Diffusion-averaged molecular weights of «nonboiling» crude oil fractions

Summary The successful application of the formerly presented concept of diffusion-averaged molecular weight, M_d, to vacuum residues of crude oils, or their fractions, is described. The samples for establishing the calibration curve, logDvs. logM, were crude oil fractions with polydispersities smaller than 1.1. In a surprisingly good approximation the calibration curve is independent of the origin of these fractions if 500<M<10000. The validity of our calibration curve was demonstrated with more than 10 crude oil residues and with some of their hydrogenation residues 2].