Petroleum Refinery

Experiment No.: 1

Title: Standard Test Method for

Conradson Carbon Residue of Petroleum Products D189
Objective: To determine the amount of carbon residue left after evaporation
and pyrolysis of crude oil.

Introduction:
Carbon residue is defined as the residue formed by evaporation and thermal
degradation of a carbon containing material.
When a petroleum fraction is heated and vaporized in the absence of air at
atmospheric pressure, the nonvolatile compounds have a carbonaceous
residue known as carbon residue CR, therefore heavier fractions with more
aromatic contents have higher carbon residues while volatile and light
fractions such as naphthas and gasolines have no carbon residues, CR is
particularly an important characteristic of crude oils and residues. Higher CR
values indicate low quality fuel and less hydrogen content. In most cases CR is
reported in wt% by conradson method as %CCR.
Carbon residue can be correlated to a number of other properties. It increases
with an increase in carbon to hydrogen ratio (C/H), sulfur content, nitrogen
content and asphaltenes content. As hydrogen content increases the carbon
residue decreases. The hydrogen content is expressed in terms of H/C. The
following relation can be used to estimate CCR from H/C:
%CCR = 148.7 – 86.96 H/C

Apparatus & Materials:

Conradson carbon residue apparatus includes the
following:
1. Porcelain Crucible
2. Iron Crucible— Skidmore iron crucible

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3. Iron Crucible
4. Wire Support
5. Hood
6. Insulator—Asbestos block, refractory ring, or hollow sheet-metal box
7. Burner
8. Sample of crude oil

Procedure:
1- Weigh accurately the empty dry and clean crucible on the analytical
balance, M1, gm.
2- Shake thoroughly the sample to be tested, first heating to 50°C when
necessary to reduce its viscosity.
3- A 10 g sample is weighed (free of moisture & suspended matter) into a
porcelain crucible containing 2 glass beads (M2).
4- The crucible is placed in the center of skidmore crucible which is set at
the center of the iron crucible and covers are applied to both of
skidmore & iron crucible.
5- A strong flame is applied from the gas burner to have high heat for a
period of 10 min.
6- When smoke appears form the chimney the burner is moved or tilted to
ignite the vapor then removed temporarily.
7- When the vapors cease to burn the heat is reapplied until the bottom of
the sheet iron crucible is cherry red.
8- The burner is removed and the apparatus is cooled until no smoke
appears then the cover of skidmore crucible is removed (about 15 min)
9- The porcelain or silica crucible is removed, cooled and weighed again
accurately, M3, gm and the % of carbon residue is calculated based on
the original sample.

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Results & Calculations:

Calculate the carbon residue of the Sample, from the equation:

Where;

is the mass of empty crucible, in grams;

is the mass of crucible + test Portion, in grams;

is the mass of crucible + residue, in grams.

Discussion:
1- What are the most important factors that affect the accuracy of the
results of this experiment?
2- What is the impact of carbon on the devices and equipment which treats
crude oil and petroleum products with high percentage of carbon
residue?
3- Do impurities and suspended matters have any effect on the results?
How can you eliminate this effect?
4- Which hydrocarbons are expected to have a higher carbon residue?
Why?

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Petroleum Refinery Lab.

Worksheet

Experiment no.: 1
Title: Conradson Carbon Residue (CCR)

Name:
Class:
Date:

Mass of empty crucible, ,g

Mass of crucible + test Portion, ,g

Mass of crucible + residue, ,g

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