FUNCTIONALIZED FILTERS FOR HEAVY OIL UPGRADING

摘要

This invention relates to a process for separating a hydrocarbon stream via a filtration process to produce an upgraded permeate stream with decreased Conradson Carbon Residue ("CCR") content. The invention involves the modification of a porous ceramic filter by functionalizing the surface of the ceramic filter with an multi-ring aromatic-diimide polymer. Preferably, the multi-ring aromatic-diimide polymer is comprised of a multi-ring aromatic monomer component. The funetiorialized filters of the present invention can be used in a process to selectively separate components of a hydrocarbon stream to produce an improved permeate (or "filtrate") product stream with a lower CCR content and improved processing capabilities. The functionalized filters of the present invention are particularly beneficial in filtration processes for upgrading heavy hydrocarbon feedstreams, such as whole crudes, topped crudes, synthetic crude blends, shale oils, oils derived from bitumens, oils derived from tar sands, atmospheric resids, vacuum resids, or other heavy hydrocarbon streams.