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U.S. Department of Energy
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Analysis of heavy oils: Method development and application to Cerro Negro heavy petroleum: Topical report

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5212499

Preparative charge-transfer chromatographic methods have been developed for grouping aromatic hydrocarbons by the number of condensed aromatic rings they contain. Cerro Negro neutral fractions were used as test probes in methods development. Monoaromatic, diaromatic, and polyaromatic-polar concentrates were separated from three Cerro Negro distillates and a residue. Concentrations of these ring number groups are compared for the 425 to 550/degree/C boiling range of Cerro Negro with those of two similar boiling conventional crudes and one aromatic crude. Mass spectrometric and fluorometric data on Cerro Negro fractions indicated that charge transfer separation techniques described in this report grouped aromatic hydrocarbons well by ring number for the 1-, 2-, and 3-ring fractions of material boiling below 550/degree/C. Aromatic ring number separations are less satisfactory for higher boiling material, and material containing 4 or more aromatic rings. Better separation methods are needed for high boiling (>550/degree/C) neutral fractions. Sulfur compounds are not separated by ring number in the same manner as hydrocarbons on the charge transfer material (2,4-dinitroanilinopropylsilica) used. The separations should be performed on sulfur-free material for optimum results. 22 refs., 12 figs., 4 tabs.

Research Organization:
National Inst. for Petroleum and Energy Research, Bartlesville, OK (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
FC22-83FE60149
OSTI ID:
5212499
Report Number(s):
NIPER-324; ON: DE88001223
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English