Heavy hydrocarbon upgrading is attracting more interest amidst growing supply of heavier crudes. These materials, often distinguished by high aromatic and asphaltene contents generate larger volumes of residue upon processing. The present study investigates the potential of partial oxidative cracking in water as an alternative to the conventional thermal cracking or hydrocracking upgrading routes. Sub and supercritical water partial oxidative cracking experiments have been carried out in a batch micro-bomb reactor using model compounds of...