Spectrophotometric Measurement of Asphaltene Concentration

Asphaltene: structural characterization, molecular functionalization, and application as a low-cost filler in epoxy composites

“…It is well understood that flocculation and self-aggregation of asphaltene molecules may result in the formation of coke-like precursors that are responsible for plugging well bores and flow lines, blocking transfer pipelines, 2 and deactivating catalytic reactions during upgrading and refining processes. 3 A variety of molecular interactions contributing to the aggregation of asphaltene molecules and to the formation of colloidal particles in crude oil include hydrogen bond forces, aromatic π-π* stacking forces, 4,5 polarity induction forces, 6 and electrostatic attractions between the molecules. 7,8 Although this certainly part of the effort, more attention has been paid to learn about the factors that influence the stability of asphalteneswhich has as much to do with its composition and molecular structure as with the crude oil in which it is contained.…”

Model molecules mimicking asphaltenes

“…The adsorption onto solid surfaces has generally been studied by determining the amount of adsorbed asphaltene using the depletion method 90,92 , quartz crystal microbalance 93 , photothermal surface deformation spectroscopy 87 , and contact angle measurements 94,95 .…”

Understanding Mechanisms of Asphaltene Adsorption from Organic Solvent on Mica

“…The adsorption of asphaltenes on mineral surfaces has commonly been studied by quantitatively determining the amount of asphaltene adsorbed using i) solution depletion method, 23,24 ii) quartz crystal microbalance, 25,26 iii) photothermal surface deformation spectroscopy 27 and iv) thermal gravimetric method, or qualitatively by contact angle measurements. 16,17 Common clay minerals used in adsorption studies are kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite, mica and chlorite.…”