Effect of low-temperature oxidation on the composition of Athabasca bitumen

The effect of low temperature oxidation on the composition of Athabasca bitumen was examined. Oxidation temperatures in the range 125–135 °C and extents of oxidation up to 100mg $\text{O}{}_2\text{g}$ bitumen were investigated. The aromatics concentration was observed to decline steadily and the concentration of asphaltenes to increase, during oxidation. The saturates were unaffected by low-temperature oxidation. The resins concentration displayed a strange behaviour, first dropping and then increasing to a maximum and again dropping as oxidation proceeded.