Chemistry:Bitumen-based fuel
Bitumen-based fuel is fuel specifically developed for industrial use. Raw bitumen, processed from Bituminous rocks, has an extremely high viscosity.
Properties
Bitumen has an extremely high viscosity, between 8 and 10 API degrees (at ambient temperatures), rendering it unusable for use in electric power stations. Bitumen can be modified by mixing it with fresh water and a small amount of phenol-based surfactant. The resulting mixture has properties similar to conventional fuel oil.[citation needed]
A newer version of bitumen-based fuel has replaced the original version with an alcohol-based surfactant, making it easier to transport the fuel and eliminating the health concerns associated with the phenol group of surfactants.[citation needed]
Industrial exploitation
The most well known bitumen-based fuel has been developed by Intevep, the Research and Development Affiliate of Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA), in a collaboration with BP,[1] and is branded "Orimulsion." It is an emulsion of natural bitumen mined from the Orinoco Belt and fresh water.
Bitumen-based fuel is currently used as a commercial boiler fuel in power plants in Canada , Japan , Lithuania, and China . Commonly available air pollutant control technology can limit emissions from Orimulsion to levels considered Best Available Control Technology, as defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
See also
References
- ↑ Ashmar (2010), pp. 14–15
Further reading
- Ashmar, Basil Nashat (2010). Fossil Fuels in the Arab World: Facts and Fiction: Global and Arab Insights of Oil, Natural Gas and Coal. Lulu.com. ISBN 9780956736802. https://books.google.com/books?id=YTUOAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA14.
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