The Department of Chemistry at the College of Science, University of Mosul, discussed a Master’s thesis entitled “Improving the Quality of Petroleum Products Using Nanocatalysts” on Wednesday, 22 April 2026.

The thesis, submitted by Mr. Omar Sami Hamad Sultan Al-Rawi, investigated, for the first time, the use of nanomaterials in upgrading and converting Qayyarah heavy crude oil, characterized by its aromatic nature, into lighter petroleum fractions such as gasoline, used as automotive fuel, and kerosene (white oil), commonly utilized for heating purposes.

The study aimed to determine the optimum conditions for the thermal treatment of heavy crude oil. Two different approaches were adopted to achieve the highest conversion yield of petroleum distillates using two types of nanomaterials as catalysts: nanocarbon and nanosilica. The findings demonstrated that nanosilica achieved a higher yield of petroleum products compared with nanocarbon materials.

The nanomaterials were characterized using advanced analytical techniques, including Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) to investigate their surface structures and catalytic performance.

The study also included a range of physical and chemical analyses of the resulting distillates, such as density, freezing point, acid number, cetane number, API gravity, and sulfur content. The results indicated the potential preliminary use of these products as automotive fuels. These promising outcomes contribute to addressing the challenges associated with Qayyarah crude oil, particularly its high sulfur content and limited production of light fractions.

The examination committee was chaired by Assistant Professor Dr. Lubna Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Saleem, with the membership of:

• Assistant Professor Dr. Ayman Ismail Ahmed Mujdhab
• Assistant Professor Dr. Haza Star Majid Karim

The thesis was supervised by and examined with the participation of Dr. Ihab Salem Ahmed Mahall Al-Jubouri.

At the conclusion of the defense, and on behalf of the Dean of the College of Science, Professor Dr. Hiyam Adel Ibrahim, the Head of the Department of Chemistry, Professor Dr. Firas Ahmed Dhanoon, presented a Letter of Appreciation to Assistant Professor Dr. Haza Star Majid Karim of the College of Education for Pure Sciences, University of Kirkuk, in recognition of her scientific contributions, active participation in the examination committee, and valuable academic input that enriched the thesis.

This research aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, through improving the efficiency of petroleum resource utilization, and Goal 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, by employing nanotechnology in the development of petroleum industries, thereby reinforcing the role of scientific research in supporting economic development.

We extend our sincere congratulations to our student and wish him continued success, academic excellence, and further achievements throughout his scholarly career.

Media and Government Communication Division
Wednesday, 22 April 2026