Abstract
Catalytic cracking of bitumen with steam was examined. The heavy oil fraction of bitumen reacted with active oxygen species generated from steam with the iron oxide catalyst, producing significant amounts of light oil. However, some coke formed in the reaction of bitumen using toluene solvent because the oxygen species might be insufficient to react with heavy oil fraction. To enhance the reaction of heavy oil with the oxygen species, 1-methylnaphthalene was used as solvent at higher time factor. As a result, coke formation was successfully suppressed.
