Rates of oxidation of petroleum asphaltenes and other bitumens by alkaline permanganate

Abstract

Rate of oxidation by alkaline permanganate has been used by a number of investigators for comparison of coals, oil shales, and related natural bitumens, and to provide an insight into their molecular structures. The method is equally applicable to petroleum asphaltenes. To facilitate additional studies, a semi-automatic titrating and recording apparatus has been designed and constructed. Twentysix samples, comprising coals, oil shale, gilsonites, manjak or glance pitch, natural graphite, asphaltenes from crude oils and refinery fractions, and the insoluble carbonaceous material in marine and non-marine rocks, have been examined. Oxidation rates of the coals and petroleum asphaltenes vary by a factor of more than 500 and in general show a rough correlation with the oxygen content of the organic material.