A novel thin layer chromatography–flame ionization detection method for saturated,asphaltenes, resins,and asphaltenes group-type composition analysis with reverse order of chromatogram development

The methodologies of asphaltenes-containing petroleum materials: saturated, aromatics, resins, asphaltenes group-type composition analysis are performed with the use of column adsorption-desorption or thin layer chromatography (TLC)-flame ionization detection under normal phase conditions with silica gel as the adsorbent. In a three-step procedure, the TLC chromatogram is developed within a decreasing distance by the mobile phase with increasing elution strength (polarity). The n-alkane used in the first step does not dissolve asphaltenes, which leads to the occlusion effect and an underestimation of the percentage of saturated hydrocarbons. In this article, the reverse order of the subsequent elution steps was proposed: the solvent polarity is simultaneously reduced and the chromatogram development distance is increased in the order dichloromethane:methanol 95:5 v/v, 3 cm; toluene, 6 cm; and n-hexane, 10 cm. It was also intentional to reduce the weight of the applied sample to 5 μg for bitumen and 2 μg for asphaltene purity testing. It should be the rule that in stepwise TLC chromatogram development, the first mobile phase is a good solvent for all testing components. The IP 469 procedure should be corrected.     

Laser desorption/ionization techniques in the characterization of high molecular weight oil fractions. Part 1: asphaltenes

The molecular weight distribution of the asphaltene fractions of two types of crude oils from two different Italian fields (samples 1 and 2) was investigated. The analytical tools used to perform these analyses were matrix assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI) and laser desorption ionization (LDI) mass spectrometry. After observing that the use of the matrix (as well as the addition of Ag+) did not improve the quality of the data compared to that obtained in LDI conditions, all further measurements were performed with the latter technique. Operating under usual conditions of laser power and delay time, a very low resolution was observed, showing only macroscopic differences between the two samples in the molecular weight distribution of the different components. An accurate study on the possible reasons of this undesirable behavior indicates that it can originate from space charge phenomena occurring either in the ion source region or during the flight. A valid parameterization of the delay time and the laser power allowed higher quality spectra to be obtained. Surface-enhanced laser desorption ionization (SELDI) measurements were also performed using normal phase (silica) as the sample holder surface. Under these conditions, better results are obtained, proving that the sample-surface interaction is important to achieve, by means of laser irradiation, a homogeneous set of product ions. Both asphaltene samples were fractionated in five subfractions by gel-permeation chromatography (GPC) to obtain a better separation of the molecular weight distributions; the related spectra confirmed these findings. By using different approaches, relevant and reproducible differences between the asphaltene fractions of the two oil samples were observed.     

塔河常压渣油沥青质含硫官能团形态与其性质的关系研究

以塔河常压渣油为原料,分离正庚烷沥青质,并将正庚烷沥青质分成三个极性不同的亚组分。测定沥青质亚组分的平均偶极矩,利用¹H-NMR谱关联得到沥青质平均结构参数以分析沥青质亚组分缔合性质,采用X射线吸收近边结构谱(XANES)表征沥青质亚组分中含硫官能团形态,分析硫原子存在形态对沥青质性质的影响。结果表明,随着沥青质亚组分极性降低,H/C原子比增大;沥青质极性增加,缔合性增强;沥青质中还原态硫主要以噻吩硫形式存在,其次为硫醚;亚砜、砜和磺酸盐是主要的含氧硫化物。噻吩、砜和磺酸盐等官能团的存在对沥青质性质具有影响,但对沥青质极性及缔合性的影响不明显,杂原子硫不是影响沥青质极性和缔合性的主导因素。     

Sample preparation methods for subsequent determination of metals and non-metals in crude oil—A review

In this review sample preparation strategies used for crude oil digestion in last ten years are discussed focusing on further metals and non-metals determination. One of the main challenges of proposed methods has been to overcome the difficulty to bring crude oil samples into solution, which should be compatible with analytical techniques used for element determination. On this aspect, this review summarizes the sample preparation methods for metals and non metals determination in crude oil including those based on wet digestion, combustion, emulsification, extraction, sample dilution with organic solvents, among others. Conventional methods related to wet digestion with concentrated acids or combustion are also covered, with special emphasis to closed systems. Trends in sample digestion, such as microwave-assisted digestion using diluted acids combined with high-efficiency decomposition systems are discussed. On the other hand, strategies based on sample dilution in organic solvents and procedures recommended for speciation analysis are reported as well as the use of direct analysis in view of the recent importance for crude oil field. A compilation concerning sample preparation for crude oil provided by official methods as well as certified reference materials available for accuracy evaluation is also presented and discussed.     

Roles of Various Bitumen Components in the Stability of Water-in-Diluted-Bitumen Emulsions

An experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the various components of Athabasca bitumen in stabilizing water-in-diluted-bitumen emulsions. The solvent used to dilute the very viscous bitumen was a mixture of 50:50 by volume of hexane and toluene. The various bitumen components studied were asphaltenes, deasphalted bitumen, and fine solids. It was found that asphaltenes and fine solids were the main stabilizers of the water-in-diluted-bitumen emulsions. Individually, the two components can stabilize water-in-diluted-bitumen emulsions. However, when both are present the capacity of the diluted bitumen to stabilize water emulsions is greatest. Emulsion stabilization tests indicated that whole bitumen had less capacity to stabilize water emulsions than asphaltenes and solids. This would indicate that the presence of the small molecules within the whole bitumen tends to lower the emulsion stability. Deasphalted bitumen acts as a poor emulsion stabilizer. Although deasphalted bitumen led to the least emulsion stabilization capacity, interfacial tension measurements showed that diluted deasphalted bitumen gave a greater decrease in the interfacial tension of water with diluent.     

中东常压渣油热反应过程中沥青质的缔合性变化规律

用表面张力法研究了中东常压渣油热反应过程中正庚烷沥青质缔合性的变化。测定沥青质的不同浓度甲苯溶液的表面张力,利用溶液的临界胶束浓度表征沥青质的缔合性。定义蒸气压渗透法(VPO法)测得的沥青质平均分子量和表面张力法计算得到的平均分子量之比为沥青质的缔合度参数。结果表明,随着热反应的进行,在生焦诱导期内,沥青质的临界胶束浓度下降、沥青质缔合度参数增大,缔合性增强；达到生焦诱导期后临界胶束浓度上升、缔合度参数下降,缔合性下降。     

Properties of Langmuir Surface and Interfacial Films Built up by Asphaltenes and Resins: Influence of Chemical Demulsifiers

The influence of chemical additives on asphaltene films on water surface and at oil/water interface is studied by means of the Langmuir technique. It was found that some demulsifiers of high molecular weight alter the asphaltene film on water surface in the same way as the resin fraction, i.e., increasing the compressibility of the film which results in a reduced film rigidity. The films that build up at the oil/water interface in model oil systems, containing naturally occurring surfactants, are studied during compression. In this system chemical additives of high molecular weight totally prevent formation of a rigid film at the interface. Adding resins to the bulk phase together with asphaltenes hamper the adsorption of the heavy fraction.     

Contribution of Thermal Analysis For Characterization of Asphaltenes From Brazilian Crude Oil

The thermal decomposition of asphaltenes is mainly responsible for the formation of coke in petroleum processing. Phenomena involved are not clearly understood, because of the difficulties to characterize such heavy components. This paper reports the application of thermal analysis techniques to study the thermal behavior of asphaltenes from Brazilian oil. The approach involves kinetic studies of the thermal decomposition of asphaltenes under controlled conditions by thermogravimetry (TG), characterization of volatile fractions by thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis coupled with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TG-DTA/GC/MS) and by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in the volatile recovered. The coke formed was also studied after being decomposed into smaller molecules using selective oxidation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Asphaltene precipitation from latin american heavy crude oils. Effects of solvent aromaticity and agitation on particle size reduction

Asphaltenes from three crudes were precipitated with a mixture of n-heptane and toluene, the size of the particles formed under different solvent mixtures and different agitation regimes were studied. The kinetic size reduction of aggregates formed with an excess of precipitant agent is followed, contrary to other published studies where the kinetic followed is of growing particles. It was found that the particle size of precipitated asphaltenes decreases as precipitant aromaticity increases and agitation energy rises, which indicates the formation of aggregates bonded by weak forces, since the agitation applied was not of high energy, except for the ultrasonic device.     

In Defense of Vapor Pressure Osmometry for Measuring Molecular Weight

The value of the average molecular weight of petroleum asphaltenes continues to be controversial. Usually the disagreement is about the measurement of a single asphaltene fraction when the need is for a consistent picture that comprises all fractions of petroleum and includes chemical changes during processing. By using one of the better solvents for carbonaceous materials, o‐dichlorobenzene, at the maximum instrument temperature, vapor pressure osmometry provides a consistent measurement of number average molecular weight not achieved by any other technique. This average molecular weight is consistent among petroleum fractions and gives predictable changes in asphaltene molecular weight with thermal processing.