Abstract
Hydrogen-donating hydrocarbons (hydroaromatics) have seldom been used as radical scavengers to date except in such processes as coal liquefaction and heavy oil upgrading. By the studies on the properties and the application of these materials, the following elemental facts were found and confirmed; (1) Pure hydrocarbons without functional groups containing heteroatoms can have radical scavenging abilities as high as conventional antioxidants. (2) These materials can be obtained from petroleum. (3) Hydrogendonating hydrocarbons exhibit radical scavenging effects even in oxidative atmospheres, that is, they function as antioxidants. (4) Such characteristics as resistant to heat and radiation, and very low additive effects on the electrical and dielectric properties of base materials, resulting from their pure hydrocarbon constitution were confirmed.
With regard to heavy oil hydroprocessing, it was revealed that a particular mechanism based on steric effects concurrent with the hydrogen-donating effects appeared by the addition of thermally treated heavy alkylaromatics.
By these facts, together with many practical tests, great possibilities to make use of these materials seem to be viable.
