DUHOK POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF TECHNICAL ENGINEERING

DEPARTMENT OF PETROCHEMICAL

CONRADSON CARBON RESIDUE

OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
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SIYAR M. SALEEM
PETROLEUM REFINERY LAB.
Group B
Report No. 1
February 16, 2019
OBJECTIVE
To determine the amount of carbon residue left after evaporation and pyrolysis of
crude oil.

INTRODUCTION
Conradson carbon residue, commonly known as "CCR" is a laboratory test
used to provide an indication of the coke-forming tendencies of an oil.
Quantitatively, the test measures the amount of carbonaceous residue remaining
after the oil's evaporation and pyrolysis In general, the test is applicable to
petroleum products which are relatively non-volatile, and which decompose on
distillation at atmospheric pressure. The phrase "Conradson carbon residue" and
its common names can refer to either the test or the numerical value obtained
from it.
Carbon residue for a fossil fuel can be defined as the tendency of that fuel to
form carbon deposits at high temperature in an inert atmosphere. Carbon residue
for a fuel is measured in weight percentage (wt %) or parts per million by weight
(ppm wt). High carbon residue value is undesirable for a fuel. When oil is heated
to a high temperature in the absence of sufficient air a portion of the oil will
distill, thus leaving a carbon residue. The amount of this residue is an index to the
extent the oil is likely to decompose in service.

CONRADSON CARBON RESIDUE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 1

What is pyrolysis of petroleum materials:
Pyrolysis is a form of treatment that chemically decomposes organic materials by
heat in the absence of oxygen. Pyrolysis typically occurs under pressure and at
operating temperatures above 430 C (800 F). In practice, it is not possible to
achieve a completely oxygen-free atmosphere. Because some oxygen is present
in any pyrolysis system, a small amount of oxidation occurs. If volatile or semi-
volatile materials are present in the waste, thermal desorption will also occur.
Pyrolysis transforms hazardous organic materials into gaseous components, small
quantities of liquid, and a solid residue (coke) containing fixed carbon and ash.
Pyrolysis of organic materials produces combustible gases, including carbon
monoxide, hydrogen and methane, and other hydrocarbons. If the off-gases are
cooled, liquids condense producing an oil/tar residue and contaminated water.

CONRADSON CARBON RESIDUE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 2

APPARATUS AND MATERILAS:
 Porcelain crucible
 Iron crucible (Skidmore iron crucible)
 Iron crucible
 Wire support
 Hood
 Insulator (refractory ring, Asbestos block)
 Burner
 Sample of Crude oil

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PROCEDURE

1. Weigh the porcelain crucible.

2. Fill the porcelain crucible with 5g
3. Set-up the apparatus by placing the wire triangle on top of the tripod and
then the refractory block insulator ring on top of the wire triangle.
4. Place the porcelain crucible inside the skidmore crucible and then place the
skidmore crucible inside the nickel (Iron) crucible. Cover the skidmore
crucible and then cover the nickel (Iron) crucible.
5. Place the nickel (Iron) crucible inside the insulator ring.
6. Place the carbon residue apparatus hood on top of the insulator ring.
7. Light up the burner and place it under the tripod.
8. Start the timer and wait for the hood to produce smoke and flame.
9. Once the hood stops producing smoke and flame.
10. Wait for the crucible to cool down and then check for residue.

TOLERANCES: Weights of oil sample should be accurate to within 5 mg. Tests

should be run in duplicate and repeated if necessary, until the percentages of
carbon residue differ by not more than 10 per cent from an average.

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CALCULATIONS

Calculate the carbon residue of the sample, from equation below:

𝑴𝟑−𝑴𝟏
Carbon residue = % (m / m) =
𝑴𝟐−𝑴𝟏

Where

M1 is the mass of empty crucible in grams

M2 is mass of crucible + test portion in grams

M3 is mass of crucible + residue in grams

CONRADSON CARBON RESIDUE OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS 5

DISCUSSION

-What are most important factors that affect the accuracy of the results of this
experiment
Answer/ Random errors main factor which gives us wrong results, Incorrect
measurements may affect the accuracy of result as well as non-fully absence of
Oxygen may cause errors in the results, Impurities and suspended matter have
effect on the result.

-What is impact of carbon on the device and equipment which treats crude oil
and petroleum products with high percentage of carbon residue
Answer/ Hydrocarbon that contain high CCR values, especially in excess of
about 2 to 5 wt %, can be undesirable for use in some refinery catalytic
conversion processes as they tend to increase the amount of coke in the refinery
catalytic conversion processes and deactivate the catalysts at an unacceptable
high rate for practical or optimal commercial use.
The high carbon residue of a fuel will tend to form carbon deposits under high
temperature conditions in an inert atmosphere, the carbon deposit will decrease
the performance of fuel and carbon deposit will precipitate on the device or
equipment so it will negatively affect the performance of device or equipment.

-Do impurities and suspended matter have any effect on the result?
How can you eliminate this effect?
Answer/ Impurities and suspended matter have effect on the result because
there are some impurities in crude oil doesn't decompose in low temperature
and some suspended causes the error in results.
We can eliminate this effect by applying high heat to let impurities decompose
and also, we can filtrate the sample to remove some suspended and impurities

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-Which hydrocarbon are expected to have a higher carbon residue? And why?
Answer/ heavier oils (Aromatics) have much higher carbon residues and more
complex and longer hydrocarbon components, because high carbon means low
hydrogen, the nonvolatile compounds have a carbonaceous residue know as
carbon residue, therefore heavier fraction with more aromatic contents have
higher carbon residue.

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