Adsorptive interaction between nitrogen compounds and organic and/or mineral phases in subsurface rocks. Models for compositional fractionation of pyrrolic nitrogen compounds in petroleum during petroleum migration

Abstract

AbstractThe results are reported of a range of laboratory chromatographic fractionation experiments with synthetic model compounds and a petroleum pyrrolic nitrogen fraction. Reversed phase separation of pyrrolic nitrogen compounds was governed mainly by the number of carbon atoms in the molecule, with little selectivity toward different positional isomers, whereas normal phase separation of the compounds could be explained in terms of steric effects related to alkylation position. Comparison of experimental results from model compounds with observations made previously using sets of natural samples taken from sedimentary basins clearly suggests adsorptive interactions between organic and mineral phases are involved in the compositional fractionation of pyrrolic nitrogen compounds in petroleum during migration. Detailed studies of the effects of petroleum migration on the molecular distribution of petroleum pyrrolic nitrogen compounds may provide useful, quantifiable, migration‐related geochemical parameters.