NMR investigations on products from thermal decomposition of Kuwaiti vacuum residues.

Highlights: [•] VRs were thermally cracked simulating the Eureka process. [•] VRs consist to 95wt% of alkyl-aromatics with 50% aliphatic carbon. [•] Cracking results in cracked oil, off-gas, and pitch. [•] Oil contains about 4wt% S, aliphatic to aromatic carbon is about 3, and mono- or di-aromatics prevail. [•] Pitch consists of peri-condensed aromatics with ≈47wt% to ≈24wt% aliphatic carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]