Abstract
In this study, the catalytic cracking of natural bitumen derived from the Beke oil sands was investigated in order to enhance the production of light hydrocarbon fractions and synthetic liquid fuels. Catalytic cracking experiments were carried out in reactorsat 450 °C under steady-state conditions. Natural zeolite from the Taizhuzgen deposit was used as a catalyst due to its high adsorption capacity, ion-exchange properties, and catalytic activity. Prior to use, the zeolite catalyst was acid-treated and thermally activated to improve its surface acidity and catalytic performance. The material balance of the cracking process, as well as the group and fractional compositions of the obtained products, wasanalyzed. The results demonstrate that the use of natural zeolite significantly improves the efficiency of the cracking process by increasing the yield of liquid products while reducing coke formation. The yield of liquid hydrocarbons increased from 67.7 wt.% during non-catalytic cracking to 79.9 wt.% in the presence of the zeolite catalyst. Additionally, the catalytic process promoted the formation of lighter fractions and reduced the content of heavy residues. These findings confirm the potential of natural zeolite catalysts to upgrade heavy hydrocarbon resources and produce valuable liquid fuels from the natural bitumen of domestic oil sands.