Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to discuss changes in the chemical composition of Australian bitumens while utilizing the Gaestel Index. The analysis technique should be useful for assessing future Australian and overseas bitumens in terms of possible field problems, for determining the cause of field problems, and for developing solutions to these. Colloidally unstable and temperature susceptible bitumens had high Gaestel values while tender bitumens had a low Gaestel Index. Multigrade bitumens had a much higher Gaestel Index than other bitumens but have not shown colloidal instability in service due, in part, to the different nature of their asphaltenes. This indicates that a number of factors must be taken into account when interpreting compositional data. Chemical specification of bitumens is probably impractical at present. A bitumen fractionation procedure was developed based on the Iatroscan device. Asphaltenes are precipitated conventionally then maltenes are separated using Iatroscan thin layer chromatography and the proportions of each maltenes fraction measured using a flame ionisation detector. The procedure is comparatively rapid, and control bitumen is included in every run to improve reproducibility.
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