Tungsten oxide was supported on zirconia via hydrothermal
and conventional
impregnation methods and used as a catalyst to reduce the viscosity
of heavy crude oil without the addition of water. Their properties
and viscosity reduction activity were compared. X-ray diffraction
and the Rietveld method were used to characterize the crystal structure
and determine the phase composition. The properties of catalysts were
also measured by N2 adsorption–desorption, differential
scanning calorimetry, a Hammett indicator, and ammonia temperature-programmed
desorption. Compared with the impregnation method, the hydrothermal
method facilitates the formation of strong tungsten–zirconia
interaction and promotes the diffusion of tungstate on zirconia, hence
leading to better-dispersed tungsten oxide, as well as more tetragonal
zirconia and acid sites. Under the reaction conditions of 220 °C,
6 h, and 2 MPa, the catalysts prepared via the hydrothermal method
exhibit higher viscosity reduction activity than those prepared by
impregnation. It is found the catalytic activity mainly depends on
the acidity of the catalyst. The catalyst containing 20 wt %
tungsten prepared by the hydrothermal method can attain a viscosity
reduction ratio of 82.2% and reduce the viscosity of oil from 5.74
Pa s (50 °C) to 1.02 Pa s. Different from the widely used aquathermolysis
technique, the presence of water is not required and the viscosity
of the treated oil will not regress, even over long periods of time.