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U.S. Department of Energy
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Separation and molecular characterization of the acidic constituents in a California biodegraded crude

Conference ·
OSTI ID:370439
; ;  [1]
  1. Argonne National Lab., IL (United States)
A detailed investigation into the acidic constituents of a California biodegraded crude was undertaken in order to better understand the complex chemical nature of these intractable components. Biodegraded crudes often possess high concentrations of acidic species, exceeding in some cases 3 wt%. Also, due to the fact that these crude oils are heavily biodegraded, a large proportion of the crude oil components are present as an unresolved complex mixture (UCM). This UCM effectively prohibits analysis of the discrete biological marker components of interest. The use of novel molecular sieving methods employing a high silica NaY molecular sieve, has proved successful in isolating individual molecular species from the complex methylated acidic fraction. Accurate identification of these isolated acidic constituents from a Midway Sunset crude has now been achieved through the combined use of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-chemical ionization mass spectrometry, gas chromatography-atomic emission spectrometry, and high resolution mass spectrometry techniques.
OSTI ID:
370439
Report Number(s):
CONF-960376--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English