On-Column Separation of Wax and Asphaltenes in Petroleum Fluids

The utility of a novel method based on the new on-column precipitation and redissolution technique is explored. This method, called waxphaltene determinator (WAD), is strictly solubility-based and allows for the detection of waxes and asphaltenes in minutes. The principle of the method is to first p...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Energy & fuels 2008-11, Vol.22 (6), p.4019-4028
Main Authors: Goual, Lamia, Schabron, John F, Turner, Thomas F, Towler, Brian F
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Constitution and properties of crude oils, shale oils, natural gas and bitumens. Analysis and characteristics
Crude oil, natural gas and petroleum products
Energy
Exact sciences and technology
Fossil Fuels
Fuels
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Summary:The utility of a novel method based on the new on-column precipitation and redissolution technique is explored. This method, called waxphaltene determinator (WAD), is strictly solubility-based and allows for the detection of waxes and asphaltenes in minutes. The principle of the method is to first precipitate waxes and asphaltenes together on a ground polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-packed column using methyl ethyl ketone at −20 °C and then redissolve the precipitate with solvents of increasing polarity at different temperatures. Waxes precipitated under these conditions are composed mainly of n-alkanes, with carbon numbers greater than C20, and heptane-soluble alkanes that are slightly to moderately branched. The method is first verified with model compounds, including n-alkanes and commercial waxes, and then applied to waxy crude oils and deposits. The method is compared to differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and a linear correlation is found between the wax content by WAD and DSC. Asphaltene amounts by WAD also compare well to the gravimetric data.
ISSN:0887-0624
1520-5029
DOI:10.1021/ef800516j