Abstract: Hydrothermal catalytic cracking catalyst with high efficiency of viscosity reduction, sulfur and nitrogen resistance is the key to the utilization technology of oil sand bitumen resource. H-type clinoptilolite carrier and microporous Ni-based catalyst were prepared using natural clinoptilolite. Its performance in hydrothermal cracking of the model compound and in visbreaking and upgrading of SAGD oil sand bitumen in McCann, Canada were investigated. The results showed that the Ni-based clinoptilolite catalyst exhibited good catalytic cracking performance and hydrothermal stability in the process of hydrothermal cracking with n-hexadecane as the model compound. The catalyst could significantly reduce the bitumen viscosity, increase the yield of middle distillate oil, and reduce the sulfur and nitrogen content to a certain extent. It could be used for viscosity reduction and upgrading of oil sand bitumen under medium and low temperature and non-hydrogen conditions.

Key words: natural clinoptilolite, nickel-based clinoptilite, oil sand bitumen, visbreaking and upgrading