TRACE WATER-ASPHALTENE INTERACTIONS IN TOLUENE SOLUTIONS

摘要

The effect of water on the association and flocculation of asphaltenes has been studied using a number of different techniques. Infrared spectroscopy has been used to investigate the rearrangement of interactions of water in solutions of varying asphaltene concentration but constant water content at different levels below saturation. The incorporation of water into hydrogen bonding with asphaltenes, either in bulk type of micro water domains, or single interactions between one water molecule and an asphaltene is reported. The effect of water concentration (below saturation 0.05wt%) on the molecular weight by VPO is reported verifying the enhanced aggregation of asphaltenes in the presence of water. The use of solubilization experiments is further investigated and oxidation experiments indicate that oxygen functionalities enhance the water uptake.