Vanadium and paramagnetic vanadyl complexes content in asphaltenes of heavy oils of various productive sediments

Using the atomic absorption spectrometry and electronic paramagnetic resonance techniques, we have investigated the features of vanadium and vanadyl complexes content in asphaltenes of heavy oils of Permian and Carboniferous productive sediments in the Volga-Ural oil and gas basin deposits. The investigation has been carried out using the heavy oils example, where the asphaltene content ranges from 5.1 to 21.2 wt%, and vanadium content varies in the range of 0.009–0.165 wt%. The specificity of asphaltene–vanadium relationship has been found for heavy oils of various productive sediments. It has been demonstrated that vanadium and vanadyl complexes content in asphaltenes of heavy oils in separate productive sediments varies in the certain range limits.     

Evaluation of Trace Metals and Physical Properties of Nigerian Crude Oil Saturate Fraction

Analyses of trace elements and physical properties of the saturate fraction of Nigerian crude oil were done in order to establish the characteristics that may aid the developmental processes of the natural resources. Crude oil samples were collected from three different oil fields in Niger-Delta area of Nigeria. The saturate fractions were eluted by column chromatography using n-hexane. The saturate fractions were investigated for functional groups using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT–IR); the elemental concentrations were determined using Atomic absorption spectrometry, while the physical properties (flash point, ash content, refractive index, and color) were determined using standard analytical methods. The results revealed that the infrared spectra of the saturate fraction of the Nigerian crude oil showed mainly the presence of C-H(CH₃) and C-H(CH₂) functional groups, indicating high purity of the samples. The concentrations of the analyzed elements (Mn, Cu, Co, Zn, Fe, V, Cr, and Ni) in the saturate fraction were generally low compared to other fractions of Nigerian crude oil. This study revealed that Co has the highest mean concentration of 1.81 ± 0.36 mg/L, while Mn has the lowest mean concentration of 0.04 ± 0.02 mg/L. The t test values for the comparison of the elemental concentrations of Nigerian crude oil /saturate fraction and crude oil asphaltene/saturate fraction showed significant difference (except Mn) with respect to Nigerian crude oil /saturate fraction. The cluster analysis for the elements showed two groups, which are fairly well correlated indicating similar source and similar chemical affinity. The cross-plot analysis of the Nigerian crude oil and its saturate using elemental concentrations as the variables showed a strong positive inter element correlation since (R² = 0.71), establishing a relationship between the Nigerian crude oil and the saturate fraction. The color of the saturate fraction ranged from off-white to colorless. The results of analysis provide useful information on its conversion mechanism and environmental implications of the development of the fossil fuel deposit.     

SEPARATION OF ASPHALTENES BY POLARITY USING LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

ABSTRACT

In order to investigate the nature of petroleum asphaltenes in terms of polarity a process was developed using initial liquid-liquid extraction of the oil phase followed by precipitation of the asphaltenes using n-heptane. The liquid-liquid extraction was performed using toluene-methanol mixtures with increasing content of toluene. Although large fractions of the crude oil (Alaska '93) was extracted in the higher polarity solvents (high concentration of methanol), the asphaltene content of the dissolved material was low As the toluene content increased more asphaltenes were transferred to the solvent phase. The asphaltenes were analysed using FTir, Elemental analysis, and HPLC-SEC with a diode array detector. With increasing content of toluene in the methanol the molecular weight distribution of the asphaltenes significantly move to higher molecular weights. The content of nitrogen and sulfur of the mallene phase also increase while H/C decreases. The content of heteroatoms in the asphaltenes are relatively higher and apparently increase with the polarity of the solvent. It is concluded that these asphaltenes are indeed dominated by high molecular weight substances that cannot be extracted in the high polarity solvents     

Chemical analysis of resin fraction of Nigerian bitumen for organic and trace metal compositions

Studies of organics and trace metals of the resin fraction of Nigerian bitumen were carried out with an opinion to establish the environmental consequences of the fossil fuel and as well as characterize them. Bitumen samples were extracted from oil sands via Soxhlet extraction procedure using toluene as the extracting solvent. The bitumen samples were deasphaltened to obtain maltene by dissolving the samples in n-pentane (1:40). Column chromatography was used to fractionate the maltene into its components (saturates, aromatics, and resin) using silica gel as adsorbent and dissimilar solvents of varying polarity (n-hexane for saturates, toluene for aromatics, and methanol for resins). The organic compounds of the resin fraction were examined using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrophometry (FTIR) and the elemental concentrations were determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrophotometry (ICP-OES). The infrared spectra of all the resin samples presented distinctive bands including expected polar functional groups which confirmed that the resin was cleanly eluted from the bitumen samples. The concentrations of the analyzed trace metals in the resin fraction were found to be high compared to other fractions and this was confirmed by their T-test values. Fe had the highest average concentration of 34.81 ± 14.37 mg/kg and a range of 19.35–47.48 mg/kg, while Mn had the least mean concentration of 0.94 ± 0.71 mg/kg and a range of 0.35–1.88 mg/kg. The result of cross-plot analysis revealed that resin fraction has strong and positive inter elemental correlation with the NSO and asphaltene fraction of the same bitumen samples. The overall results indicated that processing of the bitumen and/or its resin may cause catalyst poisoning and fouling, corrosion of equipment and pipelines, and particulate emissions into the environment and therefore adequate demetalisation of the fossil fuel must be done before processing.     

SEPARATION OF ASPHALTENES BY POLARITY USING LIQUID-LIQUID EXTRACTION

In order to investigate the nature of petroleum asphaltenes in terms of polarity a process was developed using initial liquid-liquid extraction of the oil phase followed by precipitation of the asphaltenes using n-heptane. The liquid-liquid extraction was performed using toluene-methanol mixtures with increasing content of toluene. Although large fractions of the crude oil (Alaska '93) was extracted in the higher polarity solvents (high concentration of methanol), the asphaltene content of the dissolved material was low As the toluene content increased more asphaltenes were transferred to the solvent phase. The asphaltenes were analysed using FTir, Elemental analysis, and HPLC-SEC with a diode array detector. With increasing content of toluene in the methanol the molecular weight distribution of the asphaltenes significantly move to higher molecular weights. The content of nitrogen and sulfur of the mallene phase also increase while H/C decreases. The content of heteroatoms in the asphaltenes are relatively higher and apparently increase with the polarity of the solvent. It is concluded that these asphaltenes are indeed dominated by high molecular weight substances that cannot be extracted in the high polarity solvents     

Variation in Composition of Subfractions of Petroleum Asphaltenes

ABSTRACT

Boscan asphaltenes were precipitated from the crude oil using mixtures of toluene and heptane at temperatures of 24, 50, and 80°C. Another process of extracting solid n-heptane asphaltenes (24°C) using the same solvent systems and temperatures was also investigated. Asphaltene yield is different by the two processes at similar conditions although both increases in temperature or toluene content lead to lower solid yield. This way the asphaltene continuum was investigated from incipient flocculation to total n-heptane precipitated asphaltenes. The asphaltenes were analyzed using elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, vapor pressure osmometry, and HPLC size exclusion chromatography. The distribution of porphyrins was also measured using absor-bance spectroscopy. The asphaltenes were found to follow a regular trend in elemental ratios, H/C and N/C, indicating increased aromaticity and nitrogen content as the solid yield decreases. Also the molecular weight was seen to increase. Size exclusion chro-matograms and fluorescence spectra were found to be different comparing solids from the two separation processes. This indicates that the asphaltene fractions obtained by extraction of solid asphaltenes are altered relative to asphaltenes obtained by ordinary precipitation. The porphyrin concentration was found to diminish rapidly with solid yield decrease in both precipitation and extraction experiments, the latter fractions, however, containing significantly less asphaltenes indicating an adsorption step in the coprecipitation of porphyrins. Soluble fractions were found to exhibit relatively low molecular weights and an apparent lack of indications of association up to a point of solubles exceeding 50 % of the total asphaltenes. The-latter have implications for the further understanding and experimental investigation. of the associating nature of asphaltenes such as concentration effects during analytical characterization.     

石油沥青质超分子聚集及解聚研究进展

石油沥青质组成复杂,氢/碳原子比低,硫、氮等杂原子含量高,给石油开采、运输和加工处理带来困难,究其原因是石油沥青质分子结构复杂,极易发生超分子聚集,形成聚集体。目前对沥青质超分子聚集的认识越来越广泛,并被石油化学工作者广泛接受。沥青质超分子聚集是通过电荷转移作用、偶极作用以及氢键作用形成沥青质分子之间的缔合,这些弱相互作用在石油体系的分子间普遍存在,实现沥青质聚集体的解聚是重质油高效轻质化的基础。研究表明,采用化学方法改变沥青质分子结构或采用物理方法改变沥青质物理状态,均能在一定程度上使得沥青质聚集体解聚。     

杂原子对沥青质分子间相互作用影响的计算化学研究

 沥青中大量的沥青质分子均含杂原子,通过计算化学方法,可以分析杂原子对沥青质二聚体结构及分子间相互作用的影响,并探究其影响机理。密度泛函理论计算结果表明,杂原子的存在使分子的静电势分布差别明显。对于稠环结构相似的沥青质分子,共轭硫原子使得分子的相互作用减小,含硫沥青质较远的质心距离和硫原子相对较弱的负电势使分子的取向和质心距分布更加随机。共轭氮原子作为强负电中心,强排斥增大分子取向偏离最低能量构型的能垒,从而使沥青质二聚体的构型取向更加趋于固定。同时分子动力学结果显示,含硫沥青质对温度敏感,温度升高更严重地加剧分子排列无序;而含氮沥青质在较高温度下依旧保持相对的有序排列。     

PHYSICO-CHEMICAL AND COMPOSITIONAL ASPECTS OF BITUMEN BEARING CRUDES AND THEIR INSTRUMENTAL CHARACTERISATION

In India the production of bitumen is primarily based on middle-east crude oils which normally have a right balance of bitumen constituents (i.e. asphaltenes and maltenes). In general, bitumens obtained from such crude oil sources have a good balance of rheological and physico-chemical properties at both low and high temperatures.

Bitumen is a complex mixture consisting of compounds ranging from non-polar aliphatic and naphthenic hydrocarbons to highly polar aromatic molecules containing heteroatoms such as oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur; and, several attempts have been reported to fractionate and characterise bitumens into broadly defined compound groups. The separation method adopted in the present study is based on the polarity of the constituent compounds comprising the bitumen. The separated groups of compounds which progressively increase in their polarities are saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes. In the present study three important (middle-east) bitumen bearing short residues have been selected and their detailed physico-chemical as well elemental compositions have been reported. Each short residue has been characterised by NMR and FT-IR spectroscopy methods and the information obtained from these analyses have been used to estimate several average structural parameters. Ultimate compositions have been determined for deducing the average molecular formulae.     

沥青质分子聚集体的解离对策

针对沥青质分子大芳环体系和多杂原子结构特征引起的π-π相互作用及氢键作用,运用量子力学、分子动力学等方法,研究沥青质分子聚集体的解离对策。对于π-π相互作用,从降低沥青质分子间π电子云重叠和减少沥青质分子的π电子数目两个方向研究解离措施;对于氢键作用,从降低沥青质分子间S—H、N—H、O—H间轨道叠加电子转移效应和减少沥青质分子的S、N、O数目两个方向研究解离措施。结果表明：引入π电子云分散剂可有效降低沥青质分子间π电子云重叠程度,对沥青质分子的稠合芳环进行局部加氢饱和可以减少其π电子数目,两条途径的分子模拟结果均能实现沥青质分子聚集体的解离;削弱沥青质分子间π-π相互作用对减弱氢键作用具有明显的促进作用;针对π-π相互作用的解离思路和措施也适应于金属卟啉分子与沥青质分子形成的聚集体,镍卟啉分子与沥青质分子形成的聚集体的解离难度比钒卟啉的大;提高温度加剧分子热运动及脱除杂原子可削弱或消除氢键作用,但在沥青质分子的其他芳环体系未改变的前提下,消除氢键作用不能实现对沥青质分子聚集体的完全解离。     

Analyzing electrical field effect on asphaltene deposition

Asphaltenes are the heaviest and most complicated fraction in a crude oil sample and consist of condensed polynuclear aromatics, small amounts of heteroatoms (e.g., S, N, and O), and some traces of metal elements (e.g., nickel and vanadium). The main mechanisms of asphaltene deposition are precipitation (formation of asphaltene solids out of liquid phase), aggregation (formation of larger asphaltene particles), and deposition (adsorption and adhesion onto the surface). Asphaltene deposition is a major unresolved flow assurance problem in the petroleum industry, which may occur anywhere in the production system consists of reservoir, wellbore, through flowing and the separator. Asphaltene moieties in crude oil are found to carry residual surface electric charge, so by exerting an electrical field in a specific length of pipe, asphaltenes will deposit and we will have no blockage problem. Determining asphaltene electric charge is an important issue that will be done by static experiment, and then effect of electrical field on asphaltene deposition in dynamic state should be investigated. This paper discusses electric field effect on asphaltene deposition and represents a way to deposit asphaltene moieties in specific location.     

Variation in Composition of Subfractions of Petroleum Asphaltenes

Boscan asphaltenes were precipitated from the crude oil using mixtures of toluene and heptane at temperatures of 24, 50, and 80°C. Another process of extracting solid n-heptane asphaltenes (24°C) using the same solvent systems and temperatures was also investigated. Asphaltene yield is different by the two processes at similar conditions although both increases in temperature or toluene content lead to lower solid yield. This way the asphaltene continuum was investigated from incipient flocculation to total n-heptane precipitated asphaltenes. The asphaltenes were analyzed using elemental analysis, fluorescence spectroscopy, vapor pressure osmometry, and HPLC size exclusion chromatography. The distribution of porphyrins was also measured using absor-bance spectroscopy. The asphaltenes were found to follow a regular trend in elemental ratios, H/C and N/C, indicating increased aromaticity and nitrogen content as the solid yield decreases. Also the molecular weight was seen to increase. Size exclusion chro-matograms and fluorescence spectra were found to be different comparing solids from the two separation processes. This indicates that the asphaltene fractions obtained by extraction of solid asphaltenes are altered relative to asphaltenes obtained by ordinary precipitation. The porphyrin concentration was found to diminish rapidly with solid yield decrease in both precipitation and extraction experiments, the latter fractions, however, containing significantly less asphaltenes indicating an adsorption step in the coprecipitation of porphyrins. Soluble fractions were found to exhibit relatively low molecular weights and an apparent lack of indications of association up to a point of solubles exceeding 50 % of the total asphaltenes. The-latter have implications for the further understanding and experimental investigation. of the associating nature of asphaltenes such as concentration effects during analytical characterization.     

加氢体系构成对沥青质加氢效果的影响

将从玉门原油常压渣油和委内瑞拉原油常压渣油中抽提得到的沥青质,分别在渣油体系和十氢萘体系中进行加氢反应,从加氢产物分布、杂原子脱除率、加氢后沥青质缩合程度3个方面综合考察两种沥青质在不同体系中的加氢效果。结果表明：在十氢萘体系中,沥青质加氢的轻质产物收率更高,焦炭收率更低,但杂原子脱除效果较差;在渣油体系中,沥青质加氢的焦炭收率更高,杂原子脱除效果更好,沥青质的缩合程度更高。主要原因是十氢萘对沥青质具有溶解、分散作用,且对加氢过程具有供氢作用,可以改善沥青质加氢产物的分布,并减缓沥青质的缩合趋势,减少焦炭生成;而渣油体系中重组分大分子易缩合生成焦炭,有助于硫、氮杂原子通过生成焦炭的形式脱除。     

A Pipe-Loop Apparatus to Investigate Asphaltene Deposition

Abstract

A circulating pipe-loop has been designed to measure asphaltene deposition under flowing conditions. Bitumen and n-heptane are combined to induce asphaltene precipitation at the entrance of a test section in which deposition is to be measured. The n-heptane is separated from the bitumen at the exit of the test section allowing the asphaltenes to redissolve in the bitumen before it is pumped back to the test section. In the test section, solid deposits are measured nonintrusively with X-ray tomography using a computer assisted tomographic (CAT) scanner. A segment of the test section is also removable for direct gravimetric measurement and collection of deposits. The pipe-loop is designed to investigate the effect of flow rate, solvent type, solvent-to-bitumen ratio, metal type, temperature, and pressure on asphaltene deposition. The effect of additives can also be assessed. The system is rated for pressures upto 7 MPa, temperatures from 25 to 100°C, and flow rates up to 0.1 m³/h.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF VARIOUS BITUMEN SAMPLES FROM TAR SANDS

We have investigated twenty three bitumen samples obtained using different separation methods such as: ultracentrifugation, Dean-Stark extraction, solvent extraction employing vigorous agitation, hot water separation and the Solvent Extraction Spherical Agglomeration technique. These samples were extracted from oil sand feedstocks of different grades, Suncor sludge pond tailings and mineral agglomerates obtained from the Solvent Extraction Spherical Agglomeration process. All of the bitumen samples were examined on a comparative basis using various analytical techniques. These included: fractionation into asphaltenes and maltenes; elemental analyses; molecular weight determination using vapour pressure osmometry and gel permeation chromatography, infrared, proton and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Proton and ¹³C n.m.r. spectroscopic data were used to determine the distribution of various types of hydrogens and carbons in the samples. These data were also used to derive various molecular parameters in order to investigate average molecular structures of different bitumen samples and some of their asphaltene fractions.     

Metal porphyrin occlusion: Adsorption during asphaltene aggregation

Metal compounds such as vanadyl and nickel porphyrins present in crude oils are associated to the most polar fraction defined as asphaltenes. The amount and kind of these compounds in the crude oil depend of the variations in origin, maturity, pressure, and temperature. During the asphaltene colloid formation the metal porphyrins could be trapped, occluded, or adsorbed, protecting these compounds from oxidation or chemical degradation. In this work the authors induce the aggregation of asphaltenes by changing the solubility parameter of the media in presence of metal porphyrins. UV-vis absorbance is used to monitored asphaltene aggregation at 350 nm to follow the variations in asphaltene aggregation and 405 nm to follow the porphyrin Soret band. The results showed that more than 50% of the porphyrins were trapped inside the asphaltene aggregate and posterior re-dissolution of the aggregates in toluene showed very low release of the porphyrins, demonstrating the strong interaction between the porphyrin and asphaltenes during the aggregation.     

Effects of Catalyst Properties on Asphaltenes Composition During Hydrotreating of Heavy Oils

Three NiMo commercial catalysts were used for carrying out hydrotreating (HDT) experiments in a high-pressure pilot plant. Maya crude oil was employed as HDT feed. All hydrotreated products and their corresponding precipitated asphaltenes fractions were characterized by elemental analysis and metals contents. Extraction of asphaltenes was carried out according to the method described in ASTM D-3279. It was observed from our characterization results that while nitrogen and metals content in asphaltenes increase sulfur decrease as the reaction temperature is increased. This different behavior was attributed to the localization of each heteroatom in the asphaltene molecule. Pore size of catalysts showed the major influence on hydrotreated product asphaltenes composition.     

CHARACTERIZATION OF VARIOUS BITUMEN SAMPLES FROM TAR SANDS

ABSTRACT

We have investigated twenty three bitumen samples obtained using different separation methods such as: ultracentrifugation, Dean-Stark extraction, solvent extraction employing vigorous agitation, hot water separation and the Solvent Extraction Spherical Agglomeration technique. These samples were extracted from oil sand feedstocks of different grades, Suncor sludge pond tailings and mineral agglomerates obtained from the Solvent Extraction Spherical Agglomeration process. All of the bitumen samples were examined on a comparative basis using various analytical techniques. These included: fractionation into asphaltenes and maltenes; elemental analyses; molecular weight determination using vapour pressure osmometry and gel permeation chromatography, infrared, proton and 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Proton and ¹³C n.m.r. spectroscopic data were used to determine the distribution of various types of hydrogens and carbons in the samples. These data were also used to derive various molecular parameters in order to investigate average molecular structures of different bitumen samples and some of their asphaltene fractions.     

VARIATION IN THE CHEMICAL NATURE OF ASPHALTENES WITH THE PROCESS,THE COAL AND THE REACTION CONDITIONS

ABSTRACT

Average structure data for twelve asphaltenes are reported, based on ¹³C- and H- n.m.r. spectroscopy combined with elemental, molecular weight and functional group analyses. The asphaltenes were from supercritical gas extraction, flash pyrolysis and hydrogenation of a brown and a bituminous coal. The effect of the reaction temperature and, for hydrogenation, the catalyst and solvent on the nature of the asphaltene produced was studied. The asphaltene obtained from supercritical gas extraction of the brown coal at 350°C was the least aromatic (f_a = 0.44) with the highest H/C atomic ratio (1.16) and probably consists mainly of single ring aromatlcs with about half of the aromatic sites substituted. A significant proportion of the carbon in this asphaltene is in long alkyl chains and the hydroxyl content is high. Whereas, the asphaltenes produced by hydrogenatlon of the bituminous coal at 450°C were far more aromatic with more highly condensed but less substituted aromatic ring systems and few, if any, long alkyl chains, together with a lower hydroxyl content. The asphaltenes obtained from the brown coal are less aromatic with less condensed aromatic ring systems but a higher degree of aromatic substitution than those produced from the bituminous coal under the same conditions. The asphaltenes formed at 450°C had lower H/C atomic ratios, molecular weights and degree of aromatic substitution, but higher aromaticities Ohan those produced at 35O°C or 400°C under like processing conditions. The asphaltene produced in the presence of both stannous chloride catalyst and tetralin was less aromatic than when either of these species was absent.     

Determination of the functional groups and the melting point of iraqi asphaltenes

A qualitative analysis study of n-C5 asphaltene of Iraqi crude oil from (Al-Dura, Kirkuk and Basra) oil fields was done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The melting points of the three oil derived asphaltenes were determined using Hot stage polarizing microscope at 180?°C for Al-Dura, 125?°C for Kirkuk and 140?°C for Basra asphaltenes. The FTIR spectrum shows an aromatic behavior of the asphaltene samples at a wavelength of 3049?cm^?1 and aliphatic chains were found at wavelengths 2924?cm^?1.