Investigation of Aggregation Behavior and Molecular Weight Changes of Asphaltene Model Compound

Francis Nsiah, Seth K. Fiafor and Subir Bhattacharjee

European Journal of Advanced Chemistry Research, 2022, vol. 3, issue 2, 27-32

Abstract: We investigate the aggregation of Violanthrone-78 (VO-78), a model asphaltene compound, in mixtures of toluene and n-heptane (heptol) using spectroscopic and dynamic and static light scattering techniques. The light scattering experiments were conducted using pure toluene and n-heptane, as well as 25/75, 50/50, and 75/25 heptol solvents. Furthermore, the concentration of VO-78 varied from 10-8 M to 10-3 M in these suspensions. The dynamic light scattering experiments were used to study the aggregate sizes from the intensity autocorrelation function at different n-heptane volume fractions. The results show the onset of aggregation of about 50 % n-heptane volume fractions. The aggregate sizes in toluene, within the range of concentrations examined, were below the instrument's detection limit ( 10 μm). Furthermore, the static light scattering experiments provided an anomalous behavior. Increasing concentrations of VO-78 in the solvent resulted in lowering the parameter Kc/Rq, where c is the molar concentration.

Keywords: Aggregation; Asphaltenes; Light Scattering; Violanthrone. (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:epw:ejchem:v:3:y:2022:i:2:id:5109

DOI: 10.24018/ejchem.2022.3.2.109

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