STUDIES ON CHEMICAL ALTERATION OF PETROLEUM ASPH ALTENES ON SELF-ASSOCIATION AND RESIN INTERACTION

摘要

Chemical derivatization of the five asphaltenes from different sources has been used in combination with suitable analysis technique to study the influence of these heteroatom species on molecular interactions within the petroleum heavy fractions. The reaction chemistries used range from trimethylsilylation and methylation to more severe treatments such as metal reductions and reductive alkylations. While trimethylsilylation and methylation alter the material by blocking acidic polar groups without changing the bulk of hydrocarbon structure; Reduction and Reductive alkylation involve chemical degradation of the core structure as well. It is foreseen that modification of the chemical structure will have some effect in molecular interaction between asphaltene-asphaltenes and asphaltene-resins.