Abstract: The enhancement of the deasphalting process for vacuum residue was investigated by applying an electric field. A vacuum residue sample was selected, and the effects of electric field intensity on the deasphalting process were studied under the conditions of a sedimentation time of 0.5—4 h and a solvent-to-residue mass ratio of 1—4. The results show that, in the absence of an electric field, increasing sedimentation time and solvent-to-residue mass ratio improves the asphaltene removal ratio, deoiled asphalt yield, and asphaltene content in the deoiled asphalt. Applying the electric field further enhances separation efficiency and reduces solvent consumption. At the maximum asphaltene removal ratio, the electric field shortens sedimentation time from 3 h to less than 1 h and increases the asphaltene removal ratio by approximately 12 percentage points. Additionally, under a fixed sedimentation time of 1 h and comparable asphaltene removal ratios, the electric field significantly reduces solvent usage.

Key words: electric field, vacuum residue, deasphalting, asphaltene