Explaining the Flocculation of Hassi Messaoud Asphaltenes in Terms of Structural Characteristics of Monomers and Aggregates

摘要

X-ray diffraction, liquid ~1H and solid ~(13)C nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Raman, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), laser desorption/ionization-timc of flight (LDI-TOF) mass and fluorescence spectro-scopy have been used to determine structural properties of asphaltenes obtained from Hassi Messaoud crude oil. While liquid ~1H- and ~(13)C-NMR, IR, and LDI-TOF mass and fluorescence spectroscopy allow the determination of the chemical composition and structure of single asphaltene molecules, X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy make it possible to asses parameters characterizing small asphaltene clusters. The proposed characterization of petroleum asphaltenes affords information that leads to better understanding of asphaltene flocculation conditions.