Heavy crude oils constitute the largest reserves; however, their extraction faces several challenges as a result of their high asphaltene content. Reducing the viscosity by physicochemical treatments or chemical transformation on heavy asphaltenes is still a challenge because of matrix complexity. On the other hand, the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition (1,3-DC) reaction has been used to increase the solubility and rheological properties of graphene and fullerenes, suggesting that 1,3-DC on heavy crude oils can modify directly the chemical structure of titled compounds affecting their aggregation. Starting from Colombian heavy oils and purified asphaltenes, we used a set of chemical modifiers based on long-chain aliphatic and aromatic aldehydes and N-hexylglycine, followed by in situ reactions at several concentrations. Rheological measurements showed a significant reduction on crude oil viscosities up to 98% depending upon the alkyl chain and concentration; furthermore, 1,3-DC reactions between purified asphaltenes and chemical modifiers were followed by nuclear magnetic resonance experiments, which give credence to the viscosity reduction of heavy crude oils based on chemical reactivity.

Cacao pod husks (CHs), the most abundant by-product of cacao beans production, can potentially become a source of functional ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.