Physicochemical Characterization of Asphaltenes Using Microfluidic Analysis

Pagán, Nataira M. Pagán; Zhang, Zhuqing; Nguyen, Thao Vy; Marciel, Amanda B.; Biswal, Sibani Lisa

doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.1c00897

Cited by 21 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 205 publications

(426 reference statements)

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“…Aggregation behavior of asphaltenes has been described with the Yen–Mullins model, , which defined three structures present in thermodynamically stable bulk dispersions: individual asphaltene molecules, nanoaggregates, and clusters. These structures will eventually form even in dilute solutions with favorable, aromatic-rich solvent conditions. − The size and state of the microstructures of asphaltenes in solution have been quantified using methods such as small-angle neutron and X-ray scattering (SAXS and SANS, respectively), ,,, photon correlation spectroscopy, and direct current (DC) conductivity measurements . It has been shown that the aggregation state of these asphaltene structures is dependent on bulk concentration, time, temperature, pressure, and solvent composition. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advantages of a Millifluidic Approach to the Characterization of Long-Time Solvency Effects on Bulk Asphaltene Precipitation

2023

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The colloidal and aggregation behavior of asphaltenes in bulk dispersions is largely dependent on the solvent environment. Increasing the aliphatic fraction in these systems drives the aggregation of asphaltene clusters, leading to precipitation out of the bulk that can result in complications in the oil recovery and refining process. In this work, a millifluidic device is used to characterize the precipitation behavior of two asphaltene subfractions in good and poor solvent conditions to characterize the long-time solvency effects. Advantages to this approach are high discretization of the concentration gradient as well as shorter path lengths, which allow for better resolution of optical measurements in these extremely opaque systems. To measure precipitation, the critical aliphatic volume fraction (CAVF), defined in this work as the highest fraction of aliphatic solvent at which there is no visible precipitation in the sample, functions as a compositional breakpoint between stable and unstable dispersions. Results from this work show that asphaltene dispersions will reach a steady state after long times, on the order of months, of sample aging. Further, precipitation is visible at lower aliphatic fractions than what was determined in experiments using shorter aging times. This demonstrates how long-term effects should be considered when determining the stability of asphaltene dispersions.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advantages of a Millifluidic Approach to the Characterization of Long-Time Solvency Effects on Bulk Asphaltene Precipitation

2023

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“…Among organic solvents, chloroform has been one of the best extractants for hydrocarbons; however, it shows poor selectivity for petroleum hydrocarbons over asphaltene, which is problematic because the subsequent qualitative analysis of the SAR is interfered by asphaltene residues. Asphaltenes are petroleum hydrocarbons that are insoluble in n-heptane, contain various heteroatoms, and have complex chemical structures (Pagán Pagán et al 2022). Asphaltenes tend to flocculate and accumulate upon forming strong bonds with soil (León et al 2002;Fakher et al 2020), making them the most difficult component to extract.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantitative determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in oily sludge following efficient n-heptane separation

Zhang¹,

Ma²,

Qin³

et al. 2023

BioRes

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Accurate analysis of the main chemical components of oil-bearing sludge is an important prerequisite for effective soil remediation and resource reuse. However, precise analysis of the extract components is difficult to achieve because of the mutual interference of saturates, aromatics, and resins, collectively called SAR, and asphaltene that are introduced during chloroform extraction. In this study, SAR was efficiently extracted using n-heptane, while asphaltene components were retained in soil because of their insolubility in n-heptane. The maximum yield of SAR extraction was 27.0%, indicating an increase of 1.75% compared to chloroform extraction. The extracted SAR components were separated by chromatography and the main structural units and components were analyzed. The results show that saturates, aromatics, and resins have a single component, a high content of major components, and contain fewer impurities using n-heptane extraction. Moreover, the solubility of asphaltene was inhibited during the effective extraction of SAR components with n-heptane and did not influence the subsequent analysis of SAR component. Efficient SAR extraction, accurate SAR component analysis, and high efficiency asphaltene separation was achieved using n-heptane-extraction-assisted pyrolysis. This provides a new method for the component analysis of oily sludge and promotes its efficient separation.

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“…in petroleum reservoirs. 49,72,73 In all, microfluidics provide well-founded replication of reservoir porous conditions, integration of noninvasive optical and spectroscopic analysis techniques, rapid characterization and measurement to reduce labor, and good control over parameters to study the effect on dissolution, which have helped understanding of the asphaltene aggregation behavior, though they vary in their chemical composition and are dependent on the reservoir conditions. Ultimately microfluidics could yield devices that are easy to deploy in the field and can provide efficient resource management.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perspectives on Microfluidics for the Study of Asphaltenes in Upstream Hydrocarbon Production: A Minireview

Sharma

Hartman

2022

Energy Fuels

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The utilization of microfluidics has generated deep insights into asphaltene precipitation mechanisms and oil−water emulsion stabilization. Agglomeration and precipitation of asphaltenes can cause flow assurance problems during the extraction and transportation of crude oil. Change in temperature, pressure, reservoir conditions, and solvents can change the local environment, leading to asphaltene precipitation. Understanding asphaltene properties and precipitation pathways becomes critical in devising mitigation methods, demulsifiers, and suitable conditions during hydrocarbon processing. Microfluidics has helped in high throughput measurement studies, understanding critical processing conditions, fast demulsifier screening, and the effect of solvent concentration on deposition, generating useful information for utilization at the point of resource extraction facilitating improved resource management. It has become possible to capture the porous, complex nature of reservoir formations and the interaction of chemicals during precipitation through integrated analytics and visualization studies available only through microfluidics. The use of droplet microfluidics, with optical microscopy and high-speed imaging to study the oil−water interface, has resulted in greater understanding of the role of asphaltenes in interfacial properties and emulsion stabilization. This minireview highlights the crucial aspects of microfluidics that have been used to understand physicochemical behavior and dynamics of asphaltene deposition. Some of the unique devices have been presented focusing on the key elements of microfluidics design, fabrication, and analysis, as the insight obtained from microfluidics strongly depends on the device design and the controllability of the experimental parameters. Successful implementation of microfluidics for efficient and controlled experiments, short analysis time scales and rapid screening, and generation of high-quality, reliable data that convey asphaltene deposition issues and interface behavior in emulsions shows the importance of microsystems for advancing knowledge in hydrocarbon production and processing.

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Physicochemical Characterization of Asphaltenes Using Microfluidic Analysis

Cited by 21 publications

References 205 publications

Advantages of a Millifluidic Approach to the Characterization of Long-Time Solvency Effects on Bulk Asphaltene Precipitation

Advantages of a Millifluidic Approach to the Characterization of Long-Time Solvency Effects on Bulk Asphaltene Precipitation

Quantitative determination of petroleum hydrocarbons in oily sludge following efficient n-heptane separation

Perspectives on Microfluidics for the Study of Asphaltenes in Upstream Hydrocarbon Production: A Minireview

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