Integrating Supercritical Water and Catalysts: A Synergistic Approach for Heavy Oil Upgrading

Guillermo Felix

doi:10.62762/JCERF.2025.734454

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Volume 2, Issue 1, Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels

Volume 2, Issue 1, 2026

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Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels, Volume 2, Issue 1, 2026: 9-12

Open Access | Perspective | 07 December 2025

Integrating Supercritical Water and Catalysts: A Synergistic Approach for Heavy Oil Upgrading

Guillermo Felix 1,2 *

1 Tecnológico Nacional de México/IT de Los Mochis, Los Mochis, Sinaloa 81259, México

2 Department of Petroleum Engineering, Kazan Federal University, Kazan 420008, Russia

* Corresponding Author: Guillermo Felix, [email protected]

DOI: 10.62762/JCERF.2025.734454

Received: 26 July 2025, Accepted: 11 August 2025, Published: 07 December 2025

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Abstract

The depletion of conventional hydrocarbons has forced researchers to focus on unconventional petroleum, i.e., heavy crude oils. However, the typical methods to recover the former are not suitable for the latter. Therefore, new technologies, such as supercritical water (SCW) upgrading, commercial and novel catalytic compounds have been proposed individually and in combination to solve the difficulties in recovering these reserves. In this work, the advantages and disadvantages, mechanisms, reactions, and challenges when using SCW and catalysts for heavy oil upgrading are discussed, giving a perspective for new synergetic approaches.

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Keywords

supercritical water

catalyst

heavy oil

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Science Foundation under Grant 21-73-30023 (extension) dated 22.05.2025, https://rscf.ru/project/21-73-30023/.

Conflicts of Interest

The author declares no conflicts of interest.

Ethical Approval and Consent to Participate

Not applicable.

References

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APA Style

Felix, G. (2025). Integrating Supercritical Water and Catalysts: A Synergistic Approach for Heavy Oil Upgrading. Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels, 1(2), 9–12. https://doi.org/10.62762/JCERF.2025.734454

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TY  - JOUR
AU  - Felix, Guillermo
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/12/07
TI  - Integrating Supercritical Water and Catalysts: A Synergistic Approach for Heavy Oil Upgrading
JO  - Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels
T2  - Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels
JF  - Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels
VL  - 2
IS  - 1
SP  - 9
EP  - 12
DO  - 10.62762/JCERF.2025.734454
UR  - https://www.icck.org/article/abs/JCERF.2025.734454
KW  - supercritical water
KW  - catalyst
KW  - heavy oil
AB  - The depletion of conventional hydrocarbons has forced researchers to focus on unconventional petroleum, i.e., heavy crude oils. However, the typical methods to recover the former are not suitable for the latter. Therefore, new technologies, such as supercritical water (SCW) upgrading, commercial and novel catalytic compounds have been proposed individually and in combination to solve the difficulties in recovering these reserves. In this work, the advantages and disadvantages, mechanisms, reactions, and challenges when using SCW and catalysts for heavy oil upgrading are discussed, giving a perspective for new synergetic approaches.
SN  - 3070-1058
PB  - Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge
LA  - English
ER  -

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@article{Felix2025Integratin,
  author = {Guillermo Felix},
  title = {Integrating Supercritical Water and Catalysts: A Synergistic Approach for Heavy Oil Upgrading},
  journal = {Journal of Chemical Engineering and Renewable Fuels},
  year = {2025},
  volume = {2},
  number = {1},
  pages = {9-12},
  doi = {10.62762/JCERF.2025.734454},
  url = {https://www.icck.org/article/abs/JCERF.2025.734454},
  abstract = {The depletion of conventional hydrocarbons has forced researchers to focus on unconventional petroleum, i.e., heavy crude oils. However, the typical methods to recover the former are not suitable for the latter. Therefore, new technologies, such as supercritical water (SCW) upgrading, commercial and novel catalytic compounds have been proposed individually and in combination to solve the difficulties in recovering these reserves. In this work, the advantages and disadvantages, mechanisms, reactions, and challenges when using SCW and catalysts for heavy oil upgrading are discussed, giving a perspective for new synergetic approaches.},
  keywords = {supercritical water, catalyst, heavy oil},
  issn = {3070-1058},
  publisher = {Institute of Central Computation and Knowledge}
}

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