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The thermal cracking and hydrocracking reactions of inferior vacuum residue with high asphaltene content and high residual carbon value provided by Qingdao refining & chemical company at different reaction time were carried out in a high pressure reactor under nitrogen atmosphere. The conversion ratios for those reactions were between 25.9 % and 38.9 %. Wiehe's methods were taken to investigate the compatibility of the feed, thermal cracking (TC) reaction and hydrocracking (HC) products, and the product for 20 min thermal reaction was nearly incompatible. The structural information of the feed, thermal cracking and hydrocracking reaction products were determined by FT-ICR MS to reveal the compatibility changing rules. • Compatibility of thermal cracking products from compatible to nearly incompatible were firstly compared at molecular level. • Compatibility of thermal cracking and hydrocracking products were firstly compared at molecular level. • The aromatic sulfur compounds changing rules of thermal cracking and hydrocracking products were revealed at molecular level. • Aromaticity and side chains could be the dominated factors to determine the compatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TH-As (asphaltene from typical Chinese vacuum residue provided by SINOPEC Tahe petrochemical company), QD-As (asphaltene from typical Middle Eastern vacuum residue provided by SINOPEC Qingdao refining & chemical company) and SL-As (asphaltene from typical Chinese vacuum residue provided by SINOPEC Qilu petrochemical company) were collected, and a simple and novel apparatus and a novel method were set for determining the solubility of asphaltene in organic solvents of toluene and heptane/pentane. The solubilities of TH-As and QD-As and SL-As in different volume ratios of toluene and heptane mixtures at 20 °C were measured, and the asphaltene solubility at the same volume ratios of toluene in mixtures follows the order QD-As>SL-As>TH-As. The structure differences determined by FTIR and FT-ICR MS could be the predominated factors for the solubility differences of TH-As and QD-As and SL-As in toluene and heptane/pentane mixtures. • Developing a novel apparatus for determining the solubility of asphaltene. • Setting a gravimetric solubility measurement method at a given temperature. • With the same toluene fraction the solubility follows the order QD-As>SL-As>TH-As. • H/C and heteroatom species work together to determine the solubility of asphaltene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]