18 CH705A Petroleum Refining Engineering-II

CARBON RESIDUE (FCC)

Carbon residue is defined as the carbonaceous residue formed after thermal

destruction of the sample of petroleum fraction. Presence of carbon residue in the feed
reduces FCC throughput. Conventional gas oil feeds have carbon residue to
0.5%wt..For feeds containing resides the residue content can be as high as
15%w.There are four methods for estimation of carbon residue or concarbon of FCC
feedstocks. These are;
1. Conradson
2. Ramsbottom
3. Micro-method
4. Heptane insoluble
Objective of tests
The objective of the test is to indicate relative coke formation tendency of the
feedstock.

Conradson Carbon Residue (CCR)

Significance and Use

The carbon residue value of burner fuel serves as a rough approximation of the
tendency of the fuel to form deposits in vaporizing pot-type and sleeve-type burners.
Similarly, provided alkyl nitrates are absent (or if present, provided the test is
performed on the base fuel without additive) the carbon residue of diesel fuel
correlates approximately with combustion chamber deposits.

The carbon residue value of gas oil is useful as a guide in the manufacture of gas from
gas oil, while carbon residue values of crude oil residuums, cylinder and bright stocks,
are useful in the manufacture of lubricants.

Scope

This test method covers the determination of the amount of carbon residue (Note 1)
left after evaporation and pyrolysis of an oil, and is intended to provide some indication
of relative coke-forming propensities. This test method is generally applicable to
relatively non-volatile petroleum products which partially decompose on distillation at
atmospheric pressure.

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Apparatus

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Calculations
1.Weight of crucible = 𝑊1
2. Weight of crucible + Sample oil = 𝑊2
3. Wight of crucible + Carbon Residue = 𝑊3
4. Weight of Carbon residue = 𝑊3 − 𝑊1=𝑊4
5. Weight of Oil sample = 𝑊2 − 𝑊1=𝑊5

Then
𝑊
C.R. % = 𝑊4 x 100 %
5

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RAMSBOTTOM CARBON RESIDUE (RCR)
APPARATUS

Calculations
Calculate Ramsbottom carbon residue of the sample or the 10% distillation residue as
follows;
Carbon Residue = (A x 100) / W
Where
A = Mass of carbon residue, grams
W = Mass of sample, grams

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 Comparison of various Carbon Residue measurement methods

SN Test Description Advantages &

Disadvantages
1 Conradson The sample is placed in pre-weighed 1. The method is not
ASTM D-189 sample dish .The sample is heated a good measure
using a gas burner until the vapor because it
ceases to burn and no blue smoke is measures the
observed. After cooling the sample carbon residue
dish is weighed to calculate the based on thermal
percent carbon residue. cracking
2. It is labour
intensive
3. The results are not
reproducible
4. Procedure tends
to be subjective
2 Ramsbottom Four(4) grams of sample is weighed 1. Ramsbottom test
ASTM-D584 in a pre-weighed glass bulb. The is more precise
glass bulb with sample is then heated 2. Results are
in a hot bath for about 20 minutes. reproducible
The bath temperature is 553 Deg C (
1027Deg F).The sample bulb is then
cooled and weighed.
3 Micro-method This method uses analytical 1. Test results are
ASTM-D4530 instrument to measure the carbon in a similar to the
small automated set. Purpose of this Conradson test
test is to provide some indication of methodASTM-
the relative coke forming tendency of D189
such material
4 Heptane The heptane insoluble method is 1.Although they do not
insoluble commonly used to measure the provide rigorous
ASTM-D-3279 asphaltenes content of the feed. definition of asphaltenes
Asphaltenes are clusters of the method provides
polynuclear aromatic sheets. They practical ways of
are insoluble in C3-C7 paraffins. The assessing coke
amount of asphaltenes that precursors in FCC
precipitates varies from one solvent to feedstocks.
another, so that it is important that the 2.It should be noted here
reported asphaltenes values be that,
identified with the appropriate solvent. As per traditional
Both n-Heptane and pentane definition of asphaltenes
insoluble are widely used for they are heptane
measuring asphaltenes insoluble. Pentane
insoluble minus heptane
insoluble is definition of
resin. Resin molecules

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 are larger than aromatics
and smaller than
asphaltenes

Conradson and Ramsbottom test methods produce similar results and are
interchangeable.

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