C7 asphaltenes from Athabasca crude oil were hydrotreated using a commercial NiW/Al₂O₃ catalyst and analyzed using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Results showed that the catalyst performed better in the removal of sulfur rather than nitrogen and that sulfur concentration is higher at the surface in comparison to the bulk structure. Moreover, the sample after reaction had a higher oxygen content in comparison to the untreated asphaltene, indicating poor hydrodeoxygenation performance of the catalyst in addition to a higher reactivity toward atmospheric oxygen at the surface of the asphaltene. The latter is proposed to arise once the layer of resin covering the asphaltene is partially converted during the hydrotreating process.

中文翻译：

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加氢处理的阿萨巴斯卡沥青的X射线光电子能谱分析

使用商业化的NiW / Al ₂ O ₃催化剂对Athabasca原油中的C7沥青质进行加氢处理，并使用X射线光电子能谱进行分析。结果表明，该催化剂在去除硫方面比在氮方面表现更好，并且与本体结构相比，表面的硫浓度更高。此外，与未处理的沥青质相比，反应后的样品具有更高的氧含量，表明该催化剂除了对沥青质表面上的大气氧具有更高的反应性之外，还具有较差的催化剂加氢脱氧性能。提议后者在加氢处理过程中一旦覆盖沥青质的树脂层部分转化就出现。