Modeling simulated distillation : A tool for the evaluation of hydroconverted petroleum residues

Simulated distillation, commonly applied to the characterization of complex products issued from the conversion of heavy petroleum fractions, provides information concerning the yield of distinct classes of distillable products. A simple modeling of simulated distillation data has been applied to several distillates obtained by hydroconversion of a vacuum residue. This model gives access to characteristic parameters which allows a description of this complex mixture in terms of two distinguishable components. The lighter one is produced through two simultaneous mechanisms, involving the rupture of substituted carbon positions and a symmetrical cleavage of the resulting molecules. The remaining component is representative of the initial feed and is preserved in a slightly modified state up to high level of conversion.