Investigating the structure and stabilisation mechanism of asphaltene subfractions
Asphaltenes are polyaromatic species present in crude oil which are defined as soluble in aromatic solvents and insoluble in n-alkanes. The asphaltene structure depends upon the source of crude, but generally comprises a range of structures e.g. condensed aromatic (and non-aromatic) rings with aliphatic side chains and hetero groups. There is significant research interest in asphaltenes involving aggregation at solid-liquid and liquid-liquid interfaces. Such phenomena can result in problems such as fouling of heat exchangers and blocking of pipes. Model asphaltene structures have been produced to explain such aggregation. Molecular dynamic simulation has suggested a core-shell structure with an aromatic core and an aliphatic shell. The “problematic” asphaltene sub-fraction has recently been isolated and differences between this and whole asphaltenes observed. The proposed SANS experiment will determine the self-assembled structure of model asphaltene and contrast this with the behaviour using whole and sub-fractions of asphaltene (in solution and at the oil-water interface). Elucidating the mechanism of aggregation will have a significant impact on crude oil recovery/ refining.
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DOWDING Peter; D A Ballard; CATTOZ Beatrice; GRILLO Isabelle; David Harbottle; PORCAR Lionel; PREVOST Sylvain; PUGEJS Arturs; QIAO Peiqi; WILLIS Colin and YAN Ci. (2018). Investigating the structure and stabilisation mechanism of asphaltene subfractions. Institut Laue-Langevin (ILL) doi:10.5291/ILL-DATA.9-10-1531
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