Pereira-Almao, PedroVitale, Gerardo2013-02-212014-02-222013-02-212013http://hdl.handle.net/11023/557The depletion of light oil sources, the increase of fuel demands, as well as the increase of oil prices have motivated the acceleration in the exploitation of heavy oil and bitumen sources; however, the necessity for a reduction in the environmental footprint of upgrading processes is a must. This gives rise to produce research on alternate ways for bitumen recovery and upgrading in the reservoir to increase the sustainability of heavy oil and bitumen exploitation. One possible way is by injection of nano-materials into the reservoir that can act as catalysts or adsorbents to accomplish the in situ upgrading task. This approach must comply with the need to prepare environmentally-friendly, as well as commercially and economically feasible catalysts for the in situ upgrading application. Aegirine [NaFeSi2O6] is a pyroxene mineral that could be used as catalyst for in situ upgrading applications, however, a suitable synthesis method (commercially feasible) would have to be developed. In this work, Aegirine was successfully prepared in nano-crystalline sizes with a novel and easy synthesis path under similar conditions to those employed for commercial zeolites. Nano-Aegirine materials showed high surface areas and superficial ionic exchange properties which allows surface modification to introduce Brønsted acid sites. The synthesis method permits the incorporation of zirconium into the structure, which modifies the material’s catalytic properties. Methylcyclohexane hydrocracking was carried out with the novel materials, and the protonic-zirconium-doped form showed 5 times more activity than the protonic-nano-Aegirine without zirconium at 673 K. Phenol hydroxylation with hydrogen peroxide at room temperature also can be accomplished with the novel materials.engUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.Chemistry--InorganicMaterials ScienceEngineering--PetroleumAegirineHydrothermal SynthesisBitumen upgradingPyroxeneHydrocrackingdoctoral thesis10.11575/PRISM/26674