Review

Five tests were carried out. The hydrovisbreaking of vacuum residue was investigated using four catalysts at low temperature. The biggest increment in the lighter fractions was found in the range of 343-525 °C. The main products, in the gaseous samples collected after reaction, were methane and ethane. Elemental Analyses and densities showed similar results for all the products. The main improvement found was the low dynamic viscosity of the products; 3220 and 3590 mPa*s from tests VR-(Activated Bentonite) and VR-(Fe-Citrate-Oxalate) respectively. The tests were carried out at 300 °C.