INTERACTION OF ASPHALTENES OF DIFFERENT ORIGIN USING ISOTHERMAL TITRATION CALORIMETRY

Simon Ivar Andersen*, Zacarias Tecle, Daniel Merino-Garcia

Center for Phase Equilibria and Separation Processes

Dept.Chem.Eng. bldg. 229

Technical University of Denmark

DK-2800 Kgs.Lyngby

Denmark

In both recovery, transport and refining the mixing of different crudes is a common situation. Most works on asphaltenes have considered the asphaltenes of a single source – in the present work the interaction between asphaltenes of different origin is investigated using isothermal titration calorimetry, fluorescence spectroscopy and flocculation titration. The results of thin ongoing work will be presented revealing the strong interaction between these different asphaltenes. The results are discussed in the framework of the overall working hypothesis of stability being linked to the molecular flexibility and the capability of interacting with other components Also attempts to measure heat of dissociation/dilution of asphaltene containing oils into deasphaltened oils will be presented..