Purifying Crude Petroleum by Using Porous Ceramic Balls

Background: In this study ceramic crude petroleum filter was prepared from Iraqi White Kaolin with ratio (70%) and Alumina (Al2O3) with ratio (30%), with natural additives Palm Frond with ratios (5,10,15,25,35 and 45)% in different partical size to produce pores, formed by dry pressing then fairing at 1100(˚C). The filters are harmless and environmentally friendly materials. Some assessments were carried out, such as (apparent porosity ratio, water absorption ratio, and apparent density). From the test results obtained the apparent porosity was 60.7% , water absorption was 89.3% and an apparent density of 0.68% with a 45% ratio of fine (P.F). Size and distribution of pores were characterized by using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The crude petroleum treated with filters evaluated by tests such as (API Gravity, Sulfur Content, Asphaltenes Content, and Metallic Content). The result of API Gravity before immersion crude petroleum filter balls was 24.70 and after immersion crude petroleum filter balls for 7 days for 30 % (P.F) increase to 31.0 and reach to 32.5 after immersion for 14 days. Sulfur Content before immersion crude petroleum filter balls was 3.76 and after immersion crude petroleum filter balls for 7 days for 30 % (P.F) decrease down to 3.1 and reach to 2.6 after immersion for 14 days. So Asphaltenes content before immersion crude petroleum filter balls was 6.68 and after immersion crude petroleum filter balls for 7 days 30 % (P.F) decreased down to 2 and reach to 1.6 after immersion for 14 days, metallic contact such as Vanadium and Nickel before immersion crude petroleum filter balls respectively was 86 ppm, 32 ppm while after immersion crude petroleum filter balls for 7 days they become 53.26 ppm and 15.35 ppm and for 14 days they reached to 47.52 ppm and 11.43 ppm respectively.