Non-isothermal programmed pyrolysis studies of oil sand bitumens and bitumen fractions: 1. Athabasca asphaltene

Characteristic pyrolysis thermograms for 12 gases have been obtained for Athabasca asphaltene, using a combination of non-isothermal, programmed pyrolysis (ambient to 1200 K at 3 K min^?1) and gas chromatography. Such thermograms provide information for the characterization of asphaltenes in the form of gas yields, specific rates and Arrhenius kinetic parameters. All thermograms comprised more than one peak. These peaks lie in distinct temperature zones and are associated with primary and secondary cracking and coking reactions. Useful insights into the structure of Athabasca asphaltene and, indirectly, the composition of its pyrolytic cokes have been obtained. The present results provide a body of useful reference material which may be useful for monitoring processes, which may chemically modify the asphaltene fraction of bitumens and heavy oils, and for comparative studies of asphaltenes from a variety of sources.