Characteristics of tar sand bitumen asphaltenes and the effect of asphaltenes on conversion of bitumen by hydropyrolysis

Conference · Sat Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1979 · Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5748931

Bunger, J W; Cogswell, D E; Zilm, K W

Asphaltenes and maltenes from a tar sand bitumen were characterized by gross properties and /sup 13/C-nmr spectroscopy. While differences between average properties are detected, the gross hydrocarbon structure of the two fractions is virtually identical. Hydropyrolysis was used as a conversion reaction to examine the chemistry of the respective components of the bitumen. Hydropyrolysis converts bitumen to lower average molecular weight liquid products and gases with virtually no coke. Compared to the maltenes, asphaltene species contribute disproportionately to the gaseous and heavy liquid yields, but similarly to the asphaltenes found in the liquid products. Molecules comprising the asphaltene fraction from bitumen are suggested to have average molecular weights in the mid to high hundreds and are broadly distributed with respect to molecular weight, aromaticity, and heteroatom content. Molecules comprising the maltene fraction, while of a lower average molecular weight, aromaticity and heteroatom content, are also broadly distributed and there is substantial overlap between asphaltenes and maltenes with respect to these chemical functionalities. This conclusion is supported by the results of the hydropyrolysis conversion. The results of this study indicate that characterization of bitumen according to compound types is chemically more definitive and more likely to be useful for elucidating conversion mechanisms than are characterizations based on asphaltene content or structure.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City
• OSTI ID: 5748931
• Report Number(s): CONF-790917-(Vol.24)(No.4)
• Conference Information: Journal Name: Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Pet. Chem., Prepr.; (United States) Journal Volume: 24:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

04 OIL SHALES AND TAR SANDS
040500* -- Oil Shales & Tar Sands-- Properties & Composition
ASPHALTENES
ASPHALTS
BITUMENS
BITUMINOUS MATERIALS
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGENATION
MAGNETIC RESONANCE
MOLECULAR WEIGHT
NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE
OIL SANDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS
RESONANCE
TAR
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
YIELDS