Inventors:
Zhixiong Cha - Salt Lake City UT, US
International Classification:
C10G 15/12
Abstract:
A method for upgrading heavy hydrocarbons into more usable hydrocarbon products is provided. The method provides for the steps of adding heavy hydrocarbons to a solvent system to form a reaction medium, and ozonating the reaction medium with an ozone containing gas to provide ozonation products. The solvent system can include a first solvent that solubilizes at least a portion of the heavy hydrocarbons and a reactive solvent which reacts with ozonation intermediates. Reactive solvent is maintained at concentrations sufficient to decompose ozonation intermediates.