Impacts of physico-chemical properties of asphaltene aggregates on optimization of the thermal de-asphaltene process

摘要

The physico-chemical properties of asphaltene were studied at temperature range of 80-150 degrees C to optimize asphaltene aggregation and separation from crude oil in the thermal de-asphaltene process without adding nalkane. The particle size obtained through dynamic light scattering (DLS) indicate that increasing temperature up to 120 degrees C led to an increase in the physical dimensions of the asphaltene particles, while a decrease in size is noticed at temperatures above 120 degrees C. The structural molecular parameter of asphaltene indicate that the maximum and minimum aromaticity of asphaltene aggregates occur at 80 and 120 degrees C, respectively. Increasing the size of the particles and decreasing the aromaticity, as well as raising the efficiency of asphaltene thermal isolation indicate a growth in asphaltene particles at a temperature rise from 80 to 120 degrees C. All the obtained data suggest an optimal temperature of 120 degrees C for the thermal de -asphalting of this test sample. The surface morphologies of asphaltene particles at this optimal temperature were assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).