The solubility of asphaltene in organic solvents and its relation to the molecular structure

TH-As (asphaltene from typical Chinese vacuum residue provided by SINOPEC Tahe petrochemical company), QD-As (asphaltene from typical Middle Eastern vacuum residue provided by SINOPEC Qingdao refining & chemical company) and SL-As (asphaltene from typical Chinese vacuum residue provided by SINOPEC Qilu petrochemical company) were collected, and a simple and novel apparatus and a novel method were set for determining the solubility of asphaltene in organic solvents of toluene and heptane/pentane. The solubilities of TH-As and QD-As and SL-As in different volume ratios of toluene and heptane mixtures at 20 degrees C were measured, and the asphaltene solubility at the same volume ratios of toluene in mixtures follows the order QD-As>SL-As>TH-As. The structure differences determined by FTIR and FT-ICR MS could be the predominated factors for the solubility differences of TH-As and QD-As and SL-As in toluene and heptane/pentane mixtures. (C) 2020 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Automated summary

Different vacuums residues from China and the Middle East were tested for solubility in toluene and heptane mixtures, with structural differences being identified as the main factor influencing solubility variations.