Revealing the chemical characterization of asphaltenes fractions produced by N-methylpyrrolidone using FTIR, molecular fluorescence, 1H NMR, and ESI(±)FT-ICR MS

Heavy oil fractions studies are of great importance for the oil industry, receiving particular attention in recent decades due to interest in obtaining compounds with higher added value derived from heavy oil fractions. Moreover, these studies also aim to offer solutions to problems caused by these fractions during all oil processing steps. Asphaltenes placed in n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) produce two fractions with distinct characteristics, soluble and insoluble in NMP (called NS and NI, respectively). In previously studies it was suggested that the NI fraction presents low content of aromatic compounds, opening a new debate on the composition of asphaltene as is widely discussed in the literature. Here, we show the deep characterization of three set of asphaltenes fractions obtained in NMP using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry coupled to positive and negative-ions mode electrospray ionization (ESI(+/-)-FT-ICR MS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), molecular fluorescence and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-1 NMR) spectroscopy. FTIR, H-1 NMR and molecular fluorescence demonstrated differences among asphaltene fractions studied, in which, NS fractions exhibited a more polar and aromatic character. On the other hand, NI fractions showed nonpolar profile, being proved by the presence of high amounts of alkyl and naphthenic hydrocarbons showing high abundance of alkyl and naphthenic hydrocarbon related compounds. ESI(+/-) FT-ICR MS data corroborate the FTIR, H-1 NMR and molecular fluorescence data, which show NS fractions with a high proportion of heteroatomic species and higher aromaticity (higher DBE values) compared with NI fractions.