Pyrolysis and oxidation of heavy fuel oils and their fractions in a thermogravimetric apparatus

Using the derivative thermogravimetric technique, an investigation was made of the pyrolysis and oxidation of some heavy fuel oils and their separate paraffinic, aromatic, polar and asphaltene fractions. The thermal behaviour of fuel oil can be interpreted in terms of a low-temperature (< 400 °C) phase involving the volatilization of paraffinic and aromatic fractions, and a high-temperature phase in which the polar and asphaltene fractions pyrolyse and leave a particulate carbon residue. In an oxidizing atmosphere, the first phase (< 400 °C) consists of the simultaneous evaporation and oxidation of paraffinic and aromatic fractions. The second phase (400-550 °C) consists mainly of pyrolysis of oxidized polar materials, the asphaltenes, with a final phase involving the burning of the carbonaceous residue formed in the second stage. © 1984.