。氢气主要由天然气的蒸汽重整产生，由于供应短缺，天然气的价格最近显着上涨。我们已经发现了一种新的方法来生产氢气原位改质重油和沥青乳液通过水煤气变换反应。为了进一步开发乳液改质方法，必须开发用于水煤气变换反应的更活性的催化剂。 这些研究将涉及在间歇式反应器中进行水煤气变换反应，并使用专门配置用于测量CO、CO2、H2、H2S和轻质烃的GC（也称为炼厂气分析仪）分析气态产物。这样的GC对我们的研究是必要的。没有它，就不能确定沥青和重油乳液中催化剂活性和水煤气变换反应动力学和机理的数据。因此，该设备对我们研究开发一种新的绿色重油和沥青改质工艺是必不可少的。该设备也将用于我的清洁燃料生产项目。这些项目将有助于开发新的绿色技术，以满足我们的能源需求和保护我们的环境。 这项研究和所要求的设备还将为加拿大油砂和能源工业急需的高技能人员提供培训。

Canada has a large reserve of bitumen and heavy oil. Unfortunately, bitumen and heavy oils are low in hydrogen content and contain a high amount of S and N compounds. Therefore upgrading of heavy oil and bitumen require consumption of large amounts of hydrogen. Hydrogen is produced primarily from the steam reforming of natural gas which has increased in price significantly recently due to the short supply. We have found a novel way to produce hydrogen in situ for upgrading heavy oil and bitumen emulsions via the water gas shift reaction. To further develop the emulsion upgrading process, development of more active catalyst for the water gas shift reaction has to be carried out.  Such studies will involve carrying out the water gas shift reaction in a batch reactor and analyzing the gaseous products using a GC which is specially configured to measure CO, CO2, H2, H2S and light hydrocarbons also known as a refinery gas analyzer. Such a GC is necessary for our research. Without it no data on the activity of the catalyst and the kinetics and mechanisms of the water gas shift reaction in the bitumen and heavy oil emulsion can be determined. Therefore this equipment is absolutely essential for our research on the development of a new green process for heavy oil and bitumen upgrading. This equipment will also be used for my project on the production of clean fuel. These projects will contribute to the development of new green technologies to meet our energy demand and to protect our environment.  This research and the equipment requested will also provide training to highly skilled personnel who are in high demand for Canada's oilsands and energy industry.