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Characterization of metalloporphyrins in Alberta oil sands and components

Conference · · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5473280

Compositional similarities in crude oils represent a basis for correlation (oil/oil oil/source rock) studies. One class of compounds with desirable characteristics are the metalloporphyrins for which the HPLC fingerprints or the DPEP/Etio ratios are two parameters used to correlate oils. The DPEP/Etio ratio in metalloporphyrin aggregates are used to compare the Athabasca, Peace River, and Cold Lake bitumens. The same parameter is also used to compare the porphyrin distributions in two crude oils from Northern Alberta to those in the oil sand bitumens. The distribution of the DPEP and Etio homologous series were also used to compare the metalloporphyrins isolated from the three oil-sand bitumens to those in the maltenes and asphaltenes. Two additional porphyrin aggregates were prepared through sequential methanol extraction of the asphaltenes. Vanadyl and nickel porphyrin extracts were purified by column chromatography on silica gel and alumina and mass spectrometry was used to characterize the metalloporphyrins and to measure C-number distributions. The lowest DPEP/Etio ratio was found in the maltenes and the highest was in the asphaltene extracts. The geochemical significance of these findings will be discussed.

Research Organization:
Dept. of Chemistry and Nuclear Radiation Center, Washington State Univ., Pullman, WA 99164-1300
OSTI ID:
5473280
Report Number(s):
CONF-860425-
Journal Information:
Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States), Journal Name: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States) Vol. 31:2; ISSN ACPCA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English