The Solubility of Asphaltenes in Different Hydrocarbon Liquids

Abstract

Bitumen miscibility in low-molecular-weight hydrocarbon liquids was evaluated. The presence of toluene in bitumen–solvent blends improved bitumen miscibility and led to the delay in onset of asphaltenes precipitation due to the dipole–dipole and heteromolecular interactions. For heavy naphtha, the results showed reduced asphaltenes precipitation and enthalpy of mixing due to strong hydrogen bonding and moderate homomolecular interactions. Hexane and light naphtha systems showed higher heats of mixing and higher asphaltenes precipitation due to homomolecular interactions. The best miscibility characteristics of heavy petroleum were obtained with aromatic solvents and solvent mixtures that contained increasing composition of toluene.