| abstract |
A process of preparing a highly dispersed (colloidal or submicron size) heterogeneous catalyst for the hydrothermal conversion of heavy oils and residua is described. The process comprises preparing a reverse micellar dispersion by mixing water, an organic solvent, and an ionic or neutral surfactant to which is added an aqueous solution of a metal salt. The metal salt is reduced to a colloidal dispersion of the catalyst in a mixed water-organic liquid phase. The colloidal catalyst is then blended into resid or heavy oil fractions, and the blend is treated under hydrothermal conditions. |