Abstract: The thermal cracking reaction performances in hydrogen atmosphere of asphaltenes from Shanxi Baode coal tar (BD-C7-ASP) and Xinjiang Tahe vacuum residue (VR-C7-ASP) were studied by thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that the BD-C7-ASP is easier to convert and the initial weight loss temperature is around 250℃，while a significant pyrolysis of VR-C7-ASP is observed at the temperature higher than 400℃. In slurry-phase reaction, BD-C7-ASP is also more likely to be converted with less amount of coke at the same condition. The conversion rate of BD-C7-ASP is 98.87% at 340℃，while the rate of VR-C7-ASP is only 27.11% at 360℃. The H/C of BD-C7-ASP hydrogenation product is higher with lower aromaticity, indicating a significant hydrogenation occurred, while for VR-C7-ASP the dealkylation of asphaltenes occurs mainly. On the basis of the properties of middle/low temperature coal tar and the reactivity of asphaltenes from coal tar, a new slurry bed hydroprocessing route for the coal tar was proposed, in which the metal removal in the feedstock is maximized while the asphaltene conversion is considered. The new route showed a high adaptability of different feedstock in autoclave tests and a pilot study must be carried out for further study.

Key words: asphaltene, reaction performance, thermal cracking, catalytic hydro-thermal conversion