Determination of active state of petroleum disperse systems

Abstract

The feasibility of direct determination of the active state of an atmospheric resid, based on the disperse-phase particle size, was investigated. Atmospheric resids from Tyumen and Tuimazy crudes were selected. A solvent extract obtained in treating the No. III lube cut from a mixture of the two crudes was used as the modifier. Degree of dispersity was determined in a conductometric particle counter. Influence of the modifier concentration on the statistical parameters of the disperse-phase particle distribution is shown. Results show that variation in colloidal-disperse properties of the petroleum stock with modifier is similar to the variation in disperse-phase particle size. By creating conditions such that the size of the asphaltene associates are minimized the vacuum distillation of the resids could be intensified.