I just want to have an idea of how helpful it can be to determine the molecular weight of asphaltenes in a SARA analysis. Which kind of studies can we develop with that asphaltenes MW or if there are any imminent problems that need this variable to be properly measured. I appreciate all of your opinions!
Dear Research er kindly go through the use of mineral calculations by Deerwovizushman text Book good luck
I think there are two important points to consider when discussing the importance of the molecular weight of asphaltenes in the hydrocarbon industry. There is firstly the question of the definitions of asphaltenes, of which there are many, and where the only-agreed upon definition is a procedural one. Secondly,asphaltenes often form aggregates, and standard measurements of molecular weight are seldom in agreement and can produce erroneously high estimates of molecular weight.
Structural and molecular weight analysis of asphaltenes can probably help in understanding the origin of petroleum and its formation.
So far as the analysis is concerned High/Ultra-high Resolution Mass-spectroscopic methods are being developed for this purpose involving Time of Flight and other techniques. These can be found out in published literature.
Dr Hassan, I really appreciate your reply. It summarizes two key points that the determination of asphaltenes molecular weight lead to. I agree with you as these aggregates are troublesome in production operations and evaluations in the laboratory including the precise molecular weight.
However, I would like to know what you mean by definitions of asphaltenes and why you affirm the only accepted definition is a procedural one.
Best wishes from Colombia.
Thanks for sharing your point of view Ashis. The origin of petroleum is an important issue and I didn't know the molecular weight analysis of asphaltenes could help this research. I'll search for the techniques you mentioned.
Asphaltenes are high molecular weight nitrogen-, sulphur-, and oxygen-containing compounds, but so are resins, and the division of such components into 'resins' and 'asphaltenes' is rather tenuous, as both resins and asphaltenes are a continuum of increasingly higher molecular weight, and resins may polymerise to form asphaltenes and asphaltenes may break down into resins.
The common definition of asphaltenes is that they are the material that is insoluble in n-pentane (or n-heptane) at a dilution ratio of 40 parts alkane to 1 part crude oil. For this definition, however, to be meaningful, the procedure and conditions for mixing and separation must be specified, as in the standardized method (ASTM D2007-80), and that is why this definition is a procedural one.
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